Overview
Parma is a city whose name appears on cheese and ham packets around the world, and its university reflects that economy. Food science and technology, agri-food business, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and medicine are the areas most international students come for, and the city hosts the European Food Safety Authority as well as a cluster of food and pharmaceutical companies. Engineering, architecture, economics, law and the humanities complete a comprehensive state university.
English-taught degrees are concentrated at master’s level, in fields such as food science, economics, engineering, pharmacy and communication, with most bachelor’s degrees in Italian. The international office runs a central application route for non-EU students, and the university has a well-used welcome service for international arrivals that helps with permits and fee documentation.
The university is split between historic buildings in the centre and a large modern science campus on the southern edge of town, which houses engineering, sciences, pharmacy, food science and veterinary medicine along with student halls and sports facilities. Parma itself is prosperous, calm and compact, with a historic centre, excellent food and an easy train ride to Bologna and Milan. It is cheaper than Bologna and far cheaper than Milan.
Who it suits
Parma suits students in food science and technology, agri-food business, veterinary medicine, pharmacy and related engineering who want to study in a city whose economy is built around those fields. It fits applicants who are willing to work in Italian or who have identified an English master’s, and those who want a well-organised, mid-sized city with moderate costs.
What to check before applying
- Check whether your programme is in the historic centre or on the Campus Scienze e Tecnologie.
- Review the entrance test requirements for veterinary medicine, pharmacy and medicine.
- Apply to ER.GO for housing and grants as soon as the call opens.
- Confirm the teaching language and certificate required for your programme.
- Look at internship links with local food and pharmaceutical companies when choosing a master’s.