Top Affordable & Cheap Universities in Italy for International Students in 2024

List of Cheap Universities in Italy

As mentioned earlier, we are going to be talking about the cheap and affordable universities to study in Italy for international students looking to pursue their Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies abroad.

1. Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan)
2. University of Padova
3. Sapienza University of Rome
4. University of Bologna
5. University of Naples Federico II

Top Affordable & Cheap Universities in Italy

Following is a list of top universities in Italy which offer cheap and affordable courses, along with a handful of scholarships which can cover partial or full-tuition fees:

Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan)

Established in 1863, Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) is a scientific-technological university that is renowned for training engineers, architects, and industrial designers. By means of experimental research and technological transfer, the University has always focused on the quality and innovation of its teaching and research and developed a fruitful relationship with the business and productive world. The University offers several courses that are entirely taught in English. Read: Politecnico Di Milano - Courses

Cost of studying at Politecnico di Milano: For the benefit of our readers, we have provided the cost of studying at the Politecnico di Milano for international students looking to study at cheap universities in Italy. Candidates would also incur a yearly expenditure of INR 3.5 Lakhs for hostel and meal expenses while at the university. Candidates can check out the same below:

The Polytechnic University of Milan - Fee Structure

Polytechnic University of Milan Courses	First-Year Tuition Fees
Master of Science in Architecture	INR 3L
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering	INR 3L
Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering	INR 3L
International Full Time MBA	INR 27.7L

University of Padova

A hotbed for research, experimentation, and progress, the University of Padova was established in 1922 and is a leader among great universities for providing quality teaching, research, and services along with collaborations with major international research institutions. The university provides over 5,000 scholarships and has 32 departments that have multiple courses on offer for students looking to pursue undergraduate, graduate, and research studies. Courses delivered in English, as well as online courses, are constantly increasing to meet the gradual demand from international students. Read: University of Padova - Courses 

Cost of studying at the University of Padova: Candidates looking to study at cheap universities in Itlay can take a look at the University of Padova. We have provided the fee structure for some of the top courses at the university below:

University of Padova - Fee Structure

University of Padova Courses	First-Year Tuition Fees
Masters in Business Administration	INR 2.1L
Masters in Economics and Finance	INR 2.1L
Masters in Environmental Engineering	INR 2.1L

Sapienza University of Rome

The Sapienza University of Rome serves as a collegiate research institution which is situated in Rome, Italy. Earlier referred to as "La Sapienza", it is considered as one of the largest European universities based on enrolments. As it was established in the year 1303, it is also one of the oldest universities in Italy. At present, it provides about 270 degree programmes offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees to students, in the fields of natural sciences, humanities, biomedical sciences, and engineering, and a variety of research programs are offered by Sapienza University. Read: Sapienza University of Rome - Courses

Cost of studying at the Sapienza University of Rome: Candidates looking for an affordable university in Italy can check out the Sapienza University of Rome. The university as mentioned provides courses at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels to students:

Sapienza University of Rome - Fee Structure

Sapienza University of Rome Courses	First-Year Tuition Fees
Master of Science in Business Management	INR 2.4L
Master of Science in Engineering in Computer Science	INR 1.0L
Masters in Computer Science	INR 2.5L
Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering	INR 2.5L

University of Bologna

Often recognized as one of the oldest universities in the world, the University of Bologna was founded in 1088 and predominantly focuses on research programmes. The university has multiple schools of specific studies such as the School of Arts, Humanities and Cultural Heritage, School of Economics and Management, School of Engineering, School of Medicine, and School of Science. Read: University of Bologna – Courses

Cost of Studying at the University of Bologna: Candidates looking to study at cheap universities in Itlay can take a look at the University of Bologna. We have provided the fee structure for some of the top courses at the university below:

University of Bologna - Fee Structure

University of Bologna Courses	First-Year Tuition Fees
Masters in Automation Engineering	INR 2.7L
Masters in Civil Engineering	INR 2.8L
Master in Economics	INR 2.7L

University of Naples - Federico II

Established in 1224, the University of Naples Federico II is the oldest public non-sectarian university in the world which is now organized into 26 departments. The university has 13 faculties and these include, Agriculture, Architecture, Biotechnology, Economics, Engineering, Law, Letters and philosophy, Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Political sciences, Sociology, and Veterinary Medicine. Students can pursue a number of undergraduate, graduate, and research programs at the university. Read: University of Naples - Federico II - Courses

Cost of studying at the University of Naples - Federico II: For the benefit of our readers, we have provided the cost of studying at the University of Naples - Federico II for international students looking to study at cheap universities in Italy. Candidates can check out the same below:

University of Naples - Federico II - Fee Structure

University of Naples - Federico II Courses	First-Year Tuition Fees
Master in Economics and Finance	INR 2.6L

Cost of Living in Italy for International Students

The cost of studying abroad forms the lion’s share of the expenses incurred during the process of studying abroad. The cost of living is a close second. Candidates would have to keep in mind that staying in the capital or in a city would cost more than opting for a suburban lifestyle. Staying alone would be more expensive as compared to staying at a hostel accommodation or on sharing basis. International candidates are advised to be having a minimum of €3,800 - €5,500 per month as part of living costs in Italy while studying for expenses such as lodging (on sharing basis), food, transport and clothing, etc. A heads up, expensive cities would include, Rome, Milan and Bologna and cheaper cities would be Pisa, Padua, or Turin.

A lot of times candidates wonder whether doing a part-time job would cover living expenses in a country. Candidates should note that money earned through part-time jobs in Italy would only suffice as pocket money. Candidates would be required to show proof of funds for both living as well as studying costs in Italy during the Italy Student Visa process. Candidates can know more about the same through our expert Shiksha Study Abroad counsellors.

Scholarships for Studying in Italy

Scholarships and financial aid are great ways to bring the costs of studying abroad down. Even though we have provided some of the most affordable and cheap universities in Italy, a reduction in study expenses has never hurt anybody. Government organizations, universities and private bodies have a large number of need-based and merit-based scholarships that they are willing to give to the students that truly deserve them. The key is to start early.

Candidates who wish to apply for a scholarship to study in Italy or an education loan to study in Italy should start their application process early. This would give them ample time to complete all document work, appear for any test that might be required as part of the process and so on.

Top reasons to study in Italy for International students

Ever wondered what are the top reasons for studying in Italy? Read on as we tell you why Italy should be your next study-abroad destination and more.

• Italy is home to several top public and private universities.
• The average tuition fee for all degree types in Italy is between 850 to 1,000 euros per year. Public Universities in Italy are cheaper in comparison to private universities in Italy.
• The average living expenses are between €900 to €1,200 euros/month for housing, food, transportation and leisure.
• Italy is often referred to as the fashion capital and is the birthplace of Renaissance art.
• The country is popular for pursuing degrees in the fields of art, architecture and fashion.
• The education system in Italy enjoys global recognition, and,
• The country also attracts a sizable population of international students as multiple courses are taught in English.

Candidates should note that the tuition fees for all universities have been sourced from shiksha.com and holds true for the Academic year 2023-24. However, the rates could vary depending on the university updates. Candidates are requested to check the current rates while applying to any of the affordable and cheap universities in Italy mentioned above.