ITALY

Italy is a country where education costs many times less than in the USA or the United Kingdom, while teaching in a number of fields — art, design, fashion, architecture and medicine — ranks among the world's best. Students come here not for a steady corporate engineering career, but for a distinctive way of life, for the culture, and for a degree that opens doors into high fashion and global art — all backed by strong academic training at a very attractive price.

What people usually come to study

For school students. Unlike in the United Kingdom or Switzerland, boarding schools are not a mass phenomenon in Italy; they are a fairly niche choice for very wealthy families from abroad. Schools generally teach International Diploma programmes in English, so that graduates can apply to universities all over the world. The International School of Milan is the city's oldest continuous-education school, admitting children from 2 to 18 years of age, with around 850 pupils in all. St Stephen’s School in Rome sits in the historic centre, barely ten minutes from the Colosseum. This boarding school for senior pupils (14–19 years) offers the American College Preparatory programme and the International Diploma. More than 95% of pupils take the full diploma, and the average score in 2025 reached 36, with almost 20% scoring 40+ points. H-FARM International School occupies an innovative campus specialising in digital technology and entrepreneurship, and is the only multi-certified boarding school in Italy.

For students. This is where the real draw lies for most international applicants. Italian state universities offer remarkably high-quality education (especially in the humanities and natural sciences) for a token fee. According to the latest figures, around 110,000 international students are now in Italy, 14% more than in 2019. European students make up 44% of the foreign cohort (Romanians lead the way), Asia accounts for 31% (about 34,000 people), and the fastest-growing region is Africa, up 53% since 2015 (16,000 students). Russia holds a place in the top 10 with around 3,000 students. Much of this growth is driven by a sharp expansion of English-taught programmes: of Italy's roughly 90 universities, about 60 now offer them. The number of English-taught programmes has grown by 30% since 2019, reaching 1,250 in 2024 — the fifth-highest figure in Europe and the fastest growth among the top 10 countries after France. The most popular fields among international students are art and design, architecture, medicine, economics and management, and engineering.

What studying here is like

Secondary education. In private schools, teaching is either entirely in English or bilingual. The programmes prepare pupils for admission to the world's best universities, and Advanced Placement (AP) and Cambridge International Examinations may be offered. One key reason wealthy families from around the world choose Italy is its unique culture and history: alongside the standard subjects, schools offer immersion in world art, architecture and design right "on location".

Higher education. The Italian education system is divided into three cycles:

• Bachelor's (Laurea Triennale): 3 years. To earn the degree you need 180 credits (CFU).
• Master's (Laurea Magistrale): 2 years (120 credits).
• Doctorate (Dottorato di Ricerca): 3-5 years.

There are several types of higher education institution:

• Universities (Università): around 61 state universities across the country, including three polytechnics, plus private institutions.
• Institutes of fine arts (AFAM - Alta Formazione Artistica, Musicale e Coreutica): these take in the Academies of Fine Arts, conservatories and national academies of dance. This is Italy's calling card and a magnet for those wishing to study fashion, design and music.
• Higher technical institutes (ITS): focused on practical skills and close ties with industry (technology, tourism, mechatronics).

Visa requirements

To enter Italy for long-term study (over 90 days), citizens of non-EU countries need a national type D visa.

How to obtain it:

• Pre-enrolment: the first and most important step. You register on the Universitaly portal and apply there for your chosen course at a specific university. The application deadlines for most 2025/2026 programmes closed no later than 30 November 2025.
• University approval: your Universitaly request must be approved by the institution.
• Submitting documents to the consulate: only once you have Universitaly approval can you book an interview at the Italian consulate in your country of residence.
• Arrival and residence permit: after arriving in Italy, you must apply for a residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno) for foreign students at the local police station (Questura).

Main requirements: a foreign-travel passport, proof of financial means (around €6,000–10,000 in your account, since you must show roughly €450–500 per month for the whole intended period of study), proof of accommodation and medical insurance. The consular fee is around €50–100. Note that university approval does not automatically guarantee a visa — that decision rests solely with the consulate.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very low cost. World-class education for €900–€4,000 a year is unmatched in Europe.
• Strong specialisations. World-leading teaching in design, fashion, architecture and restoration.
• English-taught programmes. Their number is rising fast (more than 1,250 across the country, +30%).
• Climate and culture. You study in a country whose history, cuisine and way of life draw thousands of students.
• Scholarships. The scholarship system can fully or partly cover tuition and accommodation costs.

Cons:

• Bureaucracy. Italian red tape is notorious: obtaining a tax number (Codice Fiscale), a visa and a residence permit (Permesso) is a slow and trying process.
• Low graduate retention. Staying on to work in your field after graduation is very hard: the labour market is stagnant, youth unemployment is high and salaries rise slowly.
• Language barrier. Beyond the major tourist centres and university campuses, life is difficult without Italian. English-taught programmes carry you through lectures, but you need the language for everyday life.
• State of the infrastructure. Compared with Germany or Scandinavia, some university buildings and halls of residence can be old and in need of repair.