Study in Italy 2026
Guide for International Students, Requirements, Visa and Costs
Studying in Italy is one of the most advantageous choices for international students seeking high-quality education, affordable costs, and an environment rich in culture and opportunities. Italy is one of the European countries most appreciated by international students, not only for the academic quality of its universities but also for its exceptional artistic, historical, and scientific heritage.
This complete guide explains step by step how to study in Italy as an international student, which documents are required, how the admission procedure works, what the requirements are, how to obtain a study visa, how much it costs to study in Italy, and the main advantages of earning an Italian degree recognized across Europe.
Procedure for studying in Italy as a foreign student
To study in Italy, the first step is to choose the university and degree program that best match your goals. The Italian higher education system offers:
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Bachelor’s degrees (Lauree Triennali)
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Master’s degrees (Lauree Magistrali)
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Single-cycle Master’s degrees
An official overview is available on the website of the Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
The most popular universities among international students who want to study in Italy include:
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University of Bologna – https://www.unibo.it
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Sapienza University of Rome – https://www.uniroma1.it
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University of Padua – https://www.unipd.it
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Politecnico di Milano – https://www.polimi.it
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Politecnico di Torino – https://www.polito.it
To officially begin the admission process to study in Italy, foreign students must complete the pre-enrollment through the government portal Universitaly.
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What must be done on the Universitaly portal?
On this portal it is necessary to:
- Register
- Select the university and program
- Upload the required documents
- Wait for the university’s evaluation
This step is mandatory for all international students who intend to study in Italy.
Depending on the chosen university, additional documents may be required, such as:
- Passport
- Translated and legalized diploma
- Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA Statement of Comparability: https://www.cimea.it/
Requirements to study in Italy
The requirements depend on the level of study:
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For a bachelor’s degree (laurea triennale), an upper secondary school diploma equivalent to 12 years of education is required.
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For a master’s degree (laurea magistrale), a qualification equivalent to a European Bachelor is needed.
For students who want to study in Italy in Italian-taught programs, a certified B2 level is required.
For those choosing English-taught courses, certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge are necessary.
To verify the value of your academic qualification, the official source is CIMEA
Response times of Italian universities
Students who wish to study in Italy should consider that evaluation times may vary. On average:
- Pre-enrollment on Universitaly: 2–6 weeks
- University evaluation: 1–2 months
- Final confirmation: between July and September
Visa to study in Italy
Non-EU students must apply for a study visa – type D.
The procedure is outlined on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The main steps are:
- Obtain the acceptance letter from the university
- Book an appointment at the Italian Embassy/Consulate
- Submit: passport, proof of financial means, health insurance, accommodation
- Wait for the outcome (2–6 weeks)
- Upon arrival in Italy, apply for the Permesso di Soggiorno within 8 days
How much does it cost to study in Italy compared to the USA
The costs of studying in Italy are among the most competitive in Europe, especially when compared to the United States.
Studying in Italy does not only mean accessing high-quality universities: it also means investing in an affordable educational path, avoiding the prohibitive costs typical of the United States. While tuition fees in the USA can exceed $50,000 per year, in Italy you can obtain an internationally recognized degree spending up to ten times less. This allows international students to focus on their education and personal growth, without the burden of student debt that in the USA can last for years.
Thanks to numerous regional scholarships, affordable housing options and a lower cost of living, studying in Italy becomes a smart financial choice: more access, fewer expenses, and the opportunity to build a solid future without compromising your finances. In other words, Italy offers the best quality/price ratio in the entire Western higher-education landscape.
| Category | Study in Italy | Study in the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Public university tuition | 300–3,000 € | 10,000–30,000 $ |
| Private universities | 6,000–20,000 € | 35,000–60,000 $ |
| University Master's | 2,000–10,000 € | 30,000–70,000 $ |
| Monthly living costs | 700–1,200 € | 1,500–2,800 $ |
| Average annual total | 10,000–12,000 € | 40,000–80,000 $ |
Studying in Italy can cost 4–8 times less than in the USA while maintaining a good level of academic quality.
Quality of Italian Universities vs USA
Many international students, when looking at global rankings, notice that American universities often occupy the top positions while Italian institutions appear lower. However, this difference does not reflect a real gap in educational quality. International rankings mainly reward factors such as multi-billion budgets, campus size, private donations, and large-scale research output, areas where the USA is naturally advantaged thanks to massive investments and private partnerships.
Italian education, on the other hand, focuses on aspects that rankings do not fully measure, such as methodological rigor, theoretical depth, teaching quality, close interaction between students and professors, and the centuries-old academic tradition of Italian universities. In many fields —Medicine, Engineering, Architecture, Design, Humanities, Cultural Heritage— Italy offers programs that, in terms of rigor, scientific approach, and international recognition, are fully competitive with those in the USA, but at a dramatically lower cost.
In other words, even if rankings show different positions, the learning experience is not inferior at all: students who choose to study in Italy gain solid competencies, degrees recognized throughout Europe, a balanced approach between theory and practice, and a unique cultural context. This is why many international students consider Italy a smart choice: the same quality they would find in much more expensive American universities, but with a sustainable investment and incomparable cultural value.
| Indicator | Italian universities | American universities |
|---|---|---|
| QS ranking presence | ~40 universities | ~190 universities |
| Top 250 worldwide | PoliMi, Sapienza, Unibo | Harvard, MIT, Stanford |
| Research quality | High in STEM | Very high across all fields |
| Global reputation | Growing | Dominant |
| Quality/price ratio | Excellent | Low (very high costs) |
Advantages of studying in Italy
Studying in Italy offers numerous benefits:
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Prestigious universities recognized across Europe (Official list)
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Lower costs compared to other countries
Thanks to regional scholarships (DSU, EDISU, LazioDiSCo). -
A wide range of courses taught in English
Especially for master’s degrees and international programs. -
Possibility to work while studying
Up to 20 hours per week with a study residence permit. -
Degree recognized throughout Europe
Thanks to the Bologna Process. -
Erasmus+ opportunities
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A unique cultural experience
Italy is one of the countries richest in history, art, and quality of life.
Enrolling in an Italian university as an international student is a clear process, although it requires attention to deadlines and required documents. Italy offers high-quality university education, a multicultural environment, affordable costs, and a cultural heritage unlike any other in the world. With proper preparation and a correct understanding of the procedure, studying in Italy can become one of the best investments for your personal and professional future.
By using the official portals Universitaly , MUR, CIMEA, MAECI – Visto per Italia,you can follow the entire procedure step by step in a safe and up-to-date way, turning your plan to study in Italy into a concrete and achievable goal.
