Study in Italy: The Complete Guide for International Students

Studying in Italy as a non-EU student means managing two separate processes at once: admission to a recognised institution through the official Universitaly portal, and a long-stay study visa issued by the Italian consulate in your country. This hub explains how the Italian higher-education system is organised, how the year typically unfolds, what it costs in broad terms, and where to find the detailed guide for each step. Our guidance reflects the rules in force for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 intakes.

Why international students choose Italy

Italy has one of the oldest university traditions in Europe and a large public system in which the state sets the framework for degrees, admissions and fees. For students from outside the EU, the practical attractions are usually these: a growing number of programmes taught in English, especially at master’s level; public-university fees that are generally set in relation to family income rather than as a fixed international rate (though this varies by institution — see tuition fees); a regional right-to-study system that can award scholarships and services on the basis of need and merit; and degrees structured according to the European Bologna framework, which makes them recognisable elsewhere in Europe.

It is worth being realistic too. Daily life outside the classroom often requires some Italian, the administrative steps after arrival (residence permit, tax code, enrolment) take time, and the visa decision rests entirely with the consulate. A good outcome depends on choosing a coherent programme, preparing documents properly, and respecting the official deadlines.

How the Italian higher-education system is organised

Italian higher education follows the three-cycle Bologna structure. The main qualifications you will meet are:

Qualification	Cycle	Typical length	What it is
Laurea (L)	First cycle	3 years	Bachelor’s degree. Entry requires a secondary-school qualification obtained after at least 12 years of schooling.
Laurea Magistrale (LM)	Second cycle	2 years	Master’s degree. Entry requires a first-cycle degree in a relevant field.
Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico	Single cycle	5–6 years	Integrated master’s for regulated professions such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, law and architecture.
Master universitario (1st / 2nd level)	Post-degree	Usually 1 year	Specialising professional course; it is not the same as a Laurea Magistrale.
Dottorato di ricerca (PhD)	Third cycle	Usually 3 years	Research doctorate, admitted by competitive call.
AFAM diplomas (1st / 2nd level)	First / second cycle	3 + 2 years	Degrees in art, music, dance and design awarded by academies and conservatories (AFAM sector).
ITS Academy	Tertiary vocational	Usually 2 years	Higher technical institutes; applications go directly to the ITS and do not use Universitaly.

The institutions that award these qualifications include state universities, legally recognised non-state universities, polytechnics, the two universities for foreigners (Perugia and Siena), AFAM institutions and ITS Academies. Our guide to types of universities and how to check recognition explains the differences and how to confirm that an institution is officially recognised.

Which languages are courses taught in?

Most first-cycle degrees are taught in Italian. English-taught programmes exist across the system and are most common at Laurea Magistrale level and in fields such as engineering, economics, computer science, international relations and the sciences. Italian rules require the institution to verify your language level before it validates your pre-enrolment: at least B2 Italian for Italian-taught degree courses (tested by the institution, usually online, before you apply for the visa), at least B2 in the course language for courses taught in another language, and at least B1 for foundation courses. The full rules, exemptions and accepted certificates are set out in our guide to language requirements.

Admission and visa: two separate processes

This is the point that causes the most confusion. Getting into an Italian university and getting permission to enter Italy are decided by different authorities under different rules.

• Admission is decided by the institution. For visa-requiring students it runs through Universitaly, the free official portal of the Italian Ministry of University and Research, where you submit a single pre-enrolment application (preiscrizione) for one course. The institution checks your documents and language level and digitally validates the application.
• The visa is a long-stay national visa (type D) for study, decided exclusively by the Italian consulate competent for your country of residence. A validated pre-enrolment is a precondition for applying, but the consulate separately assesses financial means, accommodation, insurance and what the rules call “migratory risk” — the socio-economic situation of you and your family, the quality of your prior studies and the coherence of your chosen course.
• Enrolment (immatricolazione) is completed in Italy after arrival, when you pay tuition and present original documents.

Three things follow from this, and every institution is required to tell you them: pre-acceptance by a university gives no right to a visa; a visa gives no right to complete enrolment; and pre-acceptance gives no right to enrolment even after the visa, arrival or a scholarship. Validation of your pre-enrolment does not guarantee a visa appointment or a visa. You can check whether you need a visa and find your consulate on Il visto per l’Italia.

Because the two processes are separate, you should prepare for both from the start. The admission process guide covers the university side step by step; the Italy student visa hub covers requirements, documents, the application and what happens after approval.

What does a typical year look like?

Exact dates differ by institution, but the sequence is broadly the same every year for a course starting in the autumn. The only dates fixed nationally are the visa deadlines: for the 2026/27 academic year, visa applications for Laurea, Laurea Magistrale, single-cycle and AFAM courses must be lodged with the consulate by 30 November 2026; for 2027/28, by 31 October 2027. Institutions may set earlier course-specific deadlines on their own portals.

1. Autumn to winter, the year before. Research institutions and programmes, check entry requirements and language rules, start gathering academic documents and, if needed, book a language certificate exam.
2. Winter to spring. Apply to the university on its own portal where required; request the CIMEA statements or Dichiarazione di Valore; prepare financial evidence.
3. Spring to summer. Submit the pre-enrolment on Universitaly within the institution’s window; sit the institution’s language test or admission exam; receive validation.
4. Summer to early autumn. Apply for the visa at the consulate with the validated pre-enrolment summary, financial, accommodation and insurance evidence; attend the appointment.
5. Arrival. Apply for the residence permit within 8 working days, complete enrolment at the university, and settle in. Students must be enrolled on Universitaly by 31 January, otherwise the visa is revoked.

Our academic calendar and planning guide turns this into a month-by-month plan you can work backwards from.

What does studying in Italy cost?

Your total budget has three parts, and the figures for each depend on your institution and city:

• Tuition fees. At state universities fees are generally calculated on family income for students who can obtain the ISEE indicator; some universities apply flat rates to international students; non-state universities set their own fees. Fees are normally paid after the visa is issued and before enrolment is completed. See tuition fees.
• Living costs. Accommodation is the largest item and varies greatly between northern and southern cities. See cost of living.
• The financial requirement for the visa. For the current intake the reference amount is €10,179.85 per year in lawful, traceable funds. This is a legal threshold, not an estimate of what you will actually spend. See financial requirements.

Funding can come from regional right-to-study scholarships, university merit awards and government programmes; the scholarships guide explains each type and the important rule that eligibility alone is not proof of funds for the visa.

The academic year in brief

Most Italian institutions run two semesters, with teaching starting between September and October and a second semester starting in late winter. Exams are held in sessions after each semester and usually again in late summer; students generally choose when to sit exams within those sessions, which is different from many other systems. Some programmes, particularly English-taught master’s degrees and AFAM courses, have their own calendars. Always take the dates from your institution’s academic calendar rather than from general descriptions.

Guides in this section

Each guide below covers one part of the journey in depth. Read them in order if you are starting from scratch, or jump to the one you need.

• Universities in Italy — types of institution, how to check recognition, how to compare them, and reserved places for non-EU students.
• Courses and programmes — degree levels, English- versus Italian-taught courses, programmed-access courses, and choosing a coherent path.
• Admission process — from checking requirements to Universitaly pre-enrolment, validation and completing enrolment in Italy.
• Tuition fees — how fees are set, when they are paid, and a budgeting template.
• Scholarships — regional DSU scholarships, university awards, government programmes, and what counts as proof of funds.
• Cost of living — budget categories, regional differences and a monthly worksheet.
• Language requirements — B2 Italian, exemptions, B1 for foundation courses and certificates for English-taught courses.
• Academic calendar and planning — semesters, official deadlines for 2026/27 and 2027/28, and a backwards-planning table.
• Pre-departure guide — documents to carry, accommodation, insurance, money, phone and packing.
• After arrival — residence permit within 8 working days, tax code, enrolment, bank account, health cover and permit renewal.
• Italy student visa hub — requirements, documents checklist, application process, financial proof, accommodation, insurance, interview and after approval.

If you would like someone to look over your plan before you commit to a programme, our university admission guidance service and student visa consultation cover both halves of the process.

Frequently asked questions