Italy is one of Europe’s top study destinations for international students who want to study for little or no money. Italy is home to some of the world’s oldest educational institutions, several of which offer affordable degrees to international students. The cheapest institutions in Italy for international students offer high-quality education at reasonable prices. You get to travel and learn about the rich history and culture of Italian towns in addition to learning at the greatest university at an affordable price.
Italy is one of the European countries that welcome international students to study at any of their reputable universities. Aside from the cheapest universities in Italy for International students, you can study in Italy with fully-funded scholarships for international students. This simply implies there are numerous opportunities available to you if you chose to study in Italy.
After high school, the Italian university system is divided into three cycles. The first cycle includes students who are set to begin their undergraduate studies; the programs and courses in this cycle are known as Corsi di Laurea. The second cycle comprises master’s level programs/courses referred to as Corsi di Laurea Magistrale. Finally, the third circle is mostly for Research Doctorate Programs, also known as Corsi di Dottorato di Ricerca.
The first-year programs are founded on scientific knowledge and specific professional skills. As an international student, you must have completed your secondary school education and passed your country’s equivalent leaving school exams before applying to any Italian university to study at this level. Other prerequisites may be imposed by some universities before admission to specific programmes. In general, the Laurea lasts three years and can be continued until the second cycle.
List of The Cheapest Universities in Italy For International Students
Different colleges in Italy offer low tuition fees for international students, and you can pursue any program of your choice without having to take IELTS. Many international students have taken advantage of the offer, and you can join them. We have compiled a list of inexpensive Italian universities for international students. No 5 will shock you, continue reading to find out.
1. Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano is one of the cheapest universities in Italy for International students. It was established in 1997 and it is located in one of Europe’s most attractive cities, at the intersection of the German and Italian economies and cultures. Its high level of internationalisation, trilingualism in teaching and research, and perfect study atmosphere ensured by superb facilities are only a few of the reasons why unibz consistently ranks at the top of national and international rankings.
In 2021, Unibz was voted third best university in Italy. Bachelor’s programs in economics, management, and engineering were ranked first in their respective sectors, while the Bachelor of Design and Art was ranked second in Italy. The institution has a strong worldwide view, as evidenced by its multilingual courses (German, Italian, English, and Ladin) and a large number of international students and faculty.
The university includes five faculties, and a high percentage of professors (35%) and students (17%) are international, studying, teaching, and conducting research in the departments of Economics, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Social Sciences, Education, and Design. We have over 4,100 students enrolled in over 30 undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. Computer science, art & design, economics, and management
2. University of Padua
Tuition for international students at the University of Padua begins at 2,500 EUR, making it one of the most affordable universities in Italy for international students. The University of Padua, founded in 1222, is Italy’s second-oldest university and the world’s fifth-oldest surviving university. Padua University, founded in 1222, is one of Europe’s oldest and most distinguished universities. The institution has also been recognized by several rating platforms, and was recently placed among the top 201 – 250 universities in the world by Times Higher Education (THE). There are eight schools grouped into 32 departments that offer a wide range of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees.
Padua is now a large multidisciplinary university, with over one-third of the town’s population made up of academics, students, and staff. Padua’s eight schools (Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Economics and Political Science, Engineering, Law, Human and Social Sciences and Cultural Heritage, Medicine, Psychology, Science) and 32 departments ensure that it offers a wide range of studies that cover all fields of study.
3. University of Milan
The Institution of Milan is a public teaching and research university with 8 faculties and 2 schools and a teaching staff of about 2000 professors. It is notable for its broad range of disciplinary subjects.
The University of Milan, with around 64,000 students, is a premier institute in Italy and Europe for scientific productivity; it is also an essential resource for the socioeconomic context of which it is a part. The University of Milan is one of the top 200 universities in the world and one of the top 100 in Europe.
4. University of Florence
The University of Florence is a public institution representing the scientific community, with constitutional guarantees of autonomy. Its goals include the unrestricted processing and transfer of knowledge, as well as advanced learning, by with research, teaching, and learning freedoms.
The University of Florence is the most cheap institution in Italy for international students. More than 130 degrees are offered by the university’s 12 main faculties, which include subjects like as law and agriculture. These faculties have 53,000 students enrolled in various degree programs. Agriculture, Architecture, Economics and Management, Engineering, Human Health Sciences, Humanities and Education, Law, Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, Political Sciences “Cesare Alfieri,” and Psychology are among the disciplines represented.
5. The University of Siena
The University of Siena is next on our list of the cheapest university in Italy for International students, it is located in Siena, Tuscany, Italy and was founded in 1240. Tuition at the University of Siena begins at 1,800 EUR, making it one of the cheapest universities in Italy for international students.
The University of Siena is one of the oldest and earliest publicly supported institutions in Italy and is best renowned for its Schools of Law, Medicine, Economics, and Management. Over its eight centuries of history, the University of Siena has generated a diverse spectrum of studies in many different fields of culture. Its 20,000+ students are enrolled in a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including finance, biotechnologies, chemical sciences, dentistry, and others.
The University of Siena’s internationalisation plan has evolved, to strengthen international academic partnerships and attract students and researchers from all over the world. With a wide range of international relationships, this historical institution was able to confront issues associated with the globalisation of learning, knowledge, and research in the early twenty-first century. Each year, new international collaboration agreements and initiatives are launched, increasing the number of Degrees and courses taught in English and maintaining a high ranking in national and international rankings; these are some of the University of Siena’s strong points.
6. The University of Turin
The University of Turin is another of Italy’s oldest educational institutions, having been founded in 1404 as a Studium Generale. Given its rich history, it has established itself as one of the best in Italy and Europe.
After enduring several changes over six centuries, the university is now divided into 55 departments governed by 13 faculties. Economics, Education, Law, Foreign Language & Literature, Agriculture, Letters & Philosophy, Medicine & Surgery Math & Natural Science, (with the Second Faculty of St. Luigi Gonzaga), Veterinary Medicine, Psychology, Pharmacy, and Political Science are among the subjects studied.
7. The University of Camerino
With almost 10,000 students currently enrolled, the 1336-founded University of Camerino is one of Italy’s most affordable institutions for foreign students. These students are enrolled in the schools of law, pharmacy, science, and technology, as well as the schools of architecture and design, biosciences, and veterinary medicine. With 8135 students, Camerino’s Institution of Camerino is a medium-sized public university.
A little town in central-eastern Italy called Camerino is where the institution is situated. In the Italian Marche region, Camerino is located in the province of Macerata. The Orto Botanico dell’Università di Camerino is well-known at the university.
8. The University of Trento
Trento University is one of the most affordable universities in Italy for international students. With almost 16,000 students, 600 professors and researchers, and the same number of technical and administrative employees, the University can provide an optimal atmosphere for study and research. Trento University was created in 1962 and has always sought to establish partnerships and mutually beneficial relationships with Italian and foreign institutions and organizations. The University (which had previously been private) became public in 1982, with a statute guaranteeing self-government.
There are 11 departments at the university that provide bachelor’s degree programs spanning from industrial engineering and physics to humanities and psychology, as well as three research education centres. Biomolecular sciences, information and communication technology, environmental engineering, and other degrees are available at the doctorate school. Trento University has bilateral relationships with universities around Asia, America, the Middle East, and Oceania.
9. Ca’Foscari University of Venice
Ca’ Foscari was founded on August 6, 1868, as the “Scuola Superiore di Commercio,” and was the first Italian institution to deal with higher education in Business and Economics (Advanced School for Commerce). The original headquarters are still in the centre of Venice, in the spectacular gothic fortress “volta de canal” (on the bend of the Grand Canal).
Quality, efficiency, dynamism, and transparency are their main values. departments and 19 research institutes 22,000+ graduates hold Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in the following fields: Economics, Management, Languages and Cultures, Science and Technology, Arts and Humanities, Public Governance and Social Change, International Studies and Globalization, and Cultural Heritage Preservation and Management.
10. The University of Bologna
The University of Bologna has a long history and is regarded as the oldest institution of higher learning in the Western world. Its history is entwined with the great names of science and literature, and it is a pillar and point of reference for European culture. Alma Mater Studiorum spans nine centuries, beginning with the year 1088, commonly referred to as the founding year of the Studium of Bologna, continuing through the active Middle Ages and eclectic Renaissance, the stagnant Modern Age, and its resurgence in the Present.
The University of Bologna was chosen by 90,291 students in the 2020/2021 Academic Year, and this included 7,062 international students. Curriculum and extracurricular activities are given a total of 1,036,109.13 square metres in the following cities: Bologna, Cesena, Forli, Ravenna, and Rimini. 243-degree programs (A.Y. 2021/2022), including 97 first-cycle programs, 132 second-cycle programs, and 14 single-cycle programs. 96 international degree programs, 79 of which are taught in English. 48 PhD Program Degrees (A.Y. 2020/2021), 55 speciality schools, and 95 First and Second Level Professional Master’s Programmes, 19 of which are foreign.
In A.Y. 2020/2021, 1,321 international students were participating in exchange programs and 1,908 students enrolled at the University of Bologna who had spent time studying abroad. The university community has 5,882 persons, including teachers (2,917) and professional employees (2,965). The University of Bologna is divided into 32 Departments, 5 Schools, and 12 Research and Training Centers.
General Study Requirements for International Students.
The general study requirements for international students who which to study abroad in Italy are:
- You must hold a secondary school qualification released after a minimum of 12 years of schooling (overall).
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A valid school-leaving certificate means you are eligible to qualify for higher education studies in your home country. Minimum 58% marks are required for the higher secondary certificate to secure admission in Bachelors.
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Entry test for university is optional. You need IELTS or TOEFL for admission to the bachelor’s degree course.
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To study for a master’s degree at an Italian university, you will need to have a relevant bachelor’s or equivalent degree certification.
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Entry test from a university (if required).
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Many Italian universities offer a lot of programs in English at the master’s level. IELTS or TOEFL is not compulsory for a master’s degree in Italy. If your previous studies were not in English, you need English language tests like TOEFL or IELTS.
Student Visa Application Requirements
The following documents must be ready before you start your application if you want to be considered for an Italian student visa. The recommendation letter, English proficiency test results, acceptance letter from an Italian university, etc.
- Visa Application Form.
- Two recent passport-size photographs.
- Passport & CV & Motivation Letter.
- Work Experience (if any).
- Two Reference letters. From Teachers or previous Employers.
- IELTS or TOFEL
- English Proficiency Letter if previous studies are in English.
- Acceptance letter of the concerned Italian University/Institute.
- Proof of personal financial means or family resources.
- Proof of accommodation near the university.
- Travel Insurance Policy, valid for all countries in the Schengen States.
Conclusion
On a final note, one of the numerous positives of studying in Italy is the free access to Italian cuisines, aside from studying at the cheapest institutions, you will be able to visit the nation and develop contacts. International students who are already studying in Italy may speak to the suitable weather and inviting environment. Make sure you have enough money to cover other costs before selecting one of Italy’s more affordable universities.