More than 500 English-taught study programs are currently offered in the country. Every year, there are more and more opportunities to learn in English in Italy.
Read more of this post to see details on italy university admission 2022 deadline, public universities in italy, cheapest universities in italy for international students, and top universities in italy for international students.
Do Italian universities teach in English?
Italian universities offer study programmes taught both in Italian and English. However, most English study programmes are available at postgraduate level (Master’s degrees and PhD courses).
English Universities In Italy
The best English-taught universities in Italy
- Politecnico di Milano.
- University of Bologna.
- Sapienza Univeristy of Rome.
- University of Padua.
- University of Milan.
- Politecnico di Torino.
- University of Pisa.
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.
1. Italian universities to consider for your studies
Here are some top universities in Italy you should consider for your study abroad adventure:
- Politecnico di Milano
- SDA Bocconi School of Management
- Politecnico di Torino
- University of Pisa
- University of Padova
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
- Tor Vergata University of Rome
Check out more universities with English-taught Masters in Italy.
2. Prepare to apply
Before applying to a university in Italy, you will first need to check if your qualifications are considered eligible for higher education studies:
- Check the tuition fees and living costs. Cities in Italy might be beautiful, but can be fairly expensive depending on the limits of your budget.
- Contact the university you are interested in and ask for a prior assessment.
- The university will give you feedback regarding your eligibility; if you meet the admission requirements, then you will have to submit a pre-application request to the Italian embassy or consulate in your area.
- The Italian embassy or consulate will submit your application and documents to the Italian higher education institution you chose to apply to.
- The Italian embassy or consulate publishes a list of admitted candidates usually at the end of August.
Remember to look for scholarship opportunities in Italy. You can also check out the Studyportals Scholarship to get some help on financing your studies abroad.
3. University application tips
Admitted students are usually ranked based on their grade point average (GPA) from previous studies. Check with your favourite universities and see the minimum GPA you need to obtain in order to qualify for the degree you wish to study.
You may have to attend specific admission exams for certain specialised fields of study, such as:
Students from countries where admission to university is possible after 10 or 11 years of study must prove that they have passed all necessary examinations for two years or one year, in order to reach the total of twelve years of study.
4. Language requirements for the Italian university application
Italian universities offer study programmes taught both in Italian and English. However, most English study programmes are available at postgraduate level (Master’s degrees and PhD courses).
At some Italian universities, you may have the option to apply for degrees taught in the Italian language, but take the assignments and exams in English. The following are the language tests accepted by universities in Italy:
Italian language tests
- CILS – exam may be taken in Italy and at Italian Institutes of Culture worldwide
- CELI – take the exam at certified centres in partnership with the University of Perugia
English language tests
Students who can prove that English was the medium of instruction of their Bachelor’s degree (at least for three years) are exempted from providing any English language certification.
The University of Bologna is the world’s oldest university, founded in 1088. The Bologna Process was held and named after the institution, befitting its time-honored academic tradition in Europe. Presently, the university has 232 degree programs. Eighty-four of these are international, and 68 are taught in English. Significant subjects include medicine, mathematics, hard sciences, economics, engineering, and philosophy. Because it has excellent research activities and is among the top universities, the University of Bologna is the best university in Italy for international students.
UNIBO has five campuses all over Italy, and a branch in Buenos Aires, ensuring quality education reaches the whole region. The university develops cross-cultural competence with several global strategies too. Domestic and international students will have a rich learning experience with excellent academic services, sports facilities, and student clubs.
- Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA / Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna de Pisa)
Tuition Fees
The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, or Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, is one of the best public universities in Italy for international students. It is a leading model of a Superior Graduate School (grandes écoles), which means a prestigious institution autonomous from the government. They are known for advanced teaching and research and a highly competitive admission process. The fields of study are mainly social sciences (e.g., business and economics) and experimental sciences (e.g., medical and industrial sciences).
This elite university aces international rankings, especially young university rankings. Its Economics course is outstanding in Italy, and the Specialized Graduate Study is gaining international attention. Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna is located in the historic town of Pisa in Tuscany, a region known for its beaches and vineyards.
- Scuola Normale Superiore (La Normale)
Tuition Fees
Scuola Normale Superiore is an Italian university established by Napoleon in 1810. The leader’s decree aimed to train teachers in the empire and subsequently educate its citizens. Until now, la Normale places first in Italy on the Teaching category in several rankings. The institution was also the first in Italy to create a PhD program back in 1927.
As a top Italian university for international students, Scuola Normale Superiore offers programs in humanities, mathematical & natural sciences, and political & social sciences. Admission to this university is a rigorous process, but accepted students do not pay any fees. The la Normale has campuses in the historic cities of Pisa and Florence.
- Sapienza University of Rome (Sapienza)
Tuition Fees
Sapienza University is a prestigious university in Rome and one of the oldest in the world. Since 1303, Sapienza has been home to notable historical figures, Nobel Prize winners, and key players in Italian politics. Its present teaching and research have placed the institution among the top 3% in the world. Classics & Ancient History, and Archaeology are some of its leading subjects. The university has significant research contributions in biomedical sciences, natural sciences, humanities, and engineering.
Sapienza is first in Italy in the Academic Reputation category, attracting over 1500 international students every year. Furthermore, it is known for its historical library, 18 museums, and the School of Aerospace Engineering.
- University of Padua (UNIPD)
Admissions Page
Tuition Fees
The University of Padua, one of the best universities in Italy for international students, was initially established as a school of law and theology in 1222 by a group of scholars to pursue more academic freedom. Today, the university has eight schools with 32 departments. Its degrees are broad and multidisciplinary, ranging from Information Engineering to Cultural Heritage to Neurosciences. UNIPD is part of the Coimbra Group, an international league of research universities.
Its campus in the art city of Padua is home to its medieval buildings, library, museum, and a university hospital. The university also operates the Padua Botanical Garden and Astronomical Observatory at Asiago.
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (UniSR)
Tuition Fees
The Vita-Salute San Raffaele University is a private university dedicated to Medicine, Philosophy, and Psychology. These three faculties fortify the university’s practice of humanistic medicine. It ranks first in Italy for research citations in international journals. UniSR is renowned for its exceptional primary care as experienced by its affiliated medical institution, the San Raffaele Hospital.
UniSR offers an international MD program held in English. Students can also study in its internationally recognized science park. The UniSR campus is a student-centered environment that includes high-quality teaching, research, sports, and living facilities.
- University of Trento (UniTrento)
Admissions Page
Tuition Fees
The University of Trento started as a social science institute in 1962 and pioneered the first Faculty of Sociology in Italy. Over time, it has expanded into physics, mathematics, psychology, industrial engineering, biology, economics, and law. This top university in Italy presently has ten academic departments and several doctoral schools. UniTrento values internationalization and has alliances with educational institutions globally.
UniTrento confirms its first-class teaching by acing several international university rankings. It especially excelled in Young Universities rankings and Microsoft Academic Ranking that recognized its computer science department.
- University of Milan (UniMi / La Statale)
Tuition Fees
The University of Milan is a leading public research university in Italy for international students with over 64000 students, making it one of the largest universities in Europe. It comprises ten faculties of 33 departments and 53 research centers. UniMi provides quality education overall and is best known in sociology, philosophy, political science, and law. It is also the only institution in Italy included in the 23-member League of European Research Universities.
The campus of La Statale includes historic buildings, a rich archive, botanical gardens, and the Brera Astronomical Observatory for students to enjoy. The university implements comprehensive internationalization strategies to increase its current 2000 international students.
- University of Milano-Bicocca (Bicocca / UNIMIB)
Admissions Page
Tuition Fees
The University of Milano-Bicocca is a young and future-oriented university in Milan and Monza. Its subject areas include Sociology, Psychology, Law, Sciences, Economics, Medicine & Surgery, and Educational Sciences. Research in Bicocca covers a broad range of topics with a cross-disciplinary approach. This top university in Italy for international students transformed the Pirelli industrial complex into state-of-the-art learning facilities and research centers.
The UI GreenMetric World University Rankings awarded Bicocca for its environmental sustainability efforts. The university is also known for operating the Marine Research and High Education Center in the Maldives, which studies marine biology, tourism science, and environmental science.
- Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi)
Admissions Page
Tuition Fees
The Polytechnic University of Milan (in Italian, Politecnico di Milano) is Italy’s largest technical university dedicated to engineering, design, and architecture. From the QS World University Rankings results in 2020, the university placed 20th in Engineering & Technology. It ranked 9th for Civil & Structural Engineering, 9th for Mechanical Aerospace Engineering, 7th for Architecture, and 6th for Art & Design.
PoliMi, one of Italy’s top universities, has always focused on experimental research and technological transfer for a more productive world. It collaborates with leading European institutions and has extended to countries from North America to Southeast Asia. It also participates in scientific research globally with over 2000 patents and 700 inventions.
Universities In Italy For Masters
Why Study in Italy?
1. Italian universities are affordable
When compared to their Western counterparts, Italian public universities are incredibly affordable. If you come from an EU/EEA country, you won’t pay more than 4,000 EUR per year, and you can easily find much cheaper study programmes.
Non-EU/EEA citizens enjoy the same tuition rates in some cases, but in others they do pay more — which is why you should always check what tuition applies to students from your country.
2. Impressive higher education experience
The University of Bologna is the oldest university in Europe, having been established in 1088. That means it is almost 1,000 years old and still alive and kicking today!
Bologna is also the name of the process used by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) to create a more coherent, uniform, and attractive education system.
Many European countries follow this system. If you study at one university implementing it, your diploma will be recognised in any other country that’s part of the programme.
All in all, we’d say that Italy knows a thing or two about higher education and has a long and rich experience in this field.
3. Italy is at the forefront of fashion and architecture
One visit to Italy is enough to understand why it is considered a leader in terms of fashion, arts, and architecture. Milan is the stand out city, as one of the 4 fashion capitals of the world.
As for architecture, going through the charming Italian cities will reveal to you the beauty and unique style of buildings, which seem to have been lost in the process of developing the modern architecture.
4. Enjoy the Mediterranean climate
The warm sun, the sea breeze, the tasty fruits and vegetables — all are essential elements of the Mediterranean lifestyle, which is highly regarded for its health and wellness benefits.
Sardinia, for example, is one of the few “Blue Zones” in the world, where people often reach over 90 years of age.
5. Visit amazing and time defying historic sites
When you’re not in classes, take the time to visit some of the oldest and most impressive historic sites in Europe. From the Colosseum to the Pantheon, from the Valley of the Temples to Ostia Antica — all these places still carry their aura of former glory, an aura that can still be felt and explored nowadays.
Which universities to attend in Italy
If you’re the type of student who wants to go only to the best universities, disregarding the city you’re going to or the province best suited for you, you can always check out these highly-recommended universities:
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
- Istituto Europeo Di Design (IED)
- Politecnico di Milano
- SDA Bocconi School of Management
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
What is it like to study in Italy?
Everybody who gets to study in Italy says the same thing about the universities here: the professors and fellow students are friendly and helpful, the cultural landscape is very diverse, and the architecture of the universities is exquisite.
However, it might help if you study a bit of Italian before coming here: although they are warm and kind, it may be difficult to talk to them, because not everyone is fluent in English.
Also, although the tuition fees are rather low, you should check out scholarships in Italy: there are a lot of chances of discovering one that suits you and your study option.
What to study in Italy
Italy can be easily compared to that annoying colleague from high school who excelled at everything he or she did. Considering how many pioneers Italy has produced, there’s no wonder the list of “most sought-after” fields is so vast and comprehensive. Still, the most popular study options in Italy are:
- Masters in Economics in Italy
- Masters in Area & Cultural Studies in Italy
- Masters in Architecture in Italy
- Masters in International Relations in Italy
- Masters in Fashion Design in Italy
- Masters in Business Administration in Italy
Major cities in Italy
The greatest universities in Italy are usually located in the bigger cities. If you’re not sure which are those, or you’re simply searching for details about living costs and geography, you can always check out these cities in Italy:
- Study in Milan
- Study in Rome
- Study in Bolzano – Bozen
- Study in Bologna
- Study in Florence
How to apply
The application process in Italy can be complicated, but we’re here to help and trace the major lines.
First of all, you should contact the university you’re interested in and check if your qualifications are eligible. This is represented by a prior assessment, after which the university will give you feedback and tell you if you meet all the standards.
After, you will have to submit a pre-application request at your Italian embassy or consulate, and let them manage your application afterwards.
By the end of August, students will find a list of admitted candidates on the embassy’s or consulate’s page.
Some of the documents you will need to deliver with your application are:
- Your ID
- A passport-type photograph
- Your academic transcripts
- Your university application form
- A detailed study programme or course description, which must contain the number of hours of the courses or training activities that you have completed, according to your academic curriculum
- Your CV
- A letter of recommendation
- A letter of motivation
- Language proficiency certificate (English or Italian)
- Your portfolio, if you’re applying to Architecture, Urban Planning, or Design programmes
- Official SAT or ACT scores
Leave a Reply