Top 12 Cheapest Universities in Italy for International Students

This post provides a compiled list, with details, of the cheapest universities in Italy for international students. The information here will help in facilitating your travels abroad as well as helping you choose a pock-friendly university to pursue a program of your choice in Italy.

Canada, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom are popular education hubs, especially for students who want to study abroad or international students. These destinations are majorly thought of because of the quality education they offer students via their prestigious universities.

At the same time, the universities in these locations are also very expensive and many students who can’t afford to study in any of these places lose hope of studying abroad. Little do they know that other countries offer quality degrees at pocket-friendly rates.

Examples of such countries are Poland, Italy, Norway, etc. and you still get a degree recognized by HR all over the world. The universities in these countries offer cheap education to international students compared to the former countries and you still get recognized for earning a degree outside your country.

Now, after you have decided to study abroad, there are certain things you need to know. You shouldn’t just go there ignorantly so as to avoid being caught unaware of the happenings. You are still with me, right? Okay, let me show you some reasons you should study in Italy.

Why study in Italy?

I guess this question has been on your mind, and I wouldn’t be wrong if I told you that there are many reasons to consider studying in Italy. Aside from personal reasons, the other reasons to study in Italy include the following:

  • Italy is home to many great artists who will inspire you to become focused and successful at what you do.
  • It is also considered one of the hot education spots for students ranking after the UK
  • Italy is a culturally rich country, especially in arts, philosophy, music, fashion and design, literature, and more also, the language which is heralded as the most romantic language, you get to be involved in all of that.
  • The universities in Italy offer a wide range of courses in the English language
  • It is an affordable country.

Without any further ado, let’s delve into our topic.

Cheapest Universities in Italy for International Students

Below are the cheapest universities in Italy that you can apply to as an international student. I will list and give a brief overview of them so that you can get their specific details such as requirements, tuition fees, and others.

  • The University of Florence
  • The University of Turin
  • The University of Bologna
  • The University of Padua
  • The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
  • The University of Trento
  • Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies
  • The University of Siena
  • Ca’Foscari University of Venice
  • The Polytechnic University of Milan
  • The University of Camerino
  • The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

1. The University of Florence

The origin of this university dates back to the 14th century when it was established as a public research higher institution located in the vibrant city of Florence. The University of Florence is widely recognized as one of the oldest and most popular universities in Italy.

More than 130 degrees and courses are offered via the university’s 12 main faculties which cover disciplines ranging from economics to agriculture and law to medicine. The university holds more than 53,000 students enrolled in these faculties pursuing various degree programs.

What makes the University of Florence one of the most affordable universities in Italy for international students?

The tuition fee for international students at this institution begins from 1,500 EUR and even as a cheap university it has been consistently ranked by the QS University Rankings among the top 500 in the world. The University of Florence also holds multiple international partnerships with foreign universities providing students the chance to pursue joint degrees that are awarded in collaboration.

School website link

2. The University of Turin

This is a public research university established in 1404 and located in the stunning city of Turin in Northwestern Italy. The university has ranked in many categories such as one of the cheapest universities in Italy for international students, top 500 universities in the world, among the top 5 universities in Italy, and one of the oldest universities in Europe and Italy.

It has a student population of 67,000 enrolled in its 55 departments pursuing one degree or the other. These departments are brought forth from its 13 faculties which cover many disciplines ranging from pharmacy and political sciences to education and agriculture.

The low tuition fee of the University of Turin, also known as UNITO, makes the institution among the most affordable universities in Italy for international students starting from 1,100 EUR

School website link

3. The University of Bologna

The University of Bologna is also on our list with tuition fees starting from 2,000 EUR. It was established in 1088 as a research-intensive higher institution and is the world’s oldest university in continuous operation.

The University of Bologna has 11 schools divided into 33 departments and offers a wide range of programs including computer science and engineering, physics and astronomy, mathematics, agricultural sciences, and others.

School website link

4. The University of Padua

The tuition fee for international students at the University of Padua starts from 2,500 EUR making it among the cheapest universities in Italy for international students. Established in 1222, the University of Padua is the second-oldest university in Italy and the world’s fifth-oldest surviving university.

The institution has also been recognized by various ranking platforms and was recently ranked by Times Higher Education (THE) among the 201 – 250 universities in the world. There are 8 schools divided into 32 departments offering a wide range of degrees in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels of study.

School website link

5. The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano

Compared to the other universities listed above, this is a baby university, it was founded in 1997 and just as the name implies, is one of the most affordable universities in Italy for international students. The university has three campuses located at Bolzano, Brixen, and Bruneck and collectively offers a wide range of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs.

Programs are offered in English, Italian, and German to accommodate as many students as possible, it has a current population of 4,050 students. The tuition fee for international students at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano starts from 2,500 EUR.

School website link

6. The University of Trento

The University of Trento is one of the cheapest universities in Italy that you can apply to as an international student with tuition fees starting from 6,000 EUR, founded in 1962, and is concentrated on didactics, research, and international relations. In global overall university rankings, the university was ranked in the 198th position by Times Higher Education (THE).

The university has 11 departments that offer bachelor’s degree programs ranging from industrial engineering and physics to humanities and psychology, there are also 3 centers where research education takes place. The doctoral school has a wide range of programs such as bio-molecular sciences, information and communication technology, environmental engineering, and more.

The University of Trento has several bilateral agreements with universities in Asia, America, the Middle East, and Oceania.

School website link

7. Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies

This is a special-statute public research university located in Pisa, Italy established in 1987 from previously existing institutions and operates only in the field of applied sciences. This institution is among the cheapest universities international students can apply to in Italy due to its low tuition fee which starts from 3,500 EUR.

The student population is over 2,000 enrolled in various programs in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate studies. Some of the degree programs are business sciences, legal sciences, industrial engineering, information engineering, and others.

School website link

8. The University of Siena

This school is located in Siena, Tuscany, Italy, and established in 1240, the University of Siena is one of the oldest and first publicly funded universities in Italy and is best known for its Schools of Law, Medicine, and Economics and Management. Its 20,000+ students are enrolled in various undergraduate and graduate degree courses such as biotechnologies, finance, dentistry, chemical sciences, and more.

The University of Siena has low tuition fees for international students starting from 1,800 EUR. You can apply if you don’t want to break the bank to study abroad.

School website link

9. Ca’Foscari University of Venice

It is located in the iconic city of Venice and was established in 1868 as a business school, the Ca’Foscari University of Venice has since expanded into a prestigious world-class institution with more than 25,000 students. The university has 8 academic departments offering programs in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels of study.

The Ca’Foscari University of Venice is one of the cheapest universities in Italy due to its low tuition fees which start from 2,100 EUR per year.

School website link

10. The Polytechnic University of Milan

The Polytechnic University of Milan is a state-supported institution founded in 1863 and nationally recognized as the largest technical university by student enrollment. It also offers a low tuition fee for international students starting at the cost of 3,891 EUR per annum making the institution one of the cheapest universities in Italy for international students.

More than 30 various degree programs are offered to undergraduates and over 20 programs are also offered for masters, it has two main campuses in the city of Milan and others scattered across five cities in Italy. The Polytechnic ranks as the top university in Italy for engineering studies.

School website link

11. The University of Camerino

The University of Camerino is one of the low-tuition universities in Italy for international students, founded in 1336, and has a current student population of 10,000. These students are enrolled in its five schools, the school of Architecture and Design, the School of Law, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Science and Technology, and the School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine.

The tuition fee for international students at this university starts from 356 EUR per year for developing countries and 456 EUR for residents outside Italy.

School website link

12. The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

This university is one of the oldest universities in Italy and Europe, established in 1175, and has a current population of 20,000+ students enrolled in various undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is also one of the most affordable universities in Italy for international students with tuition fees starting from 660 EUR per year for both undergraduate and graduate students.

School website link

Conclusion

The schools listed above are the cheapest universities in Italy for international students. Prepare your documents and apply to them if you want to study abroad without breaking the bank.

It is also worthy of note that this article has been updated with the recent details, so read through it again if you need to, and shoot in your applications.

I wish you the best of luck!

Is education free in Italy for international students?

Italy actually has tuition-free universities for international students and that isn’t all.
There are also fully-funded scholarships for international students which cover tuition fees and accommodation.

Is studying in Italy cheap?

Studying in Italy is cheap, the universities are low-tuition cost to free and the cost of living is also affordable.

How much does it cost to study in Italy?

Typically, the cost of studying in Italy varies by discipline and degree type but to give a range, it would be between 0 – 5,000 EUR per year.

Is Italy good for international students?

Italy is an affordable study destination for international students and that goes for both tuition and living expenses. If that isn’t enough to satisfy you then think about the beauty, historical, and cultural part of the country.

How much bank balance is required for an Italian student visa?

The bank balance varies by country. While it is outrageously high for some, it is considerably low for others. The bank balance required for an Italy student visa is about 5,843 EUR per academic year. It is a major prerequisite to have this balance in your bank account unless you won’t be issued a student visa.

Recommendations

Comments are closed.