Study in Italy: the ultimate guide for a PhD in 2026

Study in Italy

Praising Italy might be the most complicated thing in the world: where do you even start?. Do you mention a bunch of famous Italians, like da Vinci, Borgia, Versace, and Vivaldi? Or just mention the fields they revolutionised, like Architecture, Music, Engineering, and Fashion?

I could just focus on the brilliant landscapes and the UNESCO World Heritage sites, or how awesome Italian people are, with their pastas, wines, and signature hand gesture, but it would be redundant.

Bottom line is simply: Italy is awesome!

Why Study in Italy?

1. Italian universities are affordable

When compared to their Western counterparts, Italian public universities are incredibly affordable. If you come from an EU/EEA country, you won't pay more than 4,000 EUR per year, and you can easily find much cheaper study programmes.

Non-EU/EEA citizens enjoy the same tuition rates in some cases, but in others they do pay more — which is why you should always check what tuition applies to students from your country.

2. Impressive higher education experience

The University of Bologna is the oldest university in Europe, having been established in 1088. That means it is almost 1,000 years old and still alive and kicking today!

Bologna is also the name of the process used by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) to create a more coherent, uniform, and attractive education system.

Many European countries follow this system. If you study at one university implementing it, your diploma will be recognised in any other country that's part of the programme.

All in all, we'd say that Italy knows a thing or two about higher education and has a long and rich experience in this field.

3. Italy is at the forefront of fashion and architecture

One visit to Italy is enough to understand why it is considered a leader in terms of fashion, arts, and architecture. Milan is the stand out city, as one of the 4 fashion capitals of the world.

As for architecture, going through the charming Italian cities will reveal to you the beauty and unique style of buildings, which seem to have been lost in the process of developing the modern architecture.

4. Enjoy the Mediterranean climate

The warm sun, the sea breeze, the tasty fruits and vegetables — all are essential elements of the Mediterranean lifestyle, which is highly regarded for its health and wellness benefits.

Sardinia, for example, is one of the few "Blue Zones" in the world, where people often reach over 90 years of age.

5. Visit amazing and time defying historic sites

When you're not in classes, take the time to visit some of the oldest and most impressive historic sites in Europe. From the Colosseum to the Pantheon, from the Valley of the Temples to Ostia Antica — all these places still carry their aura of former glory, an aura that can still be felt and explored nowadays.

Which universities to attend in Italy?

If you’re the type of student who wants to go only to the best universities, disregarding the city you’re going to or the province best suited for you, you can always check out these highly-recommended universities:

What is it like to study in Italy?

Everybody who gets to study in Italy says the same thing about the universities here: the professors and fellow students are friendly and helpful, the cultural landscape is very diverse, and the architecture of the universities is exquisite.

However, it might help if you study a bit of Italian before coming here: although they are warm and kind, it may be difficult to talk to them, because not everyone is fluent in English.

Also, although the tuition fees are rather low, you should check out scholarships in Italy: there are a lot of chances of discovering one that suits you and your study option.

What to study in Italy?

Italy can be easily compared to that annoying colleague from high school who excelled at everything he or she did. Considering how many pioneers Italy has produced, there’s no wonder the list of “most sought-after” fields is so vast and comprehensive. Still, the most popular study options in Italy are:

Where to study in Italy?

The greatest universities in Italy are usually located in the bigger cities. If you’re not sure which are those, or you’re simply searching for details about living costs and geography, you can always check out these cities in Italy:

How to apply

The application process in Italy can be complicated, but we’re here to help and trace the major lines.

First of all, you should contact the university you’re interested in and check if your qualifications are eligible. This is represented by a prior assessment, after which the university will give you feedback and tell you if you meet all the standards.

After, you will have to submit a pre-application request at your Italian embassy or consulate, and let them manage your application afterwards.

By the end of August, students will find a list of admitted candidates on the embassy’s or consulate’s page.

Some of the documents you will need to deliver with your application are:

Your ID
A passport-type photograph
Your academic transcripts
Your university application form
A detailed study programme or course description, which must contain the number of hours of the courses or training activities that you have completed, according to your academic curriculum
Your CV
A letter of recommendation
A letter of motivation
Language proficiency certificate (English or Italian)
Your portfolio, if you’re applying to Architecture, Urban Planning, or Design programmes
Official SAT or ACT scores

How to qualify for an Italian university?

Take Preparation Courses

These kinds of courses enable degree-seeking students to get an extra educational boost just before they start their Master’s degree or other post-graduate degree programmes.

Try a pre-M.B.A., pre-Law, or pre-Medicine programme, as well as any other foundation or preparation courses that will allow you to study in the degree programme of your choice.

Improve your English through an English-language prep course

If you’re attending a degree programme in Italy, you will need to prove that your language skills are good enough to participate in the classes and understand the lectures; some schools will require strong English or Italian skills. These courses will also prepare you for any of the English-language tests that universities require.

English-language tests

Italian universities have programmes that are taught either in English or in Italian. That’s why, in order to be accepted at one of their programmes, you will need to provide proof of either English or Italian proficiency.

The language tests accepted by Italian universities for English are:

PTE Academic
TOEFL
IELTS
C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency

Living in Italy

Let's take a closer look at tuition and living expenses in Italy:

Tuition fees in Italy

Tuition fees in Italy vary wildly, depending on your nationality, the type of university (public vs private), or whether you arrive with an ERASMUS scholarship or not.

On average:

Tuition fees at public universities range between 0–5,000 EUR/year
Tuition fees at private universities range between 3,000–35,000 EUR/year

Some of the most expensive disciplines are Medicine, Engineering, and Technology. Also keep in mind that if you're not from the EU/EEA, you can expect to pay much higher tuition fees at public universities.

Accommodation, food, and other expenses

Italy is one of the cheapest countries in Central Europe. For accommodation, transportation, food, and entertainment, a student would need around 700–1,000 EUR per month. Larger cities can be more expensive.

Here's a breakdown of the average living costs in Italy:

Rent: 300–700 EUR/month
Utilities: 170–200 EUR/month
Monthly transport pass: 35 EUR
A meal in a restaurant: 15 EUR
A loaf of bread: 1.60 EUR
Milk: 1.15 EUR

About Italy

Facts about Italy:

Trying to stay far away from clichés and prejudices, let’s try and get a deeper understanding of Italy and what it stands for.

For instance, the name Italy comes from the word italia, which means “land of calves” or “calf land”, which is, automatically, adorable. Scholars assume that this name was inspired by the symbol of the Southern Italian tribes, which was a bull.

And that might be the only moderate fact about Italy we can find. Everything else is plagued by how passionate and proud the Italians are, seeing how:

At the opening of McDonald's in 1986, in Rome, food purists gave away free spaghetti in front of the restaurant, so they could remind people of their culinary heritage;
They call football fans tifosi, meaning people infected with typhoid. This name started after they saw that soccer was treated more like a religion in Italy, not just a simple past-time hobby;
The fork grew in popularity in Europe after it was first imported to Italy. Why was it that famous? Because it was the best utensil to eat spaghetti… No, I am not joking!
In Milan, it’s illegal not to smile, unless you are in a hospital or at a funeral. Can I get a psychotically friendly hallelujah?

Also, you should know a bit about their folklore and superstitions, before going and settling in Italy. Some of the most famous ones are:

The cursed number 17: it’s common for hotels not to have the 17th floor, seeing how the number is believed to be unlucky. It’s a bit of a stretch, but, apparently, 17, or XVII, can be rearranged in VIXI, which loosely translates to “I have lived”, and it’s often associated with death;
Putting a hat on a bed: this one is much more grounded in reality and the horrible aftermaths of the plague or the other diseases that haunted Italy. Legend has it that, when you’re on your deathbed, a priest will come for your final rites, and he would remove his hat and place it on the bed, next to you;
Sardinian islands have witches: the women use a secret language that they pass on to their daughters, along with recipes for health potions;
Vatican is the only nation in the world allowed to lock its gates at night;

And, although it isn’t a superstition, you should still know that Whatsapp is cited in nearly half of the Italian divorce proceedings.

Universities, colleges and schools in Italy

How to Apply to a PhD in Italy

If you've decided to study a PhD degree at a university in Italy, you will have to gather the right documents to prove that you fit the university requirements. Provide complete personal information, previous qualifications, financial information, and a personal statement.

What documents do I need to provide to apply in Italy?

You don't really have to worry about documents in Italy. Although they might seem a lot, getting the documents will be easier that it sounds. You will need:

Your ID;
A photo, passport style;
Your academic transcripts;
The university application form, completed very carefully;
A detailed description of what you studied and how many hours you studied it;
Your CV;
A letter of recommendation;
A letter of motivation;
A language proficiency test (English or Italian, depending on what you study);
Your SAT or ACT scores.

Of course, students who go to study Architecture or any other Design Master's programme, will need to prepare a portfolio.

Prove your English or Italian skills

Master's degrees in Italy can be found both in English and Italian, so, depending on what you choose, you will have 2 different types of proficiency diplomas you will have to provide.

For Italian, you should present:

CILS
CELI

For English, you should present:

TOEFL
TOEIC
IELTS
Cambridge

Application deadlines for Italy

The deadlines in Italy vary depending on the institution, programme, your nationality, and so on.

But we managed to find a rather common trend within the dates, so pay attention to:

November 1st to April 15th – open applications for non-EU students;
November 1st to September 1st – open applications for EU students.

Still, always check! And, remember, the sooner you start applying, the better.

Recent international policies promote international university cooperation and student exchange between countries worldwide. High-quality study and PhD degrees are made more available to students in order to create a global educational network, achievable through student and staff mobility. Career and research oriented programmes support international student development.

University cooperation enables students study worldwide, for instance in Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States and provides ways of recognizing previous degrees. Different study options offer appropriate alternatives to students, depending on their preferred mode of study.

Many study programmes in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America are English-taught. The most popular international student destinations include the following countries: Australia, Belgium, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, the United States, and more. However, these are not the only countries offering English-taught education. The rest of the world is full of endless study choices, from highly ranked to smaller, more specialized, universities.

PhD (postgraduate) Degrees

If you want further education beyond the undergraduate level or if you want more personal development or a career in academia, you could obtain a PhD degree. PhD degrees are postgraduate programmes that usually follow a Master's, MPhil or MRes, but there might be additional requirements depending on the university. Students are required to do their own research in a chosen topic. With the help of a supervisor, you develop knowledge and analytical skills in a specific or multidisciplinary field and you carry out independent research. The duration of a PhD degree differs per country and institution. Sometimes your own research is accompanied by work for the department such as giving seminars or small group teaching.

PhD students are required to study on campus under close supervision, but there are universities that accept students enrolled into a part-time distance education PhD degree. Studying on campus can also be full-time as well as part-time, in which case the part-time variant is normally twice as long as the full-time study.