About Italy
Italy is home to some of the world's oldest universities, including Bologna, founded in 1088. It is a global leader in fashion, design, architecture and automotive engineering. Public universities have low fees, and regional (DSU) scholarships can cover fees and living costs based on family income. The main intake is September, with a few February starts. The currency is the euro (EUR).
Why study in Italy
- Low tuition at public universities (about €900–€4,000 a year)
- Income-based DSU scholarships can make study almost free
- Growing number of English-taught programs
- Work 20 hours a week while you study
- 12 months after graduation to find work
Popular fields of study
Fashion and design, architecture, mechanical and automotive engineering, business and economics (Bocconi), art and art history, and medicine taught in English (through the IMAT exam). Top universities include Politecnico di Milano, Bocconi, Bologna, Sapienza Rome and Padua.
Student visa, step by step
Student visa: Type D.
- Get admission from an Italian university.
- Complete pre-enrolment on Universitaly and get your CIMEA statements (or Declaration of Value).
- Show living funds as listed in the current Italian consular table (about €534–€594 a month for 2025–26).
- Show your accommodation and health insurance (at least €30,000 cover).
- Apply at VFS Italy in India and give biometrics.
- Wait for the decision, usually 15–45 days.
After you get your visa
- Apply for your permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) at the post office within 8 days of arrival.
- Get your codice fiscale (tax code) and register for health cover.
- Work up to 20 hours a week (1,040 hours a year), with no separate permit needed.
Work and staying on
- Working while you study
- Work up to 20 hours a week (1,040 hours a year), with no separate permit needed.
- After you graduate
- Up to 12 months to look for work The permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione gives you up to 12 months to look for work or start a business after graduating. You can also switch straight to a work permit if you find a job before graduating.
- Settling long term
- Work permit (conversion from study): students can convert outside the annual quotas. EU Blue Card: for graduate-level jobs above the salary threshold. EU long-term residence: after 5 years of legal residence. Citizenship takes 10 years.
Rules change. Please confirm the latest position with your guide.
Visa expenses
| Student visa fee | about €50 (plus VFS charges) |
| Residence permit | €40–€100 + about €76 in kit, stamp and card fees |
| Living-cost funds to show | about €534–€594 a month |
| Health insurance | about €150–€300 a year (approximate) |
Average salary
Graduates typically start at about €28,000–€35,000 a year (approximate). Salaries are highest in Milan.
Good to know
- Italian (B1+) is important for most jobs and daily life.
- Bureaucracy can be slow, so start your permit and codice fiscale early.
General information for Indian students, not immigration advice. Fees, funds and post-study rules change often; figures marked approximate are estimates. Check the official sources before you apply: