Public Universities in Italy

Public universities in Italy are government-funded institutions that offer degrees recognised across the EU, at tuition fees calculated on family income rather than a flat rate, typically ranging from €900 to €4,000 (around ₹0.97L to ₹4.33L) a year. Italy runs close to 90 of them, including some of the world's oldest and most highly ranked institutions.

For Indian students, that scale matters. It means genuine choice across disciplines and cities, degrees recognised under the Bologna framework, and tuition fees that are a fraction of what you'd pay in the US, UK, or Australia, without giving up on global rankings or research quality.

In this guide, we'll walk through which public universities are worth shortlisting, what they actually cost once income-based fee structures are factored in, which scholarships can bring that cost down further, and exactly how to apply.

Which Are the Best Public Universities in Italy?

Five names come up again and again when Indian students research public universities in Italy, and for good reason. Each one has climbed global rankings meaningfully in the newest edition. Here's a closer look at each.

University in Italy	QS World University Ranking 2027
Politecnico di Milano	=87
Sapienza University of Rome	=111
University of Bologna	#123
University of Padua	#204
Politecnico di Torino	=206

Politecnico di Milano

Italy's top-ranked university overall, and the one most Indian engineering applicants shortlist first. It sits at 87th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 98th the year before, making it the country's only university inside the global top 90. It's the clear leader for engineering, architecture, and design in Italy, and one of the few Italian institutions with programs that regularly crack global top-10 subject lists.

Sapienza University of Rome

Ranked 111th globally, its best result yet, up sharply from 77th... actually, up from a lower historical position, climbing well over a hundred spots across the past decade. It's also one of the largest universities in Europe by enrolment, with real depth across medicine, law, and the humanities. It holds the world's top spot in Classics and Ancient History, which is worth knowing if that's your field.

University of Bologna

The oldest university in the world, founded in 1088, ranks 123rd globally. It's still a heavyweight in law, social sciences, and humanities, and this is the university where the "Bologna Process," the framework that standardised European higher education, actually began. History aside, it remains one of the more competitive names on this list for humanities applicants.

University of Padua

Ranked 204th globally, and by far the biggest mover among Italian institutions this year, up from 336th. That's one of the sharpest single-year jumps in the country. Its pull is mostly in research-driven science and medicine programs, and it's a smaller city than Milan or Rome, which shows up later in the cost comparison.

Politecnico di Torino

Ranked 206th globally, right behind Padua, and it's Turin's answer to Milan's Politecnico. Strong reputation in engineering and architecture, generally seen as a solid, slightly less competitive alternative to Politecnico di Milano for similar subjects.

If you're weighing these against Italy's private options too, this breakdown of the best universities in Italy covers both sides. 

How Much Do Public Universities in Italy Cost?

Public university fees in Italy sit lower than almost anywhere else in Western Europe, but the exact number depends heavily on which university, which program, and your family's income. Here's how the costs actually break down.

Tuition Fees by University

Annual tuition varies quite a bit even among these five universities, so it's worth comparing them side by side before you shortlist.

University in Italy	Estimated Annual Tuition Fee (EUR)	Approximate Annual Tuition Fee (INR)
Sapienza University of Rome	€1,000–€1,500	₹1.08 lakh–₹1.62 lakh
Politecnico di Milano	€1,600–€3,900	₹1.73 lakh–₹4.22 lakh
University of Bologna	€2,000–€3,000	₹2.16 lakh–₹3.25 lakh
University of Padua	€900–€4,000	₹97,000–₹4.33 lakh
Politecnico di Torino	€2,800–€3,500	₹3.03 lakh–₹3.79 lakh

For comparison, private Italian universities typically charge €6,000 to €20,000 (around ₹6.49L to ₹21.63L) a year, which is why most Indian applicants stick with the public route.

Why Fees Vary by Income

Italian public universities don't charge a flat rate, and this trips up a lot of first-time applicants. Most calculate your fee using the ISEE, a certified statement of your family's income and assets. Students from lower-income households can end up paying close to nothing, while those from wealthier backgrounds land at the upper end of the range. 

International students submit an equivalent version called the ISEE Parificato. It's worth asking your target university early on exactly how this is calculated for non-EU applicants, since the process and paperwork differ slightly by institution.

Cost of Living by City

Tuition is only half the budget conversation. Where you study changes your monthly spend more than the university itself does, and the categories that actually add up are rent, food, transport, and the smaller recurring bills people tend to forget about.

Monthly Living Expense Category	Milan	Rome / Bologna	Smaller Cities (Pisa, Padua)
Accommodation (Shared Room or Studio)	€500–€600 (INR 54,085–64,902)	€400–€500 (INR 43,268–54,085)	€350–€500 (INR 37,860–54,085)
Food and Groceries	€200–€300 (INR 21,634–32,451)	€150–€250 (INR 16,226–27,043)	€150–€200 (INR 16,226–21,634)
Local Transportation	€35–€50 (INR 3,786–5,409)	€30–€40 (INR 3,245–4,327)	€20–€30 (INR 2,163–3,245)
Utilities (Electricity, Water, and Internet)	€80–€120 (INR 8,654–12,980)	€70–€100 (INR 7,572–10,817)	€60–€90 (INR 6,490–9,736)
Other Personal and Leisure Expenses	€50–€100 (INR 5,409–10,817)	€50–€80 (INR 5,409–8,654)	€40–€70 (INR 4,327–7,572)

Milan runs highest across nearly every category. Rome and Bologna sit in the middle. Smaller university towns like Pisa or Padua tend to come in lower on rent especially, which adds up meaningfully over a two- or three-year program. For a fuller breakdown of rent, food, and transport costs by city, this guide to accommodation in Italy is worth a look before you shortlist a city. 

If you're specifically comparing costs for a master's program rather than a bachelor's, the fee structure and duration work a little differently, and this guide to masters in Italy breaks that down separately. 

What Scholarships Can Cover Your Costs?

Given how low public university fees already are, Italy's scholarship system is built to bring costs down even further, sometimes to zero. Here's what's actually available and how each one works.

DSU Regional Scholarship

The DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) is the one most Indian students end up applying for, and it's also the one most commonly misunderstood. A few things worth getting right before you apply:

• It's regional, not national. Each region, Tuscany, Piedmont, Lazio, Lombardy, and others, runs its own DSU office with its own deadlines and application portal. Applying through the wrong region gets your application rejected outright, so confirm which regional authority covers your specific university before you start.
• Full winners ("Vincitore") get a tuition waiver, free or subsidised accommodation, meal coverage, and an annual cash grant of up to €6,806 to €7,000 (around ₹7.36L to ₹7.57L), depending on the region.
• Students who qualify but miss out on funding due to limited seats are marked "Idoneo non vincitore." You still get the tuition waiver and meals, just not the cash stipend or guaranteed dorm space.
• Eligibility is based on family income, verified through the ISEE Parificato, with thresholds generally falling between €23,000 and €26,000 (around ₹24.88L to ₹28.12L) annually.

Other Scholarships Worth Knowing

Beyond DSU, several universities run their own merit-based awards worth checking alongside the regional route. Politecnico di Milano and the University of Bologna both offer tuition waivers plus stipends for strong applicants, and government-run options like the MAECI scholarship cover tuition, insurance, and a monthly allowance for postgraduate and PhD students. A full list of what's currently open, along with eligibility and deadlines, is covered in this guide to scholarships for Italy.

Suggested Read: Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy 

What Are the Eligibility and Admission Requirements?

Requirements shift a bit by degree level and program, but the broad framework holds across most public universities. Here's what applies where.

Academic Eligibility

For a bachelor's, you'll generally need a completed 12th grade with subjects relevant to your intended course, plus for select programs, a basic aptitude or logic test. Master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree, and some programs ask for a minimum grade threshold. Medicine runs on its own track entirely, through the IMAT entrance exam rather than direct admission; the MBBS in Italy guide covers that process in detail. Business and management applicants aiming for postgraduate study should also check the MBA in Italy breakdown, since top programs there often run separate application timelines from standard master's degrees. 

English Proficiency

Most public universities accept IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 for English-taught programs. If your prior education, particularly Class 12 or your undergraduate degree, was conducted in English, several universities will waive the test requirement altogether. This depends entirely on the specific institution's policy though, so confirm it directly rather than assuming it applies to you.

Suggested Read: Student Visa for Italy 

How Do You Apply: A Step by Step Guide?

Public university applications in Italy mostly run through one central system, which keeps the process more predictable than it looks at first glance. Here's the sequence most applicants follow.

1. Shortlist your course and university based on your academic background and budget.
2. Apply through the Universitaly portal, the government's official pre-enrolment system, or directly through the university's own application system where applicable.
3. Submit your documents, including transcripts, English proficiency scores, and a statement of purpose, for evaluation.
4. Receive your conditional or confirmed offer, and begin your student visa application at the Italian consulate.
5. Apply for DSU or other scholarships separately and as early as possible, since deadlines don't always align with your admission timeline.
6. Complete visa formalities and enrolment once your offer is confirmed.

Suggested Read: Study in Italy 

Which Public Universities Are Cheapest in Italy?

If budget is the deciding factor over ranking, it's worth looking past Milan and Rome entirely. Universities in Puglia, Calabria, and Sicily tend to charge lower tuition and sit in cities with noticeably lower rent and living costs. They won't match Politecnico di Milano or Sapienza on global rankings, but for students prioritising affordability over prestige, particularly at the undergraduate level, these regions are worth researching directly through their university websites.

Is a Public University in Italy Worth It for Indian Students?

For most Indian students, yes, and the math is fairly straightforward. You're getting an EU-recognised degree, tuition that rarely crosses ₹4 lakh a year even at the upper end, and a genuine shot at reducing that further through DSU or merit scholarships. The trade-off is competition for English-taught seats in top programs, which fills up faster than most people expect, so applying early in the admission cycle matters more than chasing one specific university.

If you're just starting to compare Italy against other study-abroad options, start with your budget and preferred field of study, shortlist two or three universities across different fee brackets, and apply to DSU in parallel rather than after you've secured admission. That single sequencing decision is where most applicants either save a full year's tuition or miss the scholarship window entirely.

Have more questions? Book a Free 1:1 Live Session with upGrad Experts Today! We are here to help!