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Studying in Italy

Income-based tuition and a strong design & architecture tradition

EuropeLow budget6 universitiesEnglish-taught bachelor'sPost-graduation work rights

In Italy tuition is set by family income (ISEE) and drops sharply for low-income households. Design, architecture, fashion and art host world-renowned schools, and English-taught bachelor's are growing.

Who is it for?

  • •Those targeting design, architecture and art
  • •Those who want to study in Europe on a low budget
  • •Those considering the IMAT exam for medicine

Watch out for

  • •Bureaucracy is slow; start document translation and equivalence early
  • •Italian is needed for daily life

Strong fields

ArchitectureDesign & fashionMedicineArt historyIndustrial engineering

Education system

Degree lengthBachelor's 3 years; medicine 6; architecture 3+2
GradingExam grades out of 30
Academic calendarSeptember/October intake

Application system

PlatformUniversitaly pre-enrolment + the university's own application
DocumentsTranslated diploma and transcript, Motivation letter, Portfolio (design/architecture), Language certificate
DeadlinesJanuary–May; IMAT exam in September

Exam requirements

Academic examsIMAT for medicine; entrance exam for architecture; portfolio for design
EnglishIELTS 6.0–6.5

Costs

TuitionPublic €900–4,000 / year (ISEE-based), private €6,000–20,000
Living costs800–1,100 € / month
Annual total11,000–18,000 € per year

Scholarships

  • •DSU regional scholarships (fee waiver + housing + meals)
  • •Invest Your Talent in Italy
  • •School-based discounts

Visa & work rights

Student visaType D student visa + permesso di soggiorno
Working while studying20 hours per week
After graduation12-month job-seeking permit

Universities

Top universities in Italy

Each university page lists programs, tuition and admission profile.

Bocconi University

Milan · Business

In Italy tuition is set by family income (ISEE) and drops sharply for low-income households. Design, architecture, fashion and art host world-renowned schools, and English-taught bachelor's are growing.

27–37 bin $ / yıl

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Politecnico di Milano

Milan · Technical

In Italy tuition is set by family income (ISEE) and drops sharply for low-income households. Design, architecture, fashion and art host world-renowned schools, and English-taught bachelor's are growing.

17–23 bin $ / yıl

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University of Bologna

Bologna · Comprehensive

In Italy tuition is set by family income (ISEE) and drops sharply for low-income households. Design, architecture, fashion and art host world-renowned schools, and English-taught bachelor's are growing.

11–15 bin $ / yıl

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Politecnico di Torino

Torino · Technical

In Italy tuition is set by family income (ISEE) and drops sharply for low-income households. Design, architecture, fashion and art host world-renowned schools, and English-taught bachelor's are growing.

13–17 bin $ / yıl

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University of Padua

Padova · Research

In Italy tuition is set by family income (ISEE) and drops sharply for low-income households. Design, architecture, fashion and art host world-renowned schools, and English-taught bachelor's are growing.

10–14 bin $ / yıl

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Sapienza University of Rome

Rome · Comprehensive

In Italy tuition is set by family income (ISEE) and drops sharply for low-income households. Design, architecture, fashion and art host world-renowned schools, and English-taught bachelor's are growing.

10–14 bin $ / yıl

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