Best Universities in Italy

Italy has some really famous universities that people know worldwide. Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza University of Rome, and University of Bologna are very famous and reputed universities of Italy. Bologna is actually the oldest university in the world that is still open today, which is pretty amazing when you think about it.

Here is the best part about studying in Italy. These schools are famous, but they are not too expensive at all. Public universities in Italy look at how much your family earns before deciding your fee. If your family earns less, you end up paying less too. This is why many students pay very little money to study at a really good school.

This article covers everything you need to know. We will talk about the best universities in Italy, their rankings, and real fees taken straight from university websites. You will also learn how to apply, which scholarships you can get, and what life looks like after you finish your degree.

Best Universities in Italy by Ranking

There are hundreds of universities in Italy, but only a few of them could make it into the top global rankings. This list comes from the QS World University Rankings 2027, and these public universities in Italy stand out because of their research, decent teaching, and just their overall name value globally.

Here is a good starting point if you are trying to shortlist the best public universities in Italy. 

Top Universities in Italy (QS World Ranking 2027)

University Name	QS World University Rankings 2027
Politecnico di Milano	=87
Sapienza University of Rome	=111
University of Bologna	=123
University of Padova	204
Politecnico di Torino	=206
University of Milan	=270
University of Pisa	341
University of Rome Tor Vergata	=342
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore	=388
University of Pavia	=395

 

Best Universities in Italy for UG and PG Programs

Choosing between a bachelor's and master's degree in Italy matters more than just your education level. It also decides which university actually fits you best, since not every school among the best public universities in Italy is equally strong at both levels.

Bachelor's degrees in Italy are mostly taught in Italian. Master's programs have a growing number of options in English though. Bachelor's degrees also run for 3 years, while most master's are just 2 years long. 

Here's how the options compare between bachelor's and master's degrees in Italy.

Best Universities for Bachelor's

One challenge you might run into if you decide to enter university right after high school is that in Italy, English options are very limited. The majority of bachelor's programs are taught in Italian only, and there are only a handful of universities offering courses taught in English.

Here's a quick look at where you can study a bachelor's fully in English.

Best Universities in Italy for Bachelor's (English-Taught)

University Name	What It's Known For
Politecnico di Milano	Strong bachelor's programs in engineering and design
Bocconi University	BIG track runs completely in English
Sapienza University of Rome	Offers programs like International Economics in English
University of Bologna	Has English bachelor's options in select faculties

Best Universities for Master's

Italy has over 500 master's programs taught in English, and most of the top public universities offer at least a couple of them. This is honestly where things start opening up for international students.

If you are looking to study at one of the best universities in Italy for your master's, these are some names that will definitely come up as you start your search.

Best Universities in Italy for Master's

University Name	What It's Known For
Politecnico di Milano	Engineering and design master's programs
Sapienza University of Rome	Humanities, engineering and architecture
University of Bologna	Wide spread of subjects across faculties
Bocconi University	Finance and management

 

Best Universities in Italy by Subject

Although rankings are useful, they only show an institution's overall standing. When you are choosing a university for higher education, it is very important that you also look at its strong areas in terms of subjects.

Below are the best universities in Italy by subject, based on what each one is genuinely known for.

Business and Management

If you have an interest in business and management, a few names come up again and again, but one school really leads the pack, Bocconi University in Milan.

It's regarded as the best business school in Italy, and it's also ranked among the top business schools in Europe, right alongside names like London Business School and INSEAD. LUISS Guido Carli in Rome and Università Cattolica are two other strong options worth looking into as well.

Best Universities in Italy for Business

University	City	Known For
Bocconi University	Milan	MBA, finance, management
LUISS Guido Carli	Rome	Business, economics, law
Università Cattolica	Milan	Business and management programs

Engineering and Technology

If engineering is what you're aiming for, Italy really comes down to two names, Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino. Both schools focus heavily on engineering, ICT, and applied sciences.

This is exactly why so many international students end up choosing one of these two every single year.

Best Universities in Italy for Engineering

University	City	Known For
Politecnico di Milano	Milan	Engineering, applied sciences
Politecnico di Torino	Turin	Engineering, ICT

Architecture and Design

For architecture and design, Politecnico di Milano is the name that keeps coming up, it's one of the top schools in the world for this subject, and not only in Italy. 

If architecture and design is what you're chasing, Milan is where most of your options will be.

Best Design Universities in Italy

University	City	Known For
Politecnico di Milano	Milan	Architecture
Domus Academy	Milan	Design
NABA	Milan	Design, fine arts
Istituto Marangoni	Milan	Fashion, design

Science and Research

When it comes to science and research, two names really stand out from the rest. University of Padova is known for its work in medical and scientific research, while Pisa is home to two smaller but seriously respected research schools. 

Best Universities in Italy for Science and Research

University	City	Known For
University of Padova	Padova	Medical and scientific research
Sapienza University of Rome	Rome	Research across multiple fields
Scuola Normale Superiore	Pisa	Elite research school
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna	Pisa	Elite research school

Affordable Universities in Italy

Public universities in Italy don't charge the same fee to everyone, and that's something a lot of students don't know until they actually start researching. This is exactly why Italy comes up so often when people search for the best public universities in Italy for international students. 

Some of the best public universities in Italy let students pay close to nothing at all, and the table below shows just how low these fees can actually go. 

Best Public Universities in Italy

University Name	Annual Fee (EUR/INR)
University of Milan	€0 (INR 0)
University of Padova	€0 (INR 0)
University of Bologna	€157 (INR 14,130)
Sapienza University of Rome	€300 (INR 27,000)
University of Pisa	€390 (INR 35,100)

 

Tuition Fees at Universities in Italy

Tuition fees in Italy can range anywhere from €0 to over €18,000 (INR 0 to 16.7L) a year, depending on which university you pick and your family's income. Every figure below comes straight from each university's own official fee page, so none of this is guesswork.

Fees generally fall into three tiers, affordable public universities, mid-range public universities, and high-fee private ones. Here's how they break down.

Tuition Fees for International Students

Most public universities in Italy use the ISEE system, where your family's income decides your final fee. Private universities like Bocconi and Cattolica work differently and charge a flat range instead, though some do offer income-based reductions too.

Affordable Tier (Under €2,000 a Year)

University	Annual Fee Range	INR Equivalent
University of Milan	€0 – €4,101	INR 0 – 3.69L
University of Padova	€0 – €3,075	INR 0 – 2.77L
University of Bologna	€157 – €4,000	INR 14,130 – 3.6L
Sapienza University of Rome	€300 – €1,500	INR 27,000 – 1.35L
University of Pisa	€390 – €2,900	INR 35,100 – 2.61L

Mid Tier (€2,000 – €5,000 a Year)

University	Annual Fee Range	INR Equivalent
Politecnico di Milano	€900 – €3,900	INR 81,000 – 3.51L
Politecnico di Torino	€600 – €4,000	INR 54,000 – 3.6L
University of Rome Tor Vergata	€2,000 – €3,000	INR 1.8L – 2.7L
University of Pavia	€390 – €4,550	INR 35,100 – 4.1L

High Tier (Private Universities)

University	Annual Fee Range	INR Equivalent
Università Cattolica	€3,800 – €11,500	INR 3.42L – 10.35L
Bocconi University	€17,000 – €18,550	INR 15.3L – 16.7L

Additional Costs Beyond Tuition

Tuition is just one part of the bill. Every student, no matter which university they pick, ends up paying a few extra fixed charges on top of it.

Here's what those usually add up to:

• Regional tax, usually between €120 to €200 (INR 10,800 – 18,000) a year
• Stamp duty, a flat €16 (INR 1,440)
• Health insurance, roughly €120 to €150 (INR 10,800 – 13,500) a year
• Dichiarazione di Valore and document translation costs, which vary by country

Admission Requirements for Universities in Italy

Italy receives thousands of international applications through a single portal, Universitaly, which is why the requirements stay largely standardized across different public universities. That said, there can still be some variation depending on whether you're applying for a bachelor's or a master's.

Here's an overview of what each degree type actually asks for.

Bachelor's Admission Requirements

Applying for a bachelor's degree right after high school comes with its own specific checklist. Here's what you'll generally need to have ready.

Bachelor's Admission Checklist

Requirement	Details
Secondary school diploma	Completed and certified
Dichiarazione di Valore	Issued by the Italian consulate
IELTS or TOEFL score	Required for English-taught programs
Entrance exam scores	Needed for design, architecture and similar programs

Master's Admission Requirements

Master's applications ask for a slightly different set of documents, mostly because you're building on top of an existing degree. Here's what universities usually look for.

Master's Admission Checklist

Requirement	Details
Bachelor's degree	Must be in a related field
Academic transcripts	From your bachelor's program
GMAT or GRE score	Only for some business programs
Motivation letter or SOP	Required by most universities
English proficiency score	Usually IELTS 6.5 and above

English Language Requirements

Language requirements can genuinely make or break your application, so it's worth checking this early instead of at the last minute. Here's what most universities in Italy actually ask for.

• IELTS score of 6.0 to 6.5 for most programs
• TOEFL score of 80 to 90 as an alternative
• IELTS 6.5 to 7.0 for competitive programs like the ones at Bocconi
• A Medium of Instruction certificate accepted instead of IELTS at some universities, especially if your earlier education was fully in English

How to Apply to Universities in Italy?

Applying to a university in Italy actually involves two systems working together, the university itself and a government portal called Universitaly. Sounds like a lot on paper, but once you break it into steps, it's honestly pretty manageable.

Here's how the whole process plays out from start to finish.

Shortlist Universities and Courses

Before you apply anywhere, you need to narrow down your list. A few things to check before you shortlist:

• Rankings and how the university performs globally
• Subject strength, since not every university is strong in every field
• Tuition fees and how they fit your budget
• The city itself, since cost of living varies a lot across Italy

Try to shortlist 3 to 4 universities you genuinely want to study at.

Check Eligibility and Documents

Once you've shortlisted your universities, it's time to get your paperwork sorted. Here's what this step usually involves:

• Checking each university's specific eligibility criteria
• Getting your documents translated where needed
• Getting documents apostilled if your country requires it
• Starting your Dichiarazione di Valore process early, since it can take a few weeks

Submit the Application and Track Admission

This is where you actually apply. The process happens in a specific order:

• Apply through the Universitaly portal first for pre-enrollment
• Apply directly to your chosen university next
• Wait for your acceptance from the university
• Get your pre-enrollment confirmed by the Italian embassy
• Move on to your student visa application

Scholarships to Study at Universities in Italy

Italy genuinely tries to make education accessible, and scholarships are a big part of how it does that. Between government funded scholarships and university specific grants, there are actually a good number of options for international students to explore.

Here's a closer look at what's available and how the whole process works.

Scholarships for International Students

Scholarships in Italy generally fall into two categories, government funded ones like DSU and MAECI, and university specific grants offered by individual schools. Here's how the major ones compare.

Scholarship	Covers	Amount
DSU Regional Scholarship	Tuition waiver, accommodation, meals, plus cash stipend	Up to €7,184 (INR 6.47L) a year, based on ISEE
MAECI Scholarship	Tuition plus monthly stipend	€900 (INR 81,000) a month, roughly €9,000 to €10,800 (INR 8.1L – 9.72L) a year
Unibo Action (Bologna)	Tuition and study grant	Up to €11,000 (INR 9.9L)

How to Find and Apply for Scholarships

Most scholarships open applications right after you get your admission letter, though the exact timing changes depending on which one you're going for. Here's what the timeline generally looks like:

• DSU applications usually open around July
• MAECI applications open earlier in the year, around March
• University specific scholarships vary, so it's worth checking each school's own page

Keep your ISEE or ISEE Parificato ready well in advance. It genuinely saves you from missing deadlines later, since these documents can take a few weeks to process.

Cost of Living for Students in Italy

Living costs in Italy really come down to which city you pick. Milan and Rome cost noticeably more, while smaller cities like Bologna and Naples cost a lot less.

Here's a breakdown by category first, followed by how the total cost shifts across a few popular student cities.

Monthly Cost of Living by Category 

 

Category	Estimated Monthly Cost
Accommodation	€400 – 700 (INR 36,000 – 63,000)
Food and Groceries	€200 – 300 (INR 18,000 – 27,000)
Local Transport	€30 – 50 (INR 2,700 – 4,500)
Utilities	€80 – 120 (INR 7,200 – 10,800)
Personal Expenses	€100 – 200 (INR 9,000 – 18,000)
Total	€810 – 1,370 (INR 72,900 – 1.23L)

Source: Numbeo

Monthly Cost of Living by City

City	Estimated Monthly Cost
Milan	€1,200 – 1,600 (INR 1.08L – 1.44L)
Rome	€1,000 – 1,400 (INR 90,000 – 1.26L)
Bologna	€800 – 1,100 (INR 72,000 – 99,000)
Naples	€600 – 900 (INR 54,000 – 81,000)

Source: Numbeo

Career Opportunities After Studying in Italy

Once you graduate, Italy actually gives you a real shot at staying back and working, which is more than a lot of countries offer these days. Non-EU graduates get a 12 month job search permit called Permesso di Attesa Occupazione, and once you land a job, your employer helps convert it into a proper work permit.

Fresh graduates in Italy typically earn between €18,000 to €28,000 (INR 16.2L to 25.2L) a year according to Glassdoor, though this changes a lot based on your field and city. Engineering graduates tend to sit at the higher end, especially in Milan.

Popular Sectors and Average Starting Salaries

Sector	Common Cities	Approximate Starting Salary (EUR/INR)
Fashion	Milan	€22,000 – 28,000 (INR 19.8L – 25.2L)
Engineering	Milan, Turin	€26,000 – 35,000 (INR 23.4L – 31.5L)
Tourism	Rome, Florence	€18,000 – 24,000 (INR 16.2L – 21.6L)
Technology	Milan	€28,000 – 32,000 (INR 25.2L – 28.8L)

Source: Glassdoor

How to Choose the Right University in Italy?

With so many good options on the table, picking one can honestly feel harder than the actual application process. A few factors usually end up mattering more than the rest, so it helps to break them down one by one.

Here's what to actually weigh before you make your final decision.

Course and Career Goals

Your subject choice should really be the starting point, since it narrows things down fast. Here's a quick guide based on what you want to study.

• Business, Bocconi is hard to beat
• Engineering, look at the two Politecnicos, Milan and Torino
• Design, Milan's private design schools are worth exploring
• Science and research, Padova and Pisa's research schools stand out

Tuition, Living Costs and Budget

Money matters just as much as the course itself, so this step deserves real attention. Here's what to factor in:

• Your family's ISEE, which directly decides your fee at public universities
• The city you pick, since Milan and Rome cost a lot more to live in than Bologna or Pisa
• Extra costs like health insurance, regional tax, and document processing

Location, Student Life and Language

The kind of city life you want plays a bigger role than most students expect. Here's how a few cities compare:

• Milan, fast paced and corporate
• Bologna, relaxed and genuinely student focused
• Rome, historic with a slower everyday pace
• Turin, quieter with a strong engineering crowd

Conclusion

Italy genuinely offers something rare, world class education without the world class price tag most other countries charge. There's a path here that fits your budget and your goals, no matter what you're looking for.

• Best public universities in Italy for low cost, high quality education
• Best design universities in Italy if fashion or design is your focus
• Best MBA university in Italy if business is your goal

Italy has close to 90 universities, and many rank among the best in the world for their specific subjects. So it really comes down to matching your interests to the right school, rather than chasing one big name.

Just start early, get your ISEE and documents sorted well in time, and the whole process becomes a lot less stressful than it looks on paper.

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