Studying a Masters in Italy is an experience that will stay with you for the rest of your education and career. You’ll have the opportunity to attend historic universities, benefit from cutting edge modern research and, of course, enjoy the chance to explore one of the most beautiful parts of Europe during your degree.
To narrow down your choices, we bring you the list of all the top universities in Italy for masters programme.
How to Choose Best Universities in Italy for Masters
Some of the best Italian universities for masters are known for their industrial experiential learning, and excellent education at par with affordability. Let us understand how you, as an international applicant can choose some of the best universities in Italy for masters:
- Recognized universities and programs: While choosing top universities in Italy for masters you can look for how they are ranked and recognized globally. Out of 80 universities in Italy, 40 are recognized through the QS World university Rankings, and 11 universities out of the 40 have even made it to the top 500 universities in the world. Moreover, Italy has been declared ideal for degree programs in the field of architecture, fashion, art and applied sciences.
- Cost of attendance: The tuition fees for most public universities in Italy range from 800 EUR to 3,450 EUR per annum, which is considered to be highly affordable. Private universities, on the other hand, can be a bit on the pricier side. Also, living expenses at cities like Milan, Rome and Bologna can be a little higher as compared to Pisa, Turin and others.
- Availability of scholarships: Italy, unlike other study abroad destinations offers similar scholarships to both domestic and international students. As an international student, you may receive an average amount of 500 EUR to 5,000 EUR annually as a scholarship.
| Did you know? Italy is home to the world’ oldest university- the University of Bologna, which was established in the year 1088! |
Top Universities in Italy for Masters
Italy MS universities are known to offer one of the best industrially driven education, and a high class faculty. Public universities in Italy for masters are internationally ranked, and better than private universities in terms of tuition rates, and more secure employability rates.
Let us now move forward to discover the list of universities in Italy for masters:
| University | QS World University Ranking 2022 | Top Programs Offered | Average Tuition Fees for International Students (in EUR) |
| Politecnico Di Milano | 142 | Master of Design in Urban Planning and Policy Design
Master of Food Engineering |
3,891/ year |
| University of Padova | 242 | Masters in Environmental Engineering
Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation |
2,623/ year |
| Sapienza University of Rome | 171 | Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Masters in Landscape Architecture |
1,000/ year |
| University of Bologna | 160 | Masters in Civil Engineering
Masters of Business Administration |
3,315/ year |
| Istituto Marangoni, Milan | – | Masters in Italian Product Design
Masters in Fashion Design
|
Masters in Italian Product Design- 23,600 (Total)
Masters in Fashion Design- 30,800 (Total) |
| University of Siena | 601-650 | Masters of Applied Mathematics | 2,626/ year |
| University of Pisa | 388 | Masters in Data Science and Informatics
Masters in Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering |
2,400/ year |
Admission Requirements to Study at Universities in Italy for Masters
Top universities in italy for MS are known to be quite prominent in terms of their education system. The admission requirements at most of the Italy MS universities are quite generic, and can be easily fulfilled. Moreover, the requirements at a majority of public universities in Italy for masters are quite similar, and have been listed below:
- Academic transcripts
- Bachelor’s degree (if applying to master’s programs)
- Standardized test scores (GMAT, GRE)
- Language proficiency proof (English, Italian)
- Additional documents (LORs, SOPs, Essays, Resume/CV, proof of Work Experience, etc)
Why Study In Italy
1. Plenty of top universities with an impressive international environment
Italy is a popular international study location not just due to its high multicultural ambience, but the country also has several top public and private universities.
The University of Bologna is a prestigious institution that marks the origin of the current Western higher education system as the oldest university in Europe. In addition, Bologna is on the list of top European cities that welcome the largest number of Erasmus students.
There are many other quality public universities available in Italy, such as:
- Politecnico di Milano
- Politecnico di Torino
- University of Siena
- University of Pavia
- University of Padua
2. Italy is an affordable destination for international students
Italy is one of the most affordable countries in Europe where you can study abroad and that goes for tuition fees and living costs as well.
- Average tuition for all degree types: 850 to 1,000 EUR/year
- Average living expenses: 700 to 1,000 EUR/month for housing, food, transportation and fun
- Most expensive cities: Rome, Milan and Bologna
- Cheaper cities: Pisa, Padua, or Turin
3. Easy ways to travel the country
Italy allows you to ‘jump’ a bus or train for just a few Euros to escape from the cold and foggy Milano, or from the chaotic Bologna, to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Almost every big city is also perfectly connected to European and non-European countries with 87 airports. You can easily travel by train, all the bigger Italian cities are interconnected with 77 (main-) railway stations. That makes life easier for many students that do not like travelling by car or by plane.
4. A country full of wonders
While you’re enjoying the international student status in Italy, it would really be a shame not to take advantage of the privilege of living close to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Yes, Italy beats any country at this, counting 51 heritage sites that speak about the cultural and historical past of Italy.
Imagine first-hand how the gladiators fought in the Colosseum, take a picture holding the Leaning Tower of Pisa, get lost on the streets and canals of Venice, and explore the centre of the Catholic faith in Vatican City. Learn a little Italian history and geography and visit Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.
5. No pineapple on your pizza!
Italians are famous for their pizza; sure, you can eat pizza anywhere in this world but you can only find “the real pizza” in Italy. I’m not sure anyone discovered the secret ingredient but the truth is you’ll have to taste it to convince yourself that it is unique. Pizza in Italy is also more refined so don’t expect to see tons of toppings over it and don’t even think you’ll find pineapple on it, either!
As for pasta, you can enjoy them in all sizes and forms, cavatelli, ravioli, orecchiette, tagliatelle and most restaurants will serve homemade pasta.
Italians take great pride in their coffee and as for beer, leave it to the truck drivers. Start enjoying good Italian wines instead. A good bottle can start for as little as three Euros.
6. Late nights are a given in Italy
Compared to other countries in the southern part of Europe, life in Italy starts and ends late in the evening. At 8 p.m. the streets are full of life, and sometimes this is the time when life just begins. In many other European cities, at 6 p.m., the city looks like it switched off all of a sudden. There are no people around anymore and the ambient was really driving us to depression. This is definitely not going to happen in Italy!
In an Italian university city, going for a walk at 9 or 10 p.m., especially in spring-summer-fall, makes you feel ‘in good company’, always surrounded by people. In the southern part, most shops have the closing time at 8:30 p.m. and that makes life easier for students who always forget to get food before closing time.
7. So many English-taught degrees you won’t know what to choose
In Italy, you can find a suitable study programme in any field you can imagine, from Arts to Computer Science, many of which are English-taught. See which are the most popular study programmes taught in English. Here are a few options you can consider, depending on your chosen university:
- International Relations in Italy
- MBAs in Italy
- Electrical Engineering in Italy
- Computer Science in Italy
- Architecture in Italy
- Fashion Design in Italy
You would have to pass around 20 exams to successfully complete a degree (around eight exams in each academic year) and most of them are oral exams. In some specialised fields, such as medicine or engineering, you will be required to pass 40 or 50 exams.
Oral examinations make life easier for a lot of students, but if you’re shy you might feel a bit uncomfortable with this kind of examination. But adjusting to this type of exams is a good exercise for developing your communication abilities.
8. The ridiculous graduation ritual
In Italy, graduate students have to go through a ridiculously funny ritual. After the official ceremony, students dress up in goofy costumes (usually a giant diaper, a hula skirt, or a funny hat), sit on a bench and wait for their peers and family to clutter them with either ketchup, eggs or other food substances. Students also hang around posters representing caricatures with an embarrassing anecdote of their colleagues.
9. Surrounded by arts, architecture and fashion
Particularly students who chose Italy to study a degree in fields like art, architecture or fashion will never regret their decision. Even if you came to Italy to study anything else, you will surely appreciate these emblematic features of the Italian culture.
