Public universities in Italy offer international students several potential benefits, including generally lower tuition than private universities, access to scholarships and fee reductions subject to eligibility, a multicultural study environment, and a diverse range of degree programs. Students may also use university libraries, laboratories, and support services, although facilities and benefits vary by institution.
So, if you are interested in these benefits, keep reading. This article provides an overview of public higher education in Italy, along with additional details about seven well-established public universities in Italy for international students.
Top Public Universities in Italy
Italy has many public universities that welcome international students. The following institutions are notable for their history, broad academic offerings, research activities, or international programs:
| INSTITUTION NAME | NOTABLE ACADEMIC AREAS |
|---|
| University of Bologna | Economics and Management, Law, and Engineering and Architecture |
| Sapienza University of Rome | Classics and Ancient History, and Archaeology |
| University of Milan | Medicine, Law, and Sociology |
| University of Padua | Medicine and Surgery, Engineering, and Agricultural Sciences |
| University of Florence | Law, Agricultural Sciences, and Engineering |
| University of Turin | Medical Sciences and Strategic Sciences |
| University of Pisa | Engineering, Economics, and Biotechnology |
1. University of Bologna
The year 1088 is conventionally recognized as the foundation date of the University of Bologna, which describes itself as the oldest university in the Western world. Today, it is a major public, multicampus university with an international academic community.
The University of Bologna offers degree programs in numerous fields, including natural sciences, law, economics and management, humanities, engineering and architecture, medicine, political sciences, and social sciences. One of its notable graduates was the Italian poet and film director Pier Paolo Pasolini, who earned a degree in literature from the university.
One student’s journey: Soundharya Dharshini entered the Erasmus Mundus MSc in Chemical Innovation and Regulation, whose degree consortium includes the University of Bologna, after about three years working in regulatory compliance and product safety. She prepared three Erasmus Mundus applications around course modules, faculty expertise, industry experience, publications, leadership, and a clearly connected career plan; she ultimately received the fully funded scholarship covering tuition, stipend, insurance, travel, and relocation. Her Bologna component formed part of the enrolled joint master’s rather than a standalone exchange. View More University of Bologna recipients →
2. Sapienza University of Rome
Established in 1303, Sapienza University of Rome is one of Europe’s largest public universities. It offers a broad selection of undergraduate and graduate programs, including programs taught in English for international students. As a public institution, it can offer comparatively affordable tuition, although the amount charged and any available reductions depend on the program and the student’s circumstances.
Sapienza is particularly well known for its humanities subjects. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, it ranked first worldwide for Classics and Ancient History and seventh for Archaeology. Studying at Sapienza also allows students to experience Rome and visit cultural and historical landmarks such as Vatican City, the Colosseum, and the Roman Forum.
A recipient’s path: Negin Amini moved from industrial engineering into a Master’s in Data Science at Sapienza University of Rome after comparing programs, language requirements, living costs, and funding options. For the Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarship, she submitted transcripts and a one-minute motivation video; she says her high GPA, alignment with the scholarship’s goals, and a personalized video helped her stand out. The award covered tuition plus a €1,000 monthly stipend for nine months, and after graduating she moved to the Netherlands and works as a data scientist. View More Sapienza University of Rome recipients →
- Outcomes of students who studied at Sapienza University of Rome: Marco Rizzo: after completing his Sapienza master’s, he earned a PhD at Aalborg University and then moved directly into a postdoctoral fellowship at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
3. University of Milan
The University of Milan, founded in 1924, is a public research university with a multidisciplinary academic offering. It provides programs at undergraduate, master’s, single-cycle, and postgraduate levels in areas that include medicine, law, the humanities, social sciences, and science and technology.
The University of Milan emphasizes multidisciplinary education, research, and internationalization. It also operates an International Welcome Desk that assists international students with matters such as enrollment, visas, study plans, accommodation, scholarships, and cultural adjustment.
Ceren Sahin’s path to University of Milan: Ceren Sahin completed the Master’s in Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at the University of Milan from 2021 to 2023, using her master’s thesis at San Raffaele Hospital to build hands-on CRISPR-Cas9 experience. That research became directly relevant to her next step: she subsequently secured an MSCA doctoral fellowship at the University of Alicante, where she is pursuing a PhD in gene therapy focused on retinal hereditary dystrophy. Her path shows a particularly direct progression from Milan-based molecular biotechnology training into doctoral research using the same gene-editing technology.
- Outcomes of students who studied at University of Milan: Filippo: after completing his mathematics bachelor’s at the University of Milan with a 29.67/30 GPA, he earned the fully funded ESOP scholarship for his ETH Zurich master’s and subsequently stayed at ETH Zurich for his PhD.
4. University of Padua
Established in 1222, the University of Padua is one of Italy’s oldest universities. It is a public university that offers degree programs across the humanities, social sciences, medicine, engineering, agriculture, veterinary medicine, psychology, and the natural sciences.
The university has a long history of medical and scientific education. It has hosted numerous influential scholars, including Galileo Galilei, who held the chair of mathematics at the University of Padua from 1592 to 1610.
A recipient’s path: Sandra Elsa Sanjai moved from a physics bachelor’s into the MSc in Physics of Data at the University of Padua after identifying the program as a strong match for her growing interest in computational physics and data science. After admission, she applied for the Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarship with an IELTS score of 8.0, then prepared closely for the interview by revisiting her courses and internships and practicing how to explain her experience concisely; she credits the coherence of her projects, leadership, internships, and motivation letter with strengthening her application. The scholarship provided a full tuition waiver plus €1,000 per month for nine months and was renewed after she met the 30-CFU and internship requirements. View More University of Padua recipients →
5. University of Florence
The University of Florence traces its origins to the Studium Generale established by the Florentine Republic in 1321. Its teaching and research facilities are distributed across several parts of Florence and the surrounding metropolitan area, combining historic buildings with more recent university facilities.
Florence’s galleries, museums, architecture, and historical sites give international students many opportunities to learn outside the classroom. The university also has its own long academic history; its official account notes that Giovanni Boccaccio was commissioned to give lectures on Dante’s Divine Comedy.
One student’s journey: Sanjeeth entered doctoral studies at the University of Florence through the MSCA-funded ICHAruS network, building on a master’s in aerospace propulsion and research experience combining machine learning with computational fluid dynamics. His application centered on a detailed CV, references from his master’s supervisors, and a cover letter that connected his previous machine-learning and combustor work directly to the advertised project; he says that close technical fit helped his application stand out. The MSCA position covers tuition alongside a monthly stipend, family allowance, and funding for conferences, travel, and secondments.
6. University of Turin
Founded in 1404, the University of Turin is a large, multidisciplinary Italian university. Its academic offering covers fields such as natural sciences, social sciences, law, economics, the humanities, medicine, and strategic sciences.
The university offers international programs and student support services in a city with a rich cultural and academic history. One of its notable graduates was Umberto Eco, the Italian philosopher, semiotician, and writer, who graduated in philosophy from the University of Turin in 1954.
Giorgia Arbuti’s path to University of Turin: Giorgia Arbuti is an MSCA-funded PhD candidate in Communication Sciences jointly affiliated with Université Savoie Mont Blanc and the University of Turin. For the CHORAL scholarship she built her CV and motivation letter around a clear match between her prior media-research work and the advertised doctoral profile; the committee also accepted a self-declaration based on her English-taught master’s in place of a separate B2 certificate. Her current doctoral research examines how ordinary users employ generative AI to create and circulate digital images and stickers. View More University of Turin recipients →
7. University of Pisa
Officially founded in 1343, the University of Pisa has 20 departments and offers more than 150 degree programs. Its academic and research activities cover engineering, economics, biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, the humanities, and the natural and social sciences.
The university offers English-taught programs, international exchange opportunities, and welcome services for students arriving from other countries. Notable alumni include the astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei, who later taught at the University of Padua, and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi.
Shehneela Jamil’s path to University of Pisa: Shehneela Jamil pursued the Erasmus Mundus BIOPHAM master’s, including first-year coursework and laboratory training at the University of Pisa, after an earlier fully funded master’s in Physics. Her BIOPHAM selection included motivation questions, an oral interview, and a technical assessment covering physics, chemistry, and mathematics; she reviewed bachelor-level textbooks intensively beforehand and had previously earned IELTS 7.0. The Erasmus Mundus award funded the joint degree across Italy, Spain, and Poland. View More University of Pisa recipients →
Public universities in Italy can be attractive options for international students because of their broad selection of programs, generally lower tuition than private universities, and access to scholarships or fee reductions for eligible students. Available services, tuition rules, and scholarship conditions vary by university and program, so applicants should always consult the institution’s current official information.
We hope this article has introduced you to several of Italy’s notable public universities. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!
