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Study in Italy 2025: Top 20 Budget-Friendly Universities
Italy combines rich cultural heritage, affordable tuition fees, and a welcoming environment for international students. For those seeking budget-friendly universities with straightforward admissions, here’s a curated list of 20 public universities offering low tuition fees (€500–€3,500/year), English-taught programs, and direct application systems.
1. University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum)
Overview: The oldest university in Europe, renowned for humanities, law, and engineering.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: April 1 – June 15, 2025
- Spring 2025: October 1 – November 30, 2024
Tuition Fees: €2,000–€3,500/year (income-based)
Key Programs: - Economics and Management (English)
- International Relations (English)
- Advanced Automotive Engineering (English)
Apply Here: University of Bologna Admissions
2. Sapienza University of Rome
Overview: Italy’s largest university, offering 300+ programs in English.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – July 30, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,000–€3,000/year
Key Programs: - Computer Science (English)
- Sustainable Transportation Engineering (English)
- Space Engineering (English)
Apply Here: Sapienza University Programs
3. University of Padua
Overview: Affordable STEM and social science programs in a historic city.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: January 7 – June 15, 2025
Tuition Fees: €2,500–€3,200/year
Key Programs: - Data Science (English)
- Human Rights and Multilevel Governance (English)
- Environmental Engineering (English)
Apply Here: University of Padua Admissions
4. University of Milan
Overview: Top-ranked for life sciences, economics, and political science.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – June 30, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,500–€3,500/year
Key Programs: - Bioinformatics (English)
- International Politics (English)
- Medical Biotechnology (English)
Apply Here: University of Milan Programs
5. University of Pisa
Overview: Famous for engineering, computer science, and space research.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: February 1 – May 31, 2025
Tuition Fees: €2,000–€2,800/year
Key Programs: - Artificial Intelligence (English)
- Aerospace Engineering (English)
- Marine Biology (English)
Apply Here: University of Pisa Admissions
6. University of Turin (UniTo)
Overview: Offers low-cost programs in agriculture, law, and psychology.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: April 1 – July 15, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,800–€2,800/year
Key Programs: - Viticulture and Enology (English)
- Global Law (English)
- Psychology (English)
Apply Here: University of Turin Programs
7. University of Florence (UniFI)
Overview: Affordable arts, architecture, and economics programs.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – June 30, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,700–€2,500/year
Key Programs: - Fashion Design (English)
- Development Economics (English)
- Architecture (English)
Apply Here: University of Florence Admissions
8. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Overview: Budget-friendly programs in languages, sustainability, and digital management.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: February 1 – May 31, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,900–€2,600/year
Key Programs: - Digital Management (English)
- Environmental Humanities (English)
- Languages and Civilizations of Asia (English)
Apply Here: Ca’ Foscari University Programs
9. Politecnico di Milano
Overview: Italy’s top tech university with English-taught engineering programs.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: November 1, 2024 – March 15, 2025
Tuition Fees: €3,500–€4,000/year (non-EU)
Key Programs: - Civil Engineering (English)
- Design & Engineering (English)
- Computer Science (English)
Apply Here: Politecnico di Milano Admissions
10. University of Naples Federico II
Overview: Southern Italy’s cheapest option for engineering and medicine.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: April 1 – July 31, 2025
Tuition Fees: €500–€2,000/year
Key Programs: - Mechanical Engineering (English)
- Biotechnology (English)
- Cultural Heritage Management (English)
Apply Here: University of Naples Programs
11. University of Siena
Overview: Low fees for international relations, biotech, and finance.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – June 30, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,800–€2,200/year
Key Programs: - International Business (English)
- Medical Biotechnologies (English)
- Finance (English)
Apply Here: University of Siena Admissions
12. University of Trento
Overview: Affordable tuition and English-taught IT programs.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: January 15 – April 15, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,500–€2,500/year
Key Programs: - Data Science (English)
- International Studies (English)
- Environmental Engineering (English)
Apply Here: University of Trento Programs
13. University of Genoa
Overview: Coastal university with low-cost engineering and maritime programs.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – June 30, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,000–€2,000/year
Key Programs: - Naval Architecture (English)
- Robotics Engineering (English)
- Tourism Economics (English)
Apply Here: University of Genoa Admissions
14. University of Palermo
Overview: Sicily’s most affordable university for agriculture and architecture.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: May 1 – July 31, 2025
Tuition Fees: €800–€1,500/year
Key Programs: - Sustainable Agriculture (English)
- Mediterranean Architecture (English)
- Food Science (English)
Apply Here: University of Palermo Programs
15. University of Bergamo
Overview: Budget-friendly management and engineering degrees near Milan.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – June 30, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,200–€2,000/year
Key Programs: - International Business (English)
- Mechanical Engineering (English)
- Smart Agriculture (English)
Apply Here: University of Bergamo Admissions
16. University of Calabria (UNICAL)
Overview: Italy’s cheapest university (€500–€1,000/year) for engineering and IT.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: April 1 – July 15, 2025
Tuition Fees: €500–€1,000/year
Key Programs: - Artificial Intelligence (English)
- Environmental Engineering (English)
- Economics (English)
Apply Here: University of Calabria Programs
17. University of Salerno
Overview: Southern Italy gem with low fees for computer science and chemistry.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – July 31, 2025
Tuition Fees: €800–€1,800/year
Key Programs: - Computer Science (English)
- Chemistry (English)
- Cultural Heritage (English)
Apply Here: University of Salerno Admissions
18. University of Pavia
Overview: Historic university with affordable medicine and political science programs.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: March 1 – June 15, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,500–€2,500/year
Key Programs: - Medicine (English)
- International Politics (English)
- Computer Engineering (English)
Apply Here: University of Pavia Programs
19. University of Catania
Overview: Sicily’s tech hub with low-cost engineering and physics programs.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: April 1 – July 31, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,000–€2,000/year
Key Programs: - Aerospace Engineering (English)
- Physics (English)
- Mediterranean Food Sciences (English)
Apply Here: University of Catania Admissions
20. Roma Tre University
Overview: Rome’s modern university with affordable law and architecture degrees.
Application Period:
- Fall 2025: April 1 – June 30, 2025
Tuition Fees: €1,500–€2,800/year
Key Programs: - Civil Law (English)
- Sustainable Architecture (English)
- International Relations (English)
Apply Here: Roma Tre University Programs
Why Italy?
- Low Tuition: Public universities charge €500–€4,000/year (lower than most EU countries).
- Easy Admissions: Many programs require only a bachelor’s degree and English proficiency (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent).
- Cultural Perks: Affordable living costs (€800–€1,200/month) and visa-friendly policies.
