Study in Italy

Italy's state universities include Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, Sapienza in Rome, and the universities of Bologna (founded 1088), Padua (1222), Pisa, Florence, Naples and others. Each sets its own fee brackets, flat fees for non-EU students and admission procedures.

Each region also runs a Diritto allo Studio Universitario (DSU) body that funds eligible students at the universities in its territory. The combination of university fee rules and regional DSU rules determines what a student will pay, which is why both are checked for every programme.

Italy has more than 600 Masters courses taught in English, mostly in engineering, architecture, design, economics and science. The Universitaly website lists them, but what you actually pay, and whether you can get a regional DSU scholarship, depends on fee rules set by each university and income limits set by each region, and these change every year. Applications can open as early as November and may include a test or interview.

MastersHelp finds the courses you can get into, works out the fees and DSU scholarship rules for each university and region, and confirms each course's dates and process on the university's own website. From all the courses in your field, we narrow down to the five universities with the best chance and the lowest expected cost, and prepare full applications for them.

Degree verification. Universities and consulates require the Indian degree to be verified either by a CIMEA Statement of Comparability (€150, or €300 with Verification; up to 60 working days) or by a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) issued by the Italian consulate on an MEA-apostilled degree. MastersHelp confirms which the chosen university requires and coordinates the process from the start.

Universitaly pre-enrolment. After admission, every non-EU student completes a free pre-enrolment on Universitaly: a profile is created, the admitted course linked, documents uploaded, and the university validates the request. The validated summary forms part of the visa file.

English-taught Masters generally require IELTS 6.0 to 6.5. Italian-taught programmes require Italian at level B2 (CILS or CELI). IELTS preparation is included in the service: a 28-day programme of daily live online classes, question sessions with recordings, mock tests and registration guidance. The examination fee (about ₹19,000) is paid to the test provider.

Applications are submitted through each university's own admission portal, usually between November and April. After an offer is accepted, pre-enrolment follows on Universitaly, and the visa application must be lodged by 30 November 2026 for the 2026/27 intake.

The statement of purpose is read by the admissions committee, and a one-page version is read again by the consulate at the visa stage. MastersHelp prepares a separate statement for each of the five shortlisted universities, written individually and reviewed with the student, together with a visa cover letter where required and a European-style CV.

Tuition. Public universities charge by family income, documented through an ISEE parificato, typically €900 to €4,000 a year. Many universities apply a reduced flat fee to non-EU students. With a DSU scholarship, tuition is waived.

Living funds. For the visa, students show €10,179.85 for the year in six-month bank statements (their own or a family member's up to the fourth degree) with a source of income. A disbursed education loan visible in the account is accepted.

Insurance. Travel medical insurance with €30,000 cover and a repatriation clause is needed for the visa. After arrival, students choose between voluntary SSN registration (€700 a year) and private cover. The residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) costs about €116.

Typical outlay on arrival: deposit for a place to stay about ₹50,000; flight and initial purchases about ₹1.5 lakh.

The visa file includes the admission letter, the validated Universitaly pre-enrolment summary, CIMEA or Declaration of Value, proof of funds, insurance, proof of a place to stay for the first 30 days and the consulate's document checklist. Appointments are booked through VFS in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru or Kolkata according to residence. The visa fee is €50 plus the VFS charge (about ₹6,000 in total). Processing may take up to 90 days, and applications for the 2026/27 intake close on 30 November 2026.

MastersHelp prepares the file, books the appointment and conducts a mock interview.

Residence permit. Within eight working days of arrival the student submits the permesso di soggiorno kit at a post office and attends a fingerprint appointment at the Questura.

Place to stay. DSU residences are allocated with the scholarship; MastersHelp also searches through its alumni network and verified providers and assists with the 30-day proof of a place to stay required for the visa.

Enrolment and internships. Enrolment (immatricolazione) follows arrival. MastersHelp gives an initial internship search with Italian companies in the student's field, application guidance and CV tailoring.