Italy is known globally for its numerous contributions to the arts, fashion, culinary fields, architecture, and design. Its rich history and culture, historical landmarks, famous restaurants, and beautiful tourist spots make it one of Europe’s major travel destinations. The nation is also home to some of the world’s oldest universities.
However, with the rise of modern technology and digitalization and the availability of big data across many industries worldwide, the demand for experts and engineers in this field continues to grow. If you want to earn a data science degree overseas, Italy is an excellent place to study. We discuss some of the country’s best data science universities here, so make sure to read carefully.
Top Schools Offering Data Science and Related Study in Italy
1. Polytechnic University of Milan
The Polytechnic University of Milan, locally known as Politecnico di Milano, is among Italy’s strong options for data science. Founded in 1863, it is Italy’s largest science and technology university and is globally known for architecture, design, and engineering. The school is also known for research and collaborations with different sectors in the community to address societal and environmental issues such as poverty, gender inequality, sanitation, and sustainability.
Politecnico di Milano offers data science study opportunities at the master’s and doctoral levels. Through the EIT Digital Master School, data science students can follow a European double-degree program. Students complete their first year at Politecnico di Milano and their second year at another European partner university, gaining international experience and exposure to research and technology institutions, corporations, SMEs, and start-ups.
At the doctoral level, Politecnico di Milano offers a Ph.D. in Data Analytics and Decision Sciences. This three-year, English-taught program trains senior data scientists and specialists who can work across areas such as healthcare, industry, sustainable mobility, and social innovation.
2. Sapienza University of Rome
The Sapienza University of Rome is a strong option for studying data science in Italy. Established in 1303, this school is the oldest university in Rome and one of the largest universities in Europe. It seeks to play a significant role in advancing knowledge for the benefit of society through high-quality education, research, and international engagement.
Sapienza has a wide network of international agreements that allows faculty and students to study, conduct research, and participate in projects abroad. It offers a two-year, English-taught master’s degree in Data Science and a Ph.D. in Data Science. Students are trained to design, analyze, and manage big data and identify its implications for different organizations, industries, and society as a whole.
Moreover, its students can apply their theoretical knowledge through activities and projects connected with the university’s academic, research, and professional networks. You can learn more about the programs by clicking on the links above.
3. University of Bologna
The University of Bologna is widely recognized as the oldest university in the Western world, with its origins traditionally traced to 1088. It is also one of the most popular universities for Italian and international students. The school has a vast global network to promote international cooperation and actively participate in the exchange of knowledge among its faculty and students.
Unibo is also part of an international alliance called Una Europa, which brings together 11 leading European universities. Through this alliance and other partnerships, the university participates in research, projects, and other initiatives that benefit the education community.
The University of Bologna offers a first-level Professional Master in Data Science and Business Analytics through Bologna Business School and a Ph.D. in Data Science and Computation. The professional master’s program is a full-time, on-campus, English-taught program lasting 12 months and awarding 60 ECTS credits. It includes lectures, independent study, career workshops, company collaboration, and a 500-hour internship. The Ph.D. in Data Science and Computation is a three-year program offered in English and Italian.
4. Polytechnic University of Turin
According to the QS World University Rankings 2026, the Polytechnic University of Turin, also known as Politecnico di Torino, ranks 242nd worldwide. It is also known for its engineering, technology, and architecture programs. The school aims to improve society by discovering and disseminating new knowledge acquired through research and continuously enhancing the quality of education provided to its students.
Politecnico di Torino strives to provide interdisciplinary learning in its programs. It also facilitates activities that develop the skills needed in industry, along with students’ interpersonal and communication skills. The university’s Learning Center and Teaching Lab serve as venues for group projects, experimentation, and other interactive learning activities.
This Italian university offers a master’s degree in Data Science and Engineering. The program is taught in English and trains students to analyze data using mathematical and statistical models, machine learning techniques, and visualization tools. During the first year, students take core courses on the processes, models, and technologies involved in extracting and interpreting data. In the second year, they take advanced and elective courses and complete project, internship, or thesis activities that support specialization.
Moreover, while the school does not offer a direct Ph.D. program specifically titled Data Science, students can still pursue doctoral study related to the field, including a National Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence and a Ph.D. in Computer and Control Engineering, where research topics include data science, artificial vision, and artificial intelligence.
5. University of Milan
The University of Milan, founded in 1924, is a highly research-intensive school considered to be one of the country’s top universities. Its name consistently appears in multiple global rankings even though it is comparatively younger than several other institutions in Italy. It is also the only Italian member of the League of European Research Universities, an organization dedicated to promoting the importance of research in innovation and progress in society.
The University of Milan is also part of the 4EU+ European University Alliance, which brings together eight European universities: Charles University, Heidelberg University, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, Sorbonne University, the University of Copenhagen, the University of Geneva, the University of Milan, and the University of Warsaw.
UNIMI offers the English-taught master’s program in Data Science for Economics and Health, which replaced the previous Data Science for Economics program. The program runs for two years, awards 120 ECTS credits, and provides training in computer science, statistics, mathematics, economics, and health. Students can specialize through paths in Data Science, Economic Data Analysis, and Health, with laboratory activities, project work, an internship, and a final dissertation.
6. University of Milano-Bicocca
The University of Milano-Bicocca in Milan, Italy, offers data science education spanning computing, statistics, and business applications. Its dedicated Data Science master’s is complemented by doctoral study in Economics, Statistics and Data Science, providing distinct professional and research-oriented graduate routes.
A related undergraduate option is the Italian-taught bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Information Management. The university states that graduates also receive a SAS Undergraduate joint certificate in Data Analysis. The certificate supplements the statistics degree. Computer Science is another undergraduate option within the computing department.
The English-taught Data Science master’s lasts two years and requires 120 credits, combining examinations with other training activities, including internships and the final assessment. Its focus includes collecting, managing, and analyzing digital data. The four-year Economics, Statistics and Data Science PhD includes a Big Data and Analytics for Business curriculum covering programming, structured and unstructured data, visualization, machine learning, and text and web mining.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Milano-Bicocca Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Data Science Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Osama Haider
Master’s in Data Science | He reports using machine learning frameworks, data modeling, and statistical analysis in his master’s program. His lectures, assignments, materials, and examinations were in English, allowing him to study without academic difficulties from not knowing Italian. | After completing his first semester, he described the environment as friendly and supportive and said he felt comfortable at the university. |
7. University of Verona
The University of Verona in Verona, Italy, offers an English-taught master’s degree in Data Science. Its current program combines quantitative and computational study with business knowledge and the legal and ethical responsibilities involved in working with data.
The university does offer a three-year bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, taught in Italian, as a related computing pathway. Its Department of Computer Science also lists Applied Mathematics among its bachelor’s programs.
The Data Science master’s takes two years and belongs to the LM Data degree class. Its 2026–27 study plan includes Probability for Data Science, Programming and Database, Business Organisation and Management, and Ethics and Law of Data Protection. The program includes a final examination component and offers a part-time study option. Doctoral research is available through the broader PhD in Computer Science, with data science appearing among relevant research areas.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Verona Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Data Science Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Teresa Ciavattini
Bachelor’s in Bioinformatics, 2017–2021 | During her bachelor’s, she analyzed transcriptomic data from pancreatic cancer cell lines, organoids, and patient tissues. This work introduced her to RNA-seq analysis, batch effect correction, and statistical modeling of high-dimensional biological data. | — |
Guiqiu Liao
Double PhD in Informatics/Computer Science with the University of Strasbourg
October 2019–January 2023 | At Verona’s ALTAIR Robotics Laboratory, he worked on intravascular ultrasound segmentation and privacy-preserving federated learning. He reports that research activities and training were mostly in English, with few laboratory language barriers. | He found Verona beautiful and reports that the host institutions helped with visas and housing. He would have learned more Italian before arrival to ease everyday life. |
8. University of Messina
The University of Messina in Sicily, Italy, offers an English-taught undergraduate pathway in Data Analysis and a master’s degree in Data Science. Both connect computing with the storage, management, and analysis of large datasets, within the Department of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences.
The three-year Data Analysis bachelor’s pathway develops the technical skills needed to design systems that manage big data and communicate analytical results. Its official information sheet identifies cloud, edge, and fog computing, the Internet of Things, and analytics algorithms using machine learning and deep learning. This provides a directly relevant undergraduate option, although its published name is Data Analysis rather than Data Science.
The two-year Data Science master’s offers three curricula: Information and Communication Technology, Economics, and Forensics. The ICT route addresses big data systems and distributed computing; Economics focuses on data-driven business and business intelligence; Forensics covers applications such as fraud detection, data governance, and digital sovereignty.
What Current Students / Alumni of University of Messina Say
| Student/Alumnus and Program | Data Science Academic Experience | University Experience |
|---|
Rahool Dembani
PhD in Mathematics and Computer Science
Research based at Singular Logic, Athens, Greece | His doctoral project concerns privacy-preserving and anonymization technologies for agricultural data, including federated learning. He describes industry research at Singular Logic combined with academic supervision from Messina, with courses, seminars, and research conducted in English. | He reports that Messina offers international students orientation, administrative assistance, and help with accommodation and visas. |
Explore available data science degree programs to compare options that match your interests.
