Study and find schools in Italy

Studying in Italy

Italy combines one of the oldest university traditions in Europe with a large public higher-education system and a wide choice of art, design and language schools. According to ISTAT, on 1 January 2026 Italy had 53.4 million residents of Italian nationality and 5.56 million foreign residents. Italian is the language of most teaching, but a growing number of master's programmes are taught in English.

The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) counts 2,026,774 students enrolled in university programmes in the 2024-25 academic year, plus 93,539 students in first- and second-level programmes at AFAM institutions (fine arts, music and dance). Several Italian universities date from the Middle Ages: the official Universitaly portal lists the University of Bologna (1088), the University of Padua (1222), the Federico II University of Naples (1224) and the University of Siena (1240) among the oldest in the world.

The education system in Italy

Higher education in Italy has several strands. Universities are of four types, according to Universitaly:

• State universities (public)
• Legally recognised non-state (private) universities, whose qualifications have the same value as those of state universities
• Legally recognised distance-learning (telematic) universities, with online teaching and exams in person
• Specialised graduate schools and institutes focused on research and doctoral training

Outside the universities, the AFAM system (Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale) brings together 144 academies of fine arts, music conservatories, design schools (ISIA) and other institutions that award academic diplomas equivalent to degrees. Higher Schools for Language Mediators (SSML) award a qualification equivalent to a university degree in language mediation, and the Higher Technical Institutes (ITS) are the non-university, job-oriented tertiary sector.

University degrees follow three cycles and use CFU credits, where 1 CFU equals 1 ECTS credit and 60 credits make up a year. The Laurea (bachelor's degree) takes three years and 180 credits. The Laurea Magistrale (master's degree) takes two more years and 120 credits. Some professions use a single-cycle Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico of five years (300 credits), for example in law, pharmacy and architecture, or six years (360 credits) in medicine and dentistry. The doctorate (Dottorato di ricerca) lasts at least three years, and most programmes pay a monthly scholarship. The academic year starts in the autumn and runs until the following September, with exam sessions until April of the next year.

Admission and recognition

International applicants choose a programme and apply to the institution, which sets its own entry requirements: previous qualifications and grades, sometimes an admission test or interview, and language skills. Universitaly notes that most undergraduate programmes are taught in Italian and several graduate programmes in English; for courses in Italian, the institution tests the applicant's Italian. Students whose school education lasted fewer than 12 years, as is the case in some Latin American countries, can take a Foundation Year or Foundation Course first; these also prepare Italian to B2 level.

Foreign qualifications are assessed by each institution. For information on recognition and an evaluation of a diploma or degree, Universitaly refers students to CIMEA, Italy's ENIC-NARIC centre.

Student visa and residence permit

Citizens of the EU and EFTA countries do not need a visa, but must register with the Anagrafe (registry office) of their municipality if they stay more than three months. Non-EU students, including those from Latin America, follow the procedure published on Universitaly (checked October 2026):

• Apply for pre-enrolment through the Universitaly portal and upload your qualifications
• If the institution accepts you, it issues a letter of eligibility for enrolment and validates the application online
• Apply for a type D national study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate for your country
• Within eight working days of arrival, book an appointment at the Questura (police immigration office) to apply for a permit of stay for study

For bachelor's and master's programmes, visa applications for 2026-27 must be submitted by 30 November 2026, and for 2027-28 by 31 October 2027; universities may set earlier dates. The final decision on a study visa belongs to the consulate, which also assesses the applicant's financial situation and previous studies. A study permit of stay is issued for a maximum of one year at a time.

Costs and funding

At state universities, tuition fees are set by each university and usually depend on the family's financial situation, measured by the ISEE indicator. Sapienza Università di Roma, for example, calculates fees from the ISEE and publishes separate amounts for students with foreign citizenship or foreign income. Foreign students who want income-based fees or a grant need an ISEE parificato, a certified equivalent issued through an authorised tax assistance centre (CAAF). Students from low-income families can benefit from the No Tax Area, which reduces or waives university fees.

Grants are offered by the regional right-to-study agencies (diritto allo studio) and by the institutions themselves, based on financial need and merit, and international students enrolled in Italy can apply. Private universities and design schools set their own fees. For health cover, non-EU students must either have valid health insurance or enrol voluntarily in the national health service (SSN), which costs a flat €700 per calendar year.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists schools across Italy, with the largest groups in these cities:

• Rome: Sapienza Università di Roma, founded in 1303, private universities such as Luiss Guido Carli and UNINT, and pontifical universities such as the Pontificia Università Gregoriana
• Florence: a centre for art, design and Italian language, with study abroad institutions such as ISI Florence and FUA, Florence University of the Arts, and many Italian language schools
• Milan: the Politecnico di Milano for engineering, architecture and design, and fashion and design schools such as Domus Academy
• Naples: the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, one of the oldest universities in the world, and the Scuola Superiore Meridionale
• Pisa: two of Italy's specialised higher schools, the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

Schools are also listed in smaller university cities such as Perugia, Siena, Trieste and Catania. Italian language schools are spread across the country, from Florence and Venice to Taormina, Tropea and Sanremo.

Learning Italian and practical life

Knowing Italian makes daily life much easier, even on an English-taught programme. Besides private language schools, the Universities for Foreigners of Siena and Perugia run intensive Italian courses at different levels all year round. Students who need a visa for a language course must have an acceptance letter that states the duration of the course, the number of hours and the place.

Public transport in Italian cities includes buses, trams, metro lines and regional trains. Bus tickets are usually bought before boarding, at tobacconists or station counters, and must be validated on board. In an emergency, the medical emergency number is 118.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in Italy in English?

Yes, mainly at master's level. Most bachelor's programmes are taught in Italian, while several master's programmes are taught in English; check the language of each programme on Universitaly or the university's website.

How much does university cost in Italy?

At state universities, fees depend on the family's income and assets (ISEE), and low-income students can be exempt through the No Tax Area. Each university publishes its own fee tables, including amounts for students with foreign income.

How do I apply for a student visa for Italy?

Non-EU students apply for pre-enrolment on Universitaly, receive a letter of eligibility from the institution and then apply for a type D study visa at the Italian consulate. For bachelor's and master's programmes starting in 2026-27, the visa deadline is 30 November 2026.

What is a Laurea and a Laurea Magistrale?

The Laurea is the three-year bachelor's degree (180 credits). The Laurea Magistrale is the two-year master's degree (120 credits); some fields, such as medicine and law, have a single five- or six-year programme.

Do I need health insurance to study in Italy?

Yes. Non-EU students must have valid health insurance or enrol in the national health service (SSN) for €700 per calendar year; the permit of stay is never issued for longer than the health cover.