As home to some of the oldest and most prestigious universities in the world, Italy is a great choice for individuals who wish to study abroad.
Whether you’re interested in taking a Laurea (bachelor’s), Laurea Magistrate (master’s), or Dottorato di Ricerca (Ph.D.), Italy’s notable universities can help you improve your knowledge and skills – at a price, you can afford.
In this article, we will be looking at the cheapest universities in Italy for international students.
Affordable Schools in Italy for International Students
1. University of Florence
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from €156 /sem (undergraduate and graduate)
The University of Florence, one of the cheapest universities in Italy for international students, is a public educational institution based in Florence, Italy. Founded in the year 1321 as a Studium Generale, the university has campuses in the heart of Florence – including the Polo delle Scienze Sociali, Careggi, Sesto Fiorentino, Academia di Bella Arte, and S. Marta Institute.
UniFi is currently organized into 12 schools. These are the Departments of Arts, Agriculture, Architecture, Law, Engineering, Education, Mathematics, Physics & Natural Science, Medicine & Surgery, Political Science, Pharmacology, and Psychology.
Ranked as one of the best in Italy, it is also listed as a leader in the European Teaching Rankings. This has made UniFi the top choice of overseas students planning to study abroad.
2. University of Milan
The University of Milan, known as UniMi, was founded in 1924. Despite this young age, it is heralded as one of the best universities in Italy – even preceding some of the country’s older institutions.
Located on a 500,000 square-meter campus, this affordable university in Italy is known for its historic buildings that house more than 49,000 students.
This picturesque campus serves as the base for schools of Humanities, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Law, Agriculture & Food Science, Science & Technology, Pharmaceutical Science, Exercise & Sport Science, Political & Social Science, and Linguistics & Cultural Mediation.
3. Polytechnic University of Turin
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from €161 /sem (undergraduate and graduate)
The Polytechnic University of Turin was founded in 1859. As Italy’s first technical university, it can trace its roots back to the Technical School for Engineers.
Apart from being one of Italy’s best universities, the Polytechnic University of Turin is also recognized as one of the finest in terms of impact rankings for climate action.
All these laurels are made possible by its world-renowned programs, which include 25 undergraduate degrees, 36 master’s programs, and 18 Ph.D. specializations. These programs are organized according to departments specializing in Architecture and Engineering.
This university currently has more than 38,000 students, including a small percentage from overseas, drawn to the university’s English-taught programs. Please keep in mind that fees are subject to change based on your preferred major.
4. University of Turin
The University of Turin is another one of Italy’s oldest educational institutions, having been established as a Studium Generale in the year 1404. Given this rich history, it has cemented itself as one of the best in Italy – and the rest of Europe.
After undergoing numerous changes throughout the six centuries, the university is currently organized into several departments overseen by faculties. These cover the studies of Agriculture, Education, Economics, Law, Foreign Language & Literature, Letters & Philosophy, Math & Natural Science, Medicine & Surgery (with the Second Faculty of St. Luigi Gonzaga), Pharmacy, Psychology, Veterinary Medicine, and Political Science.
The university has one of the biggest enrollment rates in Italy at almost 80,000. Its foreign population, however, is smaller. This figure is expected to increase in the future, as the university is one of the few offering English-taught programs in Italy.
5. Ca’Foscari University of Venice
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from €1,800 /year (undergraduate and graduate)
The Ca’Foscari University of Venice, which is one of Italy’s (and Europe’s) top institutions, was founded in the year 1868. This prestige has prompted the enrollment of more than 16,000 students – 10% of which are international students.
Formerly the Royal High School of Commerce, this cheap university in Italy was elevated to the rank of university 100 years after its inception. This promotion paved the way for the creation of 8 departments, namely Management, Economics, Philosophy & Cultural Heritage, Molecular Science & Nanosystems, Environmental Science & Computer Science, Humanities, Linguistic & Comparative Cultural Studies, and Asian & Mediterranean Studies.
The university is named after the Ca’Foscari Palace on the Grand Canal, where the campus has been located since its establishment in the 19th century.
6. University of Camerino
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from €456 /year (undergraduate and graduate)
The University of Camerino or UniCam is another one of the cheapest universities in Italy. Founded in the year 1336, it was formally recognized by Pope Benedict XIII as a university in the year 1727, thus leading it to offer programs in the fields of Medicine, Jurisprudence, Mathematics, and Theology.
Currently, UniCam is divided into five specialized schools – Science & Technology, Law, Pharmacy, Bioscience & Veterinary Medicine, and Architecture & Design. The first four are housed on campus north of Camerino, while the latter is located at the Ascoli Piceno in Marche, Italy.
UniCam remains one of Italy’s smaller schools, as it only has a student population of about 10,000.
7. University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
- Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: from €660 /year (undergraduate and graduate)
One of Italy’s first (and finest) universities, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia can trace its roots back to the year 1175. Although it ‘disappeared’ in the 13th century, it was finally granted an imperial charter before the turn of the 17th century – thus restarting the operations that continue up until today.
Located in the administrative region of Emilia-Romagna, the university is organized into 14 departments that are grouped according to specializations. These are Engineering, Life Science, Communication & Economics, Law, Education & Humanities, Language & Culture, Diagnostic & Public Health Medicine, Neural Science, Medical & Surgical Science, Chemical & Geological Science, and Physics & Mathematics.
FAQs: Studying in Italy
What Are the General Requirements to Study in Italy?
Undergraduate applicants should be at least 17 years of age upon application. They also need to have finished at least 12 years of education as proven by a high school diploma (should be translated into Italian or English). Apart from these, the other documentary requirements for applicants include:
- Pre-enrollment Application Form (with 2 additional copies)
- Declaration of Value
- Proof of Italian and/or English Proficiency
- Academic Transcripts
- Photographs
Graduate students, on the other hand, need to present a Bachelor’s diploma in place of a high school graduation certificate. Please keep in mind that these requirements are general admission qualifications, which means that specific requirements can differ from university to university.
Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students
Do Universities in Italy Offer English-taught Programs?
Yes. A prime example is the University of Bologna, which is one of the oldest universities in the world. It offers English-taught programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Another good consideration is the University of Turin, which offers several undergraduate and graduate courses in English. If you are interested, check out these English Taught Universities in Italy.
As an international student, eyeing higher education in Italy is highly encouraged. If you are looking for quality and affordable education, consider the universities mentioned in this article. In any of the above, should you select, you are assured of an easier time studying compared to other universities in Europe.
We hope this article on the Cheapest Universities in Italy will help you decide where to study. To learn more information on studying abroad, check out the Study in Italy and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages.
