Italy
Home to some of the world’s oldest universities, Italy offers a unique blend of high-quality education, art, history, and culture at an affordable cost.
General Information for Italy
- Academic Requirements: A 3- or 4-year Bachelor’s degree is required. Universities look for a GPA of 2.7 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), or around 65-70%. Some competitive programs may have entrance exams.
- English Proficiency: The minimum requirement is often IELTS 5.5 – 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 72-80.
- Accommodation: Student housing is limited. Private rooms in shared apartments are common, costing €300 – €600/month. Cities like Milan and Rome are more expensive.
- Bank Savings / Statement Requirements: Proof of financial stability is required for the visa, amounting to €467.65 per month, which totals €6,079.45 for the academic year. This is typically shown via a personal or family bank statement for the last 6 months.
- University Payment: After admission, students typically pay the first installment of their tuition fee, which can range from €200 to €1,000, to proceed with the visa application. The balance is paid after arriving in Italy.
- Application Deadlines: Pre-enrollment via the Universitaly portal is a key step. Deadlines vary but are generally from April to July for the September intake.
- Embassy Fees: The Italian National Visa (Type D for study) fee is €50.
- Mock Interview Process: The visa interview is relatively straightforward. The officer verifies the authenticity of documents and the student’s intention. Be prepared to answer:
- Why this university and city in Italy?
- Details about your course structure.
- Who is sponsoring you and what is their source of income?
- Where will you stay in Italy?
- Job Opportunities:
- Weekly Job Hours: Students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week.
- Per Hour Salary: There is no national minimum wage. Part-time job salaries vary widely by region and sector, typically ranging from €7 to €10 per hour.
- Document Notary & Attestation: This is a critical step. Academic documents require a Declaration of Value (DOV) or a Statement of Comparability from CIMEA. This involves getting the documents attested by relevant educational boards and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by legalization at the Italian Embassy/Consulate.
Top Universities in Italy
University Name | University Area Name | Avg. Tuition Fees (Public) | Application Fee | Lowest English Score (IELTS) |
University of Bologna | Bologna | €2,000 – €3,000/year | €50 | 6.0 |
Sapienza University of Rome | Rome | €1,000 – €3,000/year | €30 | 6.5 |
University of Padua | Padua | ~€2,600/year | €30 | 6.0 |
University of Milan | Milan | €1,500 – €4,000/year | €30 | 6.0 |
Polytechnic University of Milan | Milan | ~€3,900/year | €50 | 6.0 |
University of Pisa | Pisa | ~€2,400/year | €50 | 5.5 |
University of Turin | Turin | ~€2,800/year | €50 | 5.5 |
University of Florence | Florence | ~€2,600/year | €0 | 5.5 |
University of Naples Federico II | Naples | ~€2,000/year | €10 | 6.0 |
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice | Venice | ~€2,100/year | €30 | 6.0 |