6 Things you need to know about studying in Italy as an international student

Italy is one of Europe’s most popular study abroad destinations – and with historic universities, competitively low living costs and world-famous cuisine, it’s not hard to see why!

If you’re looking to join the almost 70,000 international students heading to Italy each year, we’ve listed six things you should know before packing your bags.

#1 There are two types of Masters degree to choose from

Along with the majority of countries in mainland Europe, Italy offers Masters degrees or Laurea Magistral lasting two years. This means that your course will be longer but less intensive than a UK Masters degree, which only lasts for one year.

Teaching is divided across four semesters, culminating in an extended dissertation which you’ll submit at the end of your second year.

Some universities also offer Master Universitario di I Livello which are one-year vocational courses designed for students entering a particular profession such as Law or Education.

These programmes are designed to help students refine their professional skills in a particular area. It’s important to note that they’re not part of the Bologna process and therefore not internationally recognised. They also don’t allow progression to a PhD.

#2 You can study in English

There are over 700 English-taught postgraduate courses available in Italy, so there’s no need to worry about arriving fluent in Italian!

English-taught courses are particularly common in Architecture, Economics, Law and Medicine, but are available across all disciplines.

If you’ll be studying in English, there’s no need to take an Italian language test. However, you may need to take an English language test if it’s not your first language.

#3… but it’s still worth learning some basic Italian!

You may have the option to study in English – but that doesn’t mean brushing up on your Italian skills won’t be worthwhile!

Though people living in major cities such as Rome and Milan are likely to have high levels of English proficiency, this isn’t necessarily true of less central locations. You may also need to speak some level of Italian to you’re planning to fund your studies through part-time work.

Most universities offer Italian language courses for international students that run alongside your studies. These are generally free of charge. You can also enrol in an intensive summer course at an Italian language school, though this may incur a cost.

#4 Non-EU students have to pre-enrol

If you’re from outside the EU, your application process will have an extra step called pre-enrolment. You’ll need to pre-enrol after your initial university application but before applying for a student visa.

Pre-enrolment is done through a separate portal called Universitaly. You’ll need to provide the details of the course you’re applying for and your local Italian consulate or embassy.

This may add a few extra weeks onto your application process, so get started early!

Read more about applying for a Masters in Italy.

#5 There’s plenty of funding available

Tuition fees in Italy are relatively low, with the average public university charging €1,630 per year for Masters or PhD study. You can cut down your costs even further with a university fee reduction, government grant or regional scholarship.

Read more about Italian Masters funding and find out what you could be eligible for!

#6 You can work during (and after!) your Masters/ PhD

Looking to bring in extra cash while you study? Both EU and non-EU can work for up to 20 hours per week, not exceeding 1,420 hours per year.

The Italian government also offers a generous post-study work visa for international graduates called a Permesso di Soggiorno. This allows non-EU students to stay in the country for up to 12 months while seeking work – no job offer required. If you’re an EU student, you’ll have the same access to the job market as Italian nationals.

Find a Masters in Italy

Head over to our course directory to find a Masters in Italy thats right for you.

6 Things you need to know about studying in Italy as an international student

#1 There are two types of Masters degree to choose from

#2 You can study in English

#3… but it’s still worth learning some basic Italian!

#4 Non-EU students have to pre-enrol

#5 There’s plenty of funding available

#6 You can work during (and after!) your Masters/ PhD

Find a Masters in Italy

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