Italy
Study in Italy with Admission OnBoard. Get expert guidance on admissions, scholarships, and visa support for a smooth study abroad journey.
Free Expert Consultation65+ Universities
800+ English-taught programmes open to international students
€156 – €15,000/
Year Tuition fee
Post-Study Work
9–12-month work permit after graduation
Why Study in Italy?
- 1
Low Tuition & Scholarships
Public university fees for non-EU students are roughly €900–€4,000 a year. Regional DSU scholarships are need-based, and qualifying students can get a tuition waiver, subsidised housing, meals and a cash allowance.
- 2
800+ English-Taught Programmes
Choose from STEM, Business, Data Science, Architecture, Medicine and more at historic universities like Bologna, Sapienza, Politecnico di Milano and Padua. You don't need Italian to study.
- 3
Work While You Study
Non-EU students can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week (1,040 hours a year).
- 4
Career After Graduation
Graduates can apply for a post-study job-search permit, or convert their student permit to a work permit without waiting for the yearly quota. Northern Italy's industry, fashion, engineering and tech hubs offer many openings.
- 5
Path to Permanent Residence
After 5 years of legal residence, you can apply for the EU Long-Term Residence Permit. Study years count, but you must first convert your student permit to a work permit, because the long-term permit can't be issued directly from a study permit. After 10 years, you can apply for citizenship.
- 6
Travel Freely in Europe
Your student permit lets you travel visa-free across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
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Entry Requirements
Study in Italy – Entry Requirements
Admission & Visa Process
Follow our straightforward 5-step process to secure admission at your dream university in Italy.
- 01
Apply & Pre-Enrol 🎓
Choose a programme on Universitaly (universitaly.it) and apply to the university. You need your diploma or degree, a CIMEA statement or Declaration of Value, and English proof. Some programmes also require an entry test.
Non-EU students living abroad must pre-enrol on Universitaly to start the study visa process.
- 02
Apply for Scholarships 💶
- MAECI (Italian Government): €1,200 a month for 9 months (€10,800 in total), for Master's, PhD, AFAM and research only, not Bachelor's. Apply at studyinitaly.esteri.it. The 2026–27 deadline was 26 March 2026, and the next call is expected in early 2027.
- DSU (regional, need-based): A tuition waiver plus, depending on the region, cash, housing and meals. Amounts vary, so check your regional agency's official call. Apply after admission, usually in summer.
- University awards: Check each university's website.
- 03
Visa & Residence Permit 🛂
Apply for the study visa at the Italian embassy in your country.
After arriving, apply for your residence permit at the Questura within 8 working days.
- 04
Study & Work Part-Time 💼
You can work up to 20 hours a week (1,040 hours a year). Renew your permit on time.
- 05
Stay & Settle 🚀
- Job-search permit: 12 months after your Bachelor's or Master's. Apply before your student permit expires.
- Work permit: Switch once you have a job offer. Conversion runs through the annual Decreto Flussi, so confirm quota details with the Questura.
- Long-term residence: The EU Long-Term Residence Permit after 5 years. Study years count, but you can't apply directly from a student permit, so convert to a work permit first. You need income at least equal to the assegno sociale, suitable housing and A2 Italian, and absences can't exceed 6 months at a time or 10 months in total.
- Citizenship: You can usually apply after 10 years of legal residence.
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