Masters in Italy - Fees and Funding Guide - 2025

The Masters fee in Italy is relatively low compared to other countries, making it a highly sought-after study abroad destination for many international students. This has been made possible because of the well-reputed publicly funded university system. Even though most institutions use their own fee structure, there is a legal minimum fee for enrolment and a maximum level for student contributions which cannot exceed 20% of state funding.

Your Masters fee can change drastically depending on the kind of university and course you opt for so it’s important that you do your research first to find out exactly how much you will need to pay. You can check out the list of Masters courses in Italy on our website.

The costs of studying a Masters in Italy is significantly lower at a publicly funded university. The fees can vary from €900 to €4,000 depending on where you are from, your family income and the course you are applying to. The average tuition fee is €1,630 per year for a Masters at a publicly funded university in Italy.

At a private university, fees for Masters courses can be as high as €6,000 to around €20,000 per year.

If you are an EU or EEA student, you will most likely be charged the same fee. However, fee structures for an international student (non-EU/EEA) might be different and it is a good idea to check with your university.

There are some additional expenses that you should account for when calculating the cost of your Masters:

• Application fees: Public universities usually charge an application fee of around €30. At private universities this may be closer to €100.
• Textbooks: It can cost between €250 and €400 to purchase your textbooks for the year. However, you may be able to find second-hand books at a discounted rate. You could then choose to resell your own books at the end of your course to make some of the money back.

These figures do not include the cost of accommodation and living. You can have a look at our living in Italy guide to find out more about the cost of living as a Masters student in Italy.

Even though public universities in Italy do not charge a very high fee there are a lot of ways you can find funding to help cover the cost of your Masters in Italy.

This page gives a detailed guide of the different kinds of funding opportunities and scholarships available if you think a Masters in Italy is the perfect match for you.

You can find funding from a few different sources as a Masters student in Italy. These include fee waivers, scholarships and bursaries provided by the Italian government and universities. Most of these funding options are open to both national and international students.

Depending on your financial situation and country, you might be entitled to fee reductions offered by some universities. These will not make studying in Italy free but will help keep the costs down.

Universities assess the financial need of Italian students using a criterion called the Indicator of Equivalent Economic Situation (ISEE). Some (but not all) institutions use a version of the ISSE for international students called the ISSE partificato. To obtain an ISSE partifico declaration, you’ll usually need to contact the tax office (CAF) that is registered with your university. You’ll supply the CAF with financial documentation detailing your family’s income and assets. Once the CAF has generated your declaration, they will send it directly to your university, who will adjust your fee level accordingly.

If your university does not use the ISSE partificato, you may still be entitled to a fee reduction. Some universities charge lower fees for students from certain lower-income countries, for example. Check your university’s website to find out what support is available.

Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) provides grants for both international students and Italian citizens living abroad. Successful applicants receive €9,000 as a contribution towards their living and tuition costs. They may also be exempt from tuition fees, depending on the policy of their university.

Applicants must be 28 years old or younger when they apply and demonstrate proficiency in either English or Italian (depending on the language your course will be taught in). You can view full eligibility criteria on the Study in Italy website.

Grants for Masters courses cover between six and nine months of study. You may be able to renew your grant to cover a second year of study, subject to satisfactory academic progress.

Applications for MAECI grants are made through the Study in Italy website. You’ll be required to submit a motivation statement explaining why you want to study your chosen course and how it fits with your future goals. You’ll usually need to apply by June of the year your course starts.

Most Italian universities offer funding options for international students, including bursaries and merits-based scholarships. You will be able to find these funding opportunities on your chosen university’s website.

You can also use our course finder to find your ideal Italian Masters programme and enquire about funding options using the contact details provided.

Italy is a participating country in the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme which helps provide free educational opportunities and reduce costs.

This means you may be eligible to apply for a fully funded Joint Masters degree or an Erasmus+ Masters loan worth up to €18,000. You can also apply for the Erasmus Mobility Grant if you’re looking to study or undergo training in Italy for a shorter period.

Students from any country can apply for Erasmus funding, but some scholarships may be reserved for students from partner countries. You can view a full list in our guide to Erasmus Masters funding.

There are number of organisations established by regional authorities in Italy aimed at promoting equitable access to higher education. They provide scholarships for domestic and international students studying a Bachelors, Masters or PhD at a university in the relevant region. These include:

• Students enrolled at a university in Piedmont region are eligible for scholarships provided by EDISU Piemonte worth up to €8,269.16
• Students enrolled at a university in the Lazio region are eligible for scholarships provided by DISCo Lazio worth up to €6,451
• Students enrolled in a university in the Tuscany region are eligible for scholarships provided by DSU Toscana worth up to €5,222. Some awards also include free accommodation and catering

There are 20 regions in Italy, many of which offer financial support to university students. Check to see whether there are any scholarships offered by the regional authority of your chosen university.

Note that the amount you’ll be awarded can vary widely depending on your financial situation and the subject you’ll be studying.

There are several US-based organisations that provide support for American students who want to study in Italy:

• The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) provides funding for American students who want to study abroad, including in Italy. You can apply for a needs-based travel grant worth up to $1,500 (€1,443), as well as a range of merits-based scholarships.
• The US-Italy Fulbright Commission provides roughly 70 scholarships per year for US citizens studying in Italy.
• The Fund for Education Abroad provides scholarships worth up to $5,000 (€4,975) for American students to complete a degree abroad.

More about a Masters in Italy

You can also look at our guides on applications and visas to prepare yourself with everything you need to know before you leave for your Masters in Italy.

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