البرامج والجامعات في إيطاليا - الدراسة في إيطاليا (ar)

Programs & Universities in Italy

Italy's university system is one of the oldest and most respected in the world. With 97 universities, over 600 English-taught programs, and tuition fees that are a fraction of what comparable institutions charge elsewhere in Europe, Italy offers exceptional value across virtually every academic field. The challenge is not finding a good university — it is choosing the right one for your goals.

Types of Italian Universities

Public Universities (Universita Statali)

Italy has 67 public universities funded by the state. These charge income-based tuition through the ISEE system, typically EUR 900-4,000 per year. Public universities include some of Italy's most prestigious institutions.

Private Universities (Universita Non Statali)

Italy has 30 recognized private universities. They charge higher tuition but often provide strong financial aid and smaller class sizes.

Specialist Art and Design Schools

Italy's creative education ecosystem is unmatched globally:

• Polimoda (Florence) — Fashion design and business
• Istituto Marangoni (Milan/Florence/Rome) — Fashion, art, design since 1935
• Domus Academy (Milan) — Postgraduate design school of international renown
• IED (Istituto Europeo di Design) — Campuses in Milan, Rome, Turin, Florence
• NABA (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti) — Contemporary arts and design in Milan and Rome
• IUAV University of Venice — Italy's only university dedicated entirely to architecture and design

Italian Degree Types

Top Universities by Subject Area

Engineering and Technology

Business and Economics

Art, Design, and Fashion

Medicine and Health Sciences

Humanities, Law, and Social Sciences

English-Taught Programs

Over 600 degree programs are taught entirely in English. The strongest selection is at the Master's level.

By field:

• Engineering: Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, University of Bologna, University of Padua
• Economics and business: Bocconi, LUISS, University of Bologna, Ca' Foscari Venice
• Design and fashion: Politecnico di Milano, Domus Academy, IED, Polimoda
• International relations: University of Bologna, LUISS, University of Milan
• Computer science: Politecnico di Milano, University of Trento, Sapienza
• Medicine (6-year program): Sapienza, University of Milan, Pavia, Bologna, Turin, Bari

How to find them: Use the Universitaly portal (universitaly.it) — filter by language (English), field, and degree level.

The IMAT Exam for Medicine

If you want to study medicine in English in Italy, you must pass the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test):

• Format: 60 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes
• Subjects: General knowledge and logical reasoning, biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics
• When: Once per year, typically mid-September
• Where: At authorized test centers worldwide
• Cost: Approximately EUR 100
• Results: Published by the Ministry of Education (MIUR) in October

Competition is intense — some universities accept only 1 in 10 applicants. Strong preparation in biology and chemistry is essential.

How to Compare Programs

1. Universitaly portal The official government database for all Italian degree programs. Search by field, university, language, and level.

2. Subject rankings QS and THE rankings by subject are more useful than overall university rankings. Politecnico di Milano may rank lower overall than Sapienza, but it is dramatically higher in design and engineering.

3. ISEE-based tuition Compare actual tuition costs, not just listed fees. Two universities may have the same maximum fee, but different ISEE brackets — meaning you could pay much less at one than the other.

4. Graduate outcomes Check AlmaLaurea (almalaurea.it) — Italy's graduate employment survey. It publishes employment rates, salaries, and satisfaction data for nearly all Italian universities.

5. International student support Some universities have strong international offices (Politecnico di Milano, Bologna, Padua) while others have minimal English-language support. This matters for navigating Italian bureaucracy.

Next Steps

• Check admissions requirements and apply — Detailed guide to pre-enrollment and the application process
• Understand costs and funding options — Tuition, living costs, ISEE, and scholarship opportunities
• Plan your study timeline — Build your preparation schedule
• Explore life in Italy — What to expect when you arrive