Overview
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, usually shortened to Cattolica, is the largest non-state university in Italy and one of the largest Catholic universities in Europe. Its headquarters in Milan occupies a historic monastery complex in the city centre, and it has further campuses in Rome, where its medical school is attached to the Gemelli teaching hospital, as well as Brescia, Piacenza and Cremona, where agriculture and food science are based. It is open to students of all backgrounds and faiths.
The academic range is broad for a non-state institution: economics, management and banking, psychology, humanities, languages and communication, law, political science, education, medicine and health sciences, and agriculture. English-taught degrees are available at bachelor’s level in economics, management, international relations and some other fields, with a wider set of English master’s programmes. Admissions for many programmes include a test or interview, and the university offers its own merit- and need-based scholarships and fee reductions.
Because fees are set by the university rather than by the income-based state system, they are higher than at La Statale or Bicocca, though generally below Bocconi, and students should compare the full cost with the support on offer. The Milan campus has a central location, extensive student services and a sizeable international community, while the regional campuses are quieter and cheaper. Cattolica is known for structured support and career services, which many international students find reassuring.
Who it suits
Cattolica suits students in economics, management, psychology, communication, international relations, medicine and agriculture who want a well-organised non-state university with a central Milan base or a quieter regional campus. It fits applicants who are prepared to pay non-state fees or who can qualify for the university’s own scholarships, and who value structured services over a large state institution.
What to check before applying
- Confirm which campus hosts your programme, as Milan, Rome, Brescia, Piacenza and Cremona differ greatly.
- Study the fee schedule for your programme and the scholarship and fee-reduction criteria.
- Check whether your programme requires an admission test or interview and its dates.
- Apply for a university residence place at the same time as admission.
- Compare total costs with state universities in the same city before deciding.