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ChypreItaly, 2026/27
The cheapest universities in Italy for international students: what you actually pay
In short: Italian public universities charge non-EU students far less than most of Europe. At Ca’ Foscari Venice a year costs EUR 700 to 2,300 depending on your citizenship, at Padova EUR 930 to 2,990, and at Pavia EUR 390 to 4,550 by bracket, all for 2026/27. Bologna can cost as little as EUR 157.04 if your family income is low, and Politecnico di Milano charges non-EU master’s students up to EUR 3,893.04.
Five public universities, from each university's own fee page
| University | A year, non-EU | How it is set | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Université de BologneBologna · Cost of a year in Italy | EUR 157.04 | Income-based. Students whose family income and assets are abroad submit foreign income documents; with a family economic indicator of EUR 27,000 or less you pay only the fixed EUR 157.04. The maximum differs by programme (table linked on the page). A reduced fixed fee exists for citizens of particularly poor, developing or non-OECD countries. | 2026/27 | University page lu le 7 nov. 2026 |
| Université de PaviePavia · Cost of a year in Italy | EUR 390 to 4,550 | Flat fee for non-EU students by bracket: EUR 390, 1,020 or 3,550 (humanities) and EUR 390, 1,520 or 4,550 (sciences). Plus a regional tax of EUR 130 to 190 and EUR 16 stamp duty. Students who submit foreign income documents can instead pay an income-based fee from EUR 0. | 2026/27 | University page lu le 7 nov. 2026 |
| Ca’ Foscari University of VeniceVenice · Cost of a year in Italy | EUR 700 to 2,300 | Flat yearly fee by citizenship: EUR 700 (low human development countries), EUR 1,300 (most other non-EU countries), EUR 2,100 bachelor’s or EUR 2,300 master’s (OECD countries such as the UK, US, Canada and Australia). Includes the EUR 192 regional tax and EUR 16 stamp duty. | 2026/27 | University page lu le 7 nov. 2026 |
| University of PadovaPadua · Cost of a year in Italy | EUR 930 to 2,990 | Flat all-inclusive fee for non-EU students not resident in Italy: EUR 2,790 (humanities) or EUR 2,990 (sciences), and EUR 930 or EUR 996.66 for students from particularly poor countries. No income calculation. | 2026/27 | University page lu le 7 nov. 2026 |
| Politecnico di MilanoMilan · Cost of a year in Italy | Up to EUR 3,893.04 | Non-EU students admitted to a master’s with a foreign degree and no scholarship pay the maximum: EUR 3,893.04 a year for a standard 46 to 74 ECTS plan in 2024/25. Fees depend on the credits in your plan. | 2024/25 (latest published on this page) | University page lu le 7 nov. 2026 |
Last checked: 7 Nov 2026. A sample of well-known public universities, not every one. Many charge by family income, so your own fee can be lower or higher than the range shown; each university's page has the full table. A whole first year in Italy, with living costs and the visa fee, starts at about EUR 8,800 (Italy guide, Tarifs par Exchange Rate API).
Que faire ensuite
- Find an English-taught programme on Universitaly or the university's site, and check which English proof it accepts.
- Prepare your income documents early if your university calculates fees from family income: without them you usually pay the maximum.
- Work out the whole year with the cost calculator, and check the Italian student visa money.
- Look for a scholarship ouvert à votre nationalité; Italian regions also run income-based grants.
Questions
Which Italian universities are cheapest for international students?
Italian public universities charge non-EU students far less than most of Europe. At Ca’ Foscari Venice a year costs EUR 700 to 2,300 depending on your citizenship, at Padova EUR 930 to 2,990, and at Pavia EUR 390 to 4,550 by bracket, all for 2026/27. Bologna can cost as little as EUR 157.04 if your family income is low, and Politecnico di Milano charges non-EU master’s students up to EUR 3,893.04.
How are university fees calculated in Italy for non-EU students?
Two ways. Some universities charge a flat fee set by your citizenship or subject (Padova, Ca’ Foscari, Pavia’s flat brackets); others calculate it from your family’s income and assets abroad, which you document with an equivalent of the Italian ISEE (Bologna, Pavia’s income-based fee). Students who submit nothing usually pay the maximum.
How much money do I need for an Italian student visa?
EUR 10,180 for a year, from the official figure in our Italy guide. State university fees depend on family income via the ISEE Parificato, and students who miss the deadline pay the top bracket by default.