Study in Venice, Italy

About Venice

Venice (Venezia) is the capital of the Veneto region, in north-east Italy. The historic city is built on islands in a lagoon, with canals instead of roads, while the municipality also includes Mestre and other districts on the mainland. For students this means an unusual daily life: you walk or take a water bus (vaporetto) to class.

Venice is a compact university city with two universities in the historic centre and Italian language schools that use the city itself as a classroom. It suits students interested in economics, languages, architecture, design and the arts.

Studying in Venice

Our directory lists two universities and one language school in Venice. The Università Ca' Foscari Venezia was founded on 6 August 1868 as the Scuola Superiore di Commercio, the first institution in Italy to offer higher education in commerce and economics. Its historic seat is a large Gothic palace on the bend of the Grand Canal. The Università Iuav di Venezia began in 1926 as the Scuola superiore di architettura di Venezia. Today it is a small university with an experimental approach; it was the first Italian university to introduce design studios (laboratori progettuali) and also teaches design, fashion, theatre and the arts.

Italian degrees follow three cycles: a three-year Laurea (bachelor's degree) of 180 CFU credits, a Laurea Magistrale (master's degree) of 120 CFU, and the doctorate. According to Universitaly, the official portal of the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research, one CFU equals one ECTS credit. Students from outside the EU 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.

Learning Italian in Venice

Istituto Venezia, which also has a school in Trieste, is officially recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education and is a member of ASILS, the association of schools of Italian as a second language. Its intensive course in Venice costs €320 for one week and €860 for four weeks (2026 and 2027 prices). The school also arranges accommodation, including rooms in the Santa Marta residence in the Dorsoduro district.

Cost of living for students

Rent is the main cost for most students. As a reference, Istituto Venezia lists a single room with a host family at €230 for one week and €760 for four weeks in 2026.

Students pay much less than occasional passengers on public transport. AVM/Actv, the main public transport operator, charges €9.50 for an ordinary 75-minute ticket on the integrated network, which includes water buses. A monthly Rete Unica pass costs €37.00, or €25.00 for students aged 6 to 25. Students resident in Italy who are not covered by a European health card can enrol voluntarily in the national health service (SSN) for €700 a year, according to Universitaly.

Getting around and daily life

In the historic centre, everyone walks or uses the water buses of the lagoon network; buses and trams serve Mestre and the mainland. AVM/Actv also runs services as far as Padua, Treviso and Rovigo. Marco Polo airport is linked to the city by the "aerobus" service, with tickets from €10.00.

Frequently asked questions

Which universities are in Venice?

Venice has the Università Ca' Foscari Venezia, founded in 1868 and known for economics, and the Università Iuav di Venezia, founded in 1926, which focuses on architecture, design, fashion, theatre and the arts.

How much does public transport cost for a student in Venice?

Students aged 6 to 25 can buy a monthly Rete Unica pass for €25.00, valid on water buses, buses and trams in the municipality. An ordinary 75-minute ticket costs €9.50.

Can I learn Italian in Venice?

Yes. Istituto Venezia is recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education and offers intensive courses from €320 a week. It can also arrange a homestay or a residence room.