Italy is a land of vast historical treasures and magnificent cuisine, which keeps drawing the attention of foreign travellers. Not only this, many international students as well come to Italy seeking world-class educational facilities. International students generally feel at home in Italy. The country has rich collections of art, culture and literature from many periods. From the snow-capped Dolomites in the North to the warm maritime Mediterranean culture of the South, Italy’s regions are diverse and exciting. Being the third-most populous member state of the European Union and the sixth-most populous country in Europe, Italy is the tenth-largest country in the continent by land area.
Indian students planning to study in Italy to pursue higher education will witness the lowest tuition fees. The cost of studying in Italy for international students is lower in comparison to other European countries and USA or Canada. Not only this, there are currently more than 500 English-taught study programs available in the country. And every year, there are more and more options to study in Italy in English. Italian Universities generally take pride in their historical heritage along with the rankings. With a rich history and tradition of higher education, Italy is always an attractive option for students.
Italy is one of the most affordable European countries when it comes to quality education. While the cost of accommodation and living can be high in large cities like Rome or Milan, smaller cities are much cheaper. Larger universities usually offer support in finding accommodation; with luck you might get a place in a cheap student home. Where the education at the private Universities is expensive, the public Universities are also there which provide the same education for a cheaper price which may seem free in front of private Universities. Below you can find the cost structure of the public Universities in Italy:
1. An undergraduate course is €900 - €4,000, costing approximately INR 76,616 - INR 3,22,596 for an Indian student.
2. A postgraduate course in Italy can cost from €400 and can go up to €3,500.
3. PhD and research-related courses can cost around €1,500 per annum.
After including all the accommodation, food, transportation and other expenses, students may need up to 600 EUR/mo. For master's degrees, Italian universities offer assistantships or research-related stipends to academically strong students. Hence, in a lot of cases, the cost of studying in Italy for a master's or PhD can be covered under these funding options. The cost of living in Milan, Rome, Bologna, Firenze, Verona or other bigger and more touristy cities is higher. The cheapest place to live in Italy are the smaller towns in the South of the country. How expensive it is to live in Italy will depend a lot on your lifestyle; but honestly, Italy is a great place for those looking at having a good quality of life without spending much.
Italy being a beautiful country, it also has top student cities where international students can gain an outstanding experience of life. In Italy stay back options are only permissible if you have completed a PhD or level 2 Masters Program in Italy. The stay back in Italy after masters is known as “Permesso di Soggiorno”, literally translated Residence Permit. The stay back is allowed for up to 12 months. If any student is not able to secure a job in that period, he or she has to head back to their home country.
1. For EU students, there will be no requirement for the residence permit, and specific work permit after study. They request to extend their residence permit in Italy as long as they are working there.
2. Non- European students need a work permit after study, and a student residence permit is required.
3. Only Ph.D. and second degree Master's Students can apply for the temporary residence permit once the program is completed.
Immigrating to Italy implies applying for a permanent residence before acquiring Italian citizenship.
Italy is an EU member state which means that citizens from EU countries don’t need to obtain residence permits when relocating here. However, they do need to register with the local police station in the city they live within 8 days from their arrival in the country. For citizens of non-EU countries, the requirements are more stringent, meaning that these persons need to apply for one of the available types of visas prior to entering the country. The government provides for various types of visas. Through these visas, foreigners can simply reside, work or start their own companies in Italy.
The Italy study visa is an endorsement that lets you enter the country and engage in academic activities for a certain period. The Italian student VISA is of 2 types mostly:
This category is under the C short term category and is issued for studies that do not last more than 90 days.
This permit is under the D long term category, and is issued if you have to study in the country for a duration of more than 90 days. Generally it is preferred for the students to apply for the Italy National student visa since most courses are above the duration of 90 days.
The application for the Italy student visa from India can be done by filling the offline application form. You will have to submit the application at one of the Italian appointed visa application centres (VAC).
1. Download the offline Italy student visa application form from the website of the VAC.
2. You must use the Schengen application form for the Italy Schengen study visa. However, for the national Italy study visa, you will have to fill out the national visa application form.
3. Book an appointment for the application and biometric submission at a VAC under each mission as per the jurisdiction (state of residence in the past 6 months). You can do this online, or by calling them on their number.
4. Visit the relevant VAC with your documents, completed application form, as well as any fees, to submit your application. To be eligible for the VISA for Italy the student must carry a valid Passport along with the acceptance letter from the educational organisation.
1. A valid passport (not older than 10 years and valid for at least 6 months)
2. 2 passport size photographs
3. Proof of accommodation
4. Travel medical insurance covering 30000 Euros
5. Proof of Educational qualification
6. Proof of financial security over the time period the student stays in Italy.
7. Letter of acceptance from the Italian institute stating the duration of the course.
8. Statement of purpose
When applying to study a bachelor, master or PhD in an Italian university, there are several entry requirements that you should keep in mind.
1. Identity document like a passport or EU identity card;
2. Academic transcript of your previous studies;
3. University application form;
4. Letter of recommendation;
5. Personal Statement; and
6. Proof of language proficiency (English or Italian, depending on the program), certificate of IELTS, TOEFL, etc.
Italian Universities allow international students to study in the country without the hassle of giving entrance exams like IELTS or TOEFL. Though IELTS is the most common proof of English proficiency, many universities accept the alternatives such as,
1. International students who have completed their previous degrees in English language and can provide a Medium of Instruction Certificate are eligible to study in Italy without taking the IELTS test.
2. Students applying after 12th can submit proof of studying English from classes 8 to 12 in order to be eligible for the IELTS waiver.
3. The Italian authorities make exceptions for students applying without IELTS by conducting interviews.
Depending on your institution and the language your documents are written in, you may also have to provide a certified translation of your documents into Italian. Always confirm any specific application requirements with your institution, as different schools and programs can have different entry requirements!
Similar to the process of applying for student visas in Italy, there are different application procedures for applying to Italian universities depending on your country of origin and your current residency.
If you’re a European citizen, or non-EU citizen residing in Italy with a current and valid "permesso di soggiorno" you should apply directly to your university in Italy.
If you’re a non-EU citizen residing abroad, you should submit a pre-application request to the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence and indicate what institution and program you’re applying to. The officials will forward your documentation to the institution, and you should confirm with your institution how and when the results will be posted.
Sometimes, it is hard for the college students to be able to pay for the said fees of college, so to ease this burden, there are many government and non-government organisations that provide scholarships to the students based on their requirements. The Italian Government awards scholarships for studying in Italy both to foreign citizens and Italian citizens resident abroad (IRE).
Students including non-EU international students enrolled in a full-time Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Single Cycle Master’s degree, or PhD Degree courses at one of the Universities of Piedmont can apply for EDISU scholarships if they meet the merit and economic requirements of the competition. Part-time students can apply if enrolled in a bachelor’s degree. The scholarship amount varies depending on many conditions. Accommodation service can also be granted to non-resident students.
The University of Padua also offers full scholarships to highly talented prospective students wishing to pursue a first-cycle or second-cycle degree taught in English at Padova. The scholarship includes a subsistence allowance of €8,000 and a tuition fee waiver.
The UCSC International Scholarship is an annual tuition fee reduction promoted by Università Cattolica in order to foster the access of international students to the degree programs. The discount covers about 25% of the total cost.
The Politecnico di Torino offers scholarships to international students to attend academic programs in certain fields such as Engineering and Architecture.
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