Why Study in Italy 

Finally flying the family nest and stepping out into the world of further education can be both a slightly daunting, and wondrously exciting, once in a lifetime adventure. Many university students look back on their university years as among the most exhilarating times of their lives. So, making the right choice about which university to attend, and where, is of utmost importance. As we will briefly outline below, choosing to study in Italy will, for international university students, be one of the best decisions they will ever make in their lives!

At the heart of Italy’s multi-faceted charm lies the language itself. Italian is a glorious language, filled with energy, richness, and expressiveness that lends it a lyrical phrasing, and rhythmical musicality. Depending on which graduate degree program students choose to study in Italy (there will be more discussion of this in a later article), a good grasp of Italian is usually necessary. Although, it may surprise students to learn that up to 10% of degree programs in Italy are taught in English. Italian is not a difficult language to learn, especially for native English speakers. 

With more UNESCO World Heritage sites (51) than any other country in the world, comparatively inexpensive university tuition fees, glorious sights, relaxed lifestyle, exquisite cuisine, and unmatched culture, it is no small wonder that Italy is home to around 30,000 international university students who come to study in Italy annually. Italy is a country with superb railway and airport connections, allowing students easy access throughout the country that is quite literally full of wonders. Close your eyes for a moment and dream: Rome, The Vatican City, Florence, Venice, Milan, Lake Como, Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, Pisa, Verona, Pompeii, Turin, The Alps; all within easy reach, each offering something utterly different, special, and unmissable. In terms of cultural enrichment, Italy is quite unlike anywhere else in the world. 

Italian universities are among the most prestigious in the world, and the higher education system in Italy has rightfully gained a reputation for academic excellence. Of the 90  universities in Italy, 15 Italian universities currently rank within the top 2% in the world (QS Rankings). The university of Bologna, established in 1088, is widely believed to be the first such seat of learning in the world. Unsurprisingly, Italian universities take great pride in their history, heritage, quality of teaching and rankings.  

When international students choose to study in Italy, they feel at home almost at once. Italians are warm, friendly, welcoming people who believe wholeheartedly in la dolce vita (the sweet life). Life is made sweeter still by the extremely pocket friendly cost of tuition fees, ranging between just 900-4000 euros for international students attending universities. Average tuition fees for Public universities are in the region of 1,000 euros per annum, and living expenses are roughly 700-1,000 euros per month to cover the cost of housing, transport, food, and fun! Compare this to the cost of tuition in their US or UK counterparts! Although the cost of living can be higher in some of Italy’s larger cities, the universities will invariably offer to assist students needing to find accommodation on a restricted budget. Accommodation in Italy’s smaller cities, on the other hand, is remarkably inexpensive. And there are numerous bursaries available for international students to apply for too. Italy welcomes university students from abroad with open arms.  

The Italian Academy is peerless among Italian language schools in Italy, in that it offers an Academic Pathway Program to achieve access through its close links to Italian universities. In addition, The Italian Academy staff will help guide international students who choose to study in Italy every single step of the way from Pre-Enrolment at the university of their choice (through the Italian embassy), through Application to the Admission Exam, completion of the Study Visa Application, Admission Exam (Academic subjects + Language) and Enrolment for the Academic Year which begins in September-October. 

In Italy, there’s so much more to university life than lectures and seminars!