Study in Pisa, Italy

About Pisa

Pisa is a small university city in Tuscany, in central Italy, close to the Tyrrhenian coast. Student life is concentrated in and around the historic centre, where university buildings, libraries and residential colleges are a short walk from each other.

Students choose Pisa for three different reasons: the Università di Pisa, two selective schools for advanced study that admit students through a national competition, and Italian language courses on the Tuscan coast. Florence is about an hour away by train, so the rest of Tuscany is easy to reach at weekends.

Studying in Pisa

Our directory lists three university-level institutions in Pisa and a school of Italian for foreigners. Italian universities follow the three-cycle European model: a three-year Laurea (bachelor's degree) of 180 CFU credits, a Laurea Magistrale (master's degree) of a further 120 CFU, and the doctorate. One CFU equals one ECTS credit, according to Universitaly, the official portal of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research. Italian matters even for English-taught degrees: ILM, a local language school, notes that many English-taught programmes require at least B1 Italian and that most universities ask for B2.

Pisa is also home to two of Italy's specialised higher schools, research-focused institutions with their own selective programmes. The Scuola Normale Superiore traces its origins to 18 October 1810, when a decree by Napoleon created an academic college for university students in Pisa. Today it is a university institution with a special statute and two programmes: the corso ordinario, which runs in parallel with bachelor's and master's degrees, and the PhD. Each year it selects a few dozen students through a competitive examination based on merit alone; they live in the school's colleges free of charge and take the corresponding degree courses at the Università di Pisa at the same time.

The Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna organises its teaching in four areas: first-level training for students of its Corsi Ordinari, interdisciplinary Seasonal Schools, advanced training (master's degrees, PhDs and university master's programmes) and continuing education.

Learning Italian in Pisa

Istituto Linguistico Mediterraneo (ILM) has taught Italian on the Tuscan coast since 1981. Classes run all year in Pisa and, in summer, also in Viareggio, a seaside town about 15 minutes from Pisa by train. Besides general courses, the school prepares students for the CILS, CELI and Cert.IT certificates and offers a university preparation course that combines subject preparation with language training, for students who plan to apply to an Italian degree.

Cost of living for students

Course and housing prices published by ILM give an idea of the cost of a stay. In 2026 a general Italian course in Pisa costs €240 for one week (20 lessons) and €800 for four weeks (80 lessons). The school lists a single room in a shared apartment at €190 for one week or €350 for two weeks, and a single room with a host family, breakfast and dinner included, at €280 a week.

Local transport is inexpensive. An Autolinee Toscane urban ticket costs €2.00 and is valid for 70 minutes, and a monthly urban pass costs €42.20. Health cover is a separate cost for students from outside the EU: according to Universitaly, students resident in Italy can enrol voluntarily in the national health service (SSN) for an annual flat fee of €700.

Getting around and daily life

Autolinee Toscane runs the city and suburban buses. A special "Litorale Pisano" ticket connects Pisa with the coastal districts of Marina, Tirrenia and Calambrone all year round. Pisa has Tuscany's main international airport, according to ILM, and good rail links: the school lists three trains an hour to Florence (about one hour), two an hour to Rome (about three hours) and one an hour to Milan (under four hours).

Students from outside the EU who want to enrol in a degree course apply through their chosen university and must also submit a pre-enrolment application through the Universitaly portal. For the 2026-27 academic year, study visa applications for degree courses must reach the Italian consulate by 30 November 2026 at the latest; individual universities may set earlier dates.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Pisa?

The main university is the Università di Pisa. The city also has two specialised higher schools, the Scuola Normale Superiore and the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, which admit a small number of students through a competitive examination.

How do students get into the Scuola Normale Superiore?

Through an annual competitive examination based on merit alone. Students admitted to the corso ordinario live in the school's colleges free of charge and follow the corresponding degree courses at the Università di Pisa at the same time.

How much does an Italian course in Pisa cost?

At ILM, a general Italian course costs €240 for one week of 20 lessons and €800 for four weeks in 2026. A single room in a shared apartment arranged by the school costs €190 a week.