Italy has one of the largest higher education systems in Europe. The government portal Universitaly lists 283 universities and institutions and around 9,000 programmes. You can choose from:
Universities in Italy – profiles
Universities in Italy
Polytechnics in Italy
Italy follows the Bologna system; credits are called CFU (equivalent to ECTS):
The academic year usually starts in September or October. Exams take place in several sessions during the year, and many of them are oral.
Italy – bachelor's programmes
Italy – integrated (single-cycle) programmes
Italy – master's programmes
Italy – doctoral programmes
As an EU citizen, you apply directly to the university of your choice, usually through its online portal, on the same terms as Italian students.
With a secondary school leaving certificate from abroad you will usually need:
If you are from outside the EU and live abroad, you apply to the university and also submit a pre-enrolment request on Universitaly. Once the university has validated it, you can apply for a study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate (see: Residence and formalities). For 2026/27, Italian consulates set 30 November 2026 as the final deadline for visa applications for bachelor's and master's degrees, but universities' own deadlines are often much earlier – start as soon as you can. Note: the 30 November deadline and the B2 language requirement come from consulate pages (e.g. in Buenos Aires and Tunis) – other consulates may add requirements of their own, so check with the Italian consulate responsible for your country before you apply.
Many programmes have a limited number of places (numero programmato) and an entrance test, and each university sets its own deadlines – sometimes several months before the academic year starts. For a master's degree the university checks whether your bachelor's degree meets the programme's requirements.
Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine: since 2025/26 there has been no traditional entrance test. Instead, there is an "open semester" (semestre aperto, often called the "filter semester" in the media). You enrol in the first semester, attend classes in three subjects and take exams in them. The results are used to build a national ranking.
In 2026/27:
For other programmes with a limited number of places, tests are organised by the universities – you'll find the dates and topics in the call for applications (bando) for each programme.
Most programmes are taught in Italian. Universities usually ask for proof of your Italian, and the required level is given in the call for applications (bando). You can prove your Italian with a certificate such as CILS, CELI or PLIDA – courses and exams are offered, among others, by Italian Cultural Institutes (Istituti Italiani di Cultura) around the world.
A growing number of programmes are taught entirely in English, especially at master's level. For these, the university will usually ask for IELTS or TOEFL. You can search for English-taught programmes in the Universitaly database. If you need a visa, keep in mind that for 2026/27 consulates ask for at least B2 level in the language of instruction.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens don't need a visa – you enter with an ID card or passport. If you stay longer than 3 months, you register your residence at the town hall's registry office (anagrafe). You will also need an Italian tax code – the codice fiscale – for example to enrol at university, rent a flat or sign a work contract.
Students from outside the EU/EEA need a national (type D) study visa for university enrolment, which you apply for at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country after completing pre-enrolment on Universitaly (see: Admission). You will need, among other things, a valid passport, the pre-enrolment summary validated by your university, your school leaving certificate with a dichiarazione di valore or CIMEA statement, proof of accommodation, health insurance and proof of funds – for 2026/27 at least €10,179.85 a year (€783.06 a month). Within 8 working days of arrival you must apply for a residence permit for study (permesso di soggiorno per motivi di studio), which is issued by the police headquarters (Questura).
Health insurance: as an EU citizen, you use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Students from outside the EU need health insurance valid in Italy – a private policy or voluntary registration with the Italian National Health Service (SSN), which is subject to a fee.
At state universities, fees depend on your family's income, measured by an indicator called ISEE. Study in Europe says that students at public universities usually pay €900–4,000 a year, and at private universities €6,000–20,000 or more.
Since 2021/22 there has been a no tax area: if your ISEE is up to €22,000, you don't pay the tuition fee (contributo onnicomprensivo). Between €22,000 and €30,000, the fee is reduced by 80–10%. Many universities go further – in 2026/27, for example, the University of Bologna waives fees for an ISEE of up to €27,000, and the University of Milan up to €30,000 (for students who pass their exams on time).
However, everyone pays the regional tax for the right to study (tassa regionale) and a €16 stamp duty. In Bologna the first instalment in 2026/27 is €157.04 (including €140 regional tax); in Milan the regional tax is €130–190, depending on ISEE.
If your family's income and assets are abroad, you must document them – with translated and legalised papers – by the deadline set by your university. Without them, you pay the full rate. This applies to EU and non-EU students alike. Some universities charge a reduced flat fee to students from certain non-EU countries whose family income is only abroad – at Bologna in 2026/27, for example, €1,000 a year for a bachelor's degree (plus the €157.04 first instalment) for citizens of non-OECD countries and €500 for citizens of particularly poor countries, with no income documents needed.
Study in Europe estimates that a student in Italy spends around €700–1,100 a month, depending on the city.
Your options are:
You apply for a DSU residence place together with your scholarship application – watch the deadlines, as they often close in the summer.
Italy has an extensive support system – Universitaly reports more than 238,000 scholarships awarded. The main sources are:
You'll find a scholarship database on Universitaly.
EU/EEA citizens can work in Italy without any permit, also while studying.
Students from outside the EU/EEA with a valid residence permit for study can work up to 20 hours a week, with a maximum of 1,040 hours a year. You can work more hours in some weeks – for example when there are no classes – as long as you stay within the annual limit. If you want to work more than that, you have to convert your permit into a work permit.
Many universities offer paid part-time jobs on campus (collaborazioni studentesche) – for example in the library or administration. Off campus, jobs are easiest to find in tourism and hospitality, but it will be hard without Italian. Visit your university's careers office (job placement).
Sources: European Commission – Study in Europe (education.ec.europa.eu/study-in-europe), Eurostat, official national study and residence portals and authorities, Eurodesk, enic-naric.net, studentnews.eu. As of September 2026.
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