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Study in Italy

Bachelor's and master's degrees at Italian public universities.

Italy is home to some of Europe's oldest universities, with many English-taught programmes, comparatively low tuition at public universities and income-based regional scholarships.
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  • Bologna
  • Padua
  • Milan
  • Turin
  • Rome
  • Florence
  • Pisa
  • Naples
Interior courtyard of a historic Italian university with stone colonnades

Why Italy

A strong choice for international students

  • English-taught programmes

    A wide choice of bachelor's and master's programmes taught fully in English across many subjects.

  • Affordable public universities

    Tuition at public universities is often linked to family income, and can be much lower than in many other countries.

  • Regional scholarships

    Income-based DSU scholarships may cover tuition and include a grant and help with housing and meals.

  • A European degree

    Degrees follow the European higher education framework and are recognised across Europe.

The pathway

From programme choice to your visa

A typical admissions journey for a non-EU student applying to an Italian public university.
  1. Step 1

    Programme choice

    We shortlist programmes that match your background, and check entry requirements and deadlines.

  2. Step 2

    Documents

    We build your checklist and review each document, including translations and credential recognition.

  3. Step 3

    University applications

    Applications are submitted through each university's own portal, usually with an application fee.

  4. Step 4

    Pre-enrolment (Universitaly)

    After an offer, non-EU students complete pre-enrolment on the Universitaly portal for the visa.

  5. Step 5

    Scholarship

    Where eligible, we prepare your regional DSU application and the family income documents it needs.

  6. Step 6

    Study visa

    We help you prepare the documents for your study visa appointment and plan your arrival.

Swipe to see all six steps →

Documents

Documents you will typically need

Your exact list depends on your programme, university and scholarship. We build it with you.
  • Passport (bio page), valid for your whole stay
  • Secondary school certificate and transcript (bachelor's applicants)
  • Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript (master's applicants)
  • English language certificate, or proof of English-medium study where accepted
  • CV and motivation letter
  • Recommendation letters, where the programme asks for them
  • CIMEA statement of comparability or Declaration of Value, as required
  • Family income documents, for DSU scholarship applicants
Vaulted stone courtyard of a historic university in northern Italy in morning light

Scholarships

Regional DSU scholarships

DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) scholarships are run by Italian regions and are based on family income and assets.

What a DSU scholarship can include

  • A tuition fee waiver
  • A yearly cash grant
  • University accommodation or a housing contribution
  • Subsidised or free meals in university canteens

What you receive depends on the region, your family's economic situation and the available funding. Applications need income documents from your home country, usually translated and legalised, so we start preparing them early. We can't promise a scholarship: the region decides.

Timeline

An indicative year

Typical timing for a September intake. Exact dates differ by university and region.

  1. 6–12 months before

    Choose programmes and start preparing documents

  2. Autumn – spring

    University applications open and close (dates vary by university)

  3. Spring – summer

    Offers, Universitaly pre-enrolment and DSU scholarship calls

  4. Summer

    Study visa application and travel preparation

  5. September – October

    Arrival, enrolment and residence permit

Requirements, fees and dates differ between universities and regions and change every year. Always check the official university and regional websites; we confirm the details for your own applications.

Questions

Studying in Italy: FAQ

Do I need to speak Italian?

Not for English-taught programmes. Learning some Italian is still useful for daily life, and some universities offer free or low-cost courses.

What are CIMEA and the Declaration of Value?

They are ways for Italian universities to understand and recognise qualifications earned abroad. Which one you need depends on the university, so we confirm this for each application.

Is the DSU scholarship available to international students?

Yes, international students can apply in many regions. Eligibility depends on your family's income and assets, and the documents must be prepared and translated in a specific way. Each region publishes its own rules every year.

Thinking about Italy?

Tell us what you studied and what you want to study next. We will explain your options and the documents you would need.

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