While most people know that Italy is a popular destination for tourists, less are aware that this beautiful and sunny country is also an attractive destination for thousands of international students.
If you consider studying in Italy, a couple of questions might pop up, such as: can you study an English-taught Bachelorโs or Masterโs in Italy? And which are the best Italian universities where you can study in English?
Letโs find out!
How many English-taught universities are there in Italy?
No official database provides an exact number of English-taught universities in Italy. However, based on the study programmes listed on our portals, we can tell you that there are:
- over 185 English-taught Bachelors in Italy
- over 700 English-taught Masters in Italy
- over 70 English-taught PhDs in Italy
- over 150 English-taught distance-learning (online) courses
Here are some universities we recommend in Italy:
- SDA Bocconi School of Management
- Universitร Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
- Tor Vergata University of Rome
- University of Siena
- University of Pavia
How do I know if an Italian university teaches in English?
All the study programmes listed by universities and colleges on our portals are taught in English, so thatโs a good start. You can also check more information about language requirements for each degree.
Italian universities (or other websites) might list additional English-taught programmes on their web pages.
In that case, youโll have to do a bit of research to find out if those programmes are taught in English or if international students are eligible to apply. Should you struggle to find this information, donโt hesitate to contact the university directly.
To apply at English-taught academic institutions in Italy, youโll have to pass one of the following widely accepted English language tests:
- PTE Academic
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
Learn more aboutย IELTS vs TOEFL vs PTE Academic.ย
Is English enough to live and study in Italy?
Like Spain, Italy isnโt known for being an anglophone country. While the English language will be enough to study there, it wonโt be enough to live or settle in Italy.
Learning at least the basics of the Italian language will help you travel around, ask for help or find items faster while shopping. And, who knows, Italian can also open new opportunities for you depending on your future career plans.
With that in mind, here is a short list of free resources to get you started:
- Learn Italian with Duolingo
- Learn Italian with the Italian Experiment
- Learn Italian on the ItalianPod101 YouTube channel
The best English-taught universities in Italy
Based on the latest QS Rankings, these are the best Italian universities where you can study in English:
- Politecnico di Milano
- University of Bologna
- Sapienza Univeristy of Rome
- University of Padua
- University of Milan
- Politecnico di Torino
- University of Pisa
- Universitร Vita-Salute San Raffaele
- University of Naples โ Federico II
- University of Trento
Check out other top-ranked universities in Italy.
Affordable English-taught universities in Italy
Want to study an affordable degree in Italy? In this case, public universities are the right choice. Their tuition fees usually range between 0 and 5,000 EUR per academic year.
Keep in mind that at some universities (or study programmes), these fees apply to all international students. At others, they only apply to EU/EEA citizens; so always double-check what tuition applies to you!
Learn more about tuition and living costs in Italy.
Application requirements at English-taught universities in Italy
To give you a broad idea of what to expect, here are some of the most common application requirements at Italian universities:
- Previous diplomas: high-school, Bachelorโs, or Masterโs
- Academic transcript of records or grades
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Copy of ID or passport
- Up to 4 passport-size photos
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal essay or statement
Study in Italy
Praising Italy might be the most complicated thing in the world: where do you even start?. Do you mention a bunch of famous Italians, like da Vinci, Borgia, Versace, and Vivaldi? Or just mention the fields they revolutionised, like Architecture, Music, Engineering, and Fashion?
I could just focus on the brilliant landscapes and the UNESCO World Heritage sites, or how awesome Italian people are, with their pastas, wines, and signature hand gesture, but it would be redundant.
Bottom line is simply: Italy is awesome!
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 โ 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 โ 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 โ 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 youโre the type of student who wants to go only to the best universities, disregarding the city youโre 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
- Universitร 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, thereโs no wonder the list of โmost sought-afterโ 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 youโre not sure which are those, or youโre simply searching for details about living costs and geography, you can always check out these cities in Italy:
How to apply
The application process in Italy can be complicated, but weโre here to help and trace the major lines.
First of all, you should contact the university youโre 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 embassyโs or consulateโs 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 youโre applying to Architecture, Urban Planning, or Design programmes
- Official SAT or ACT scores
Helpful ways to make sure you qualify for an Italian university
Take Preparation Courses
These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Masterโs degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.
Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.
Improve your English through an English-language prep course
If youโre attending a degree programme in Italy, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures; some schools will require strong English or Italian skills. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.
English-language tests
Italian universities have programmes that are taught either in English or in Italian. Thatโs why, in order to be accepted at one of their programmes, you will need to provide proof of either English or Italian proficiency.
The language tests accepted by Italian universities for English are:
- PTE Academic
- TOEFL
- IELTS
- C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency
Bachelor’s Degrees in Italy
- Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)65 programmes
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)58 programmes
- Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.)8 programmes
Education initiatives created in the past years greatly encourage university international cooperation and academic exchange attracting Bachelors degree students and staff from all over the world. These policies also facilitate mobility of students, graduates and higher education staff. Specialized institutions help prepare students for their future careers and, most importantly, they offer broad global access to high-quality higher education.
The possibility to study worldwide, for instance in Australia, Asia, Europe or North America, opens up opportunities to see more of the world. Not just because you would have the opportunity to travel, but also because it is becoming increasingly easier to go abroad to follow a semester at a different university. There is a wide range of different study options, and one of them can prove to be your dream Bachelors degree programme.
The number of English-taught Bachelors degrees in the world has increased explosively in the last couple of years. Some of the countries with the most English-taught study programmes include Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. However, higher education is often delivered in English in many other countries as well. From highly ranked research universities to smaller, specialised universities, the choices are endless.
Bachelors Degree
A bachelors degree is an academic degree earned for an undergraduate course of study that could range in length of time. This depends on the country, discipline and sometimes the education institution. There is usually a difference between professional and academic bachelor programmes. A professional bachelor?s degree usually takes 4 to 5 years to complete, while an academic bachelor is 3 years long, in most countries. Although this is not always a general rule.
Bachelors degrees exist in almost every country in the world. The study programmes mainly lead to degrees such as: Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Law (LL.B.), Bachelor of Business (B.BA), amongst others.
A one-year honours degree can be achieved after the completion of a regular Bachelors degree in the same field. Sometimes, this means one year of research culminating with a written thesis. It is usually available only to students who achieve high scores in their previous years of undergraduate studies.
At some universities, you have the option of a joint honours degree. This requires at least half of the credits required for each of the respective majors (two subject areas). The subject areas do not have to be highly related, but they usually overlap both faculties and subjects.
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