Is Bari a good place to study for international students?
Bari is a good choice for international students who want a lively southern port city at a lower cost than northern Italy. The capital of Apulia is Italy's ninth-largest city, with 316,248 residents (2026), a historic old town and a long seafront. It has two public universities: the University of Bari Aldo Moro, a large comprehensive university, and the Polytechnic University of Bari for engineering, architecture and design. Daily life is mostly in Italian, so some Italian helps.
Which universities are in Bari, and which are public?
Bari has two public universities, and both set tuition by family income. The University of Bari Aldo Moro covers medicine, law, science, economics and the humanities, with sites in Bari, Brindisi and Taranto. The Polytechnic University of Bari (Poliba) focuses on engineering, architecture and industrial design. LUM, a private university, is based in nearby Casamassima and charges fixed fees. ApplyAZ works only with the two public universities and takes no commissions from any of them.
What can you study in English in Bari?
In Bari you can study in English mainly at master's level. The University of Bari Aldo Moro lists 7 English-taught degrees, including a bachelor's in Earth System and Global Changes, master's in Physics, Materials Science and Decision Science, and a six-year Medicine and Surgery degree with a test. The Polytechnic teaches master's in Mechanical, Computer, Automation and Robotics, and Telecommunications Engineering, and Industrial Design, in English. Compare them on our English-taught programmes page.
How much does it cost to live in Bari as a student?
Living in Bari costs most students about €700 to €900 a month, well below Bologna or Milan. Centro Studi SoloAffitti put most single rooms at €280 to €450 a month in September 2026, and Immobiliare.it Insights found an average of €426 in August 2026, up 12.2% in a year, so prices are rising. Buses can be very cheap: in 2026 the city's MUVTinBUS365 scheme sold a yearly AMTAB pass for €20 to residents and university students while funds lasted. Cooking at home keeps food costs low.
- Private single room: €280 to €450 a month, about €426 on average (SoloAffitti, Immobiliare.it, 2026)
- ADISU Puglia residence: €2,208 a year is deducted from a winner's grant (2026/27)
- Food: about €200 to €250 a month if you cook (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Transport: €20 a year AMTAB pass through MUVTinBUS365 (2026, while funds last)
- Bills, phone and personal costs: about €80 to €150 a month (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Monthly total: about €700 to €900 (ApplyAZ estimate, 2026)
How do you find student housing in Bari?
In Bari, apply for ADISU Puglia housing with your scholarship application, because residence places go to eligible students on income and merit; for 2026/27 the window ran from 14 July to 13 August 2026. Most students rent privately, so start early and aim to live near your campus, such as the Murat district around Palazzo Ateneo or the Poliba campus. Ask for a registered contract, remember Italian law caps a deposit at three months' rent, and never pay for a room you have not seen.
Which scholarship covers students in Bari, and how much is it worth?
In Bari, ADISU Puglia runs the right-to-study scholarship for both public universities. For 2026/27 it pays up to €7,172 a year to off-site students, within an ISEE limit of €26,000 and an ISPE limit of €56,000; €2,208 is deducted for free housing and €900 for a daily meal. Tuition is set by family income: at both universities an ISEE up to €26,000 means no contribution if you meet the credit rules. At UniBa, students whose family lives and earns abroad pay a fixed fee by country group.
How do you get to Bari and get around once you are there?
Bari Karol Wojtyła airport is 8 km from the centre, and Ferrotramviaria trains reach Bari Centrale in 17 minutes. From Bari Centrale, regional and high-speed trains run along the Adriatic coast and across southern Italy, and the port has ferries across the Adriatic. AMTAB runs the city buses; in 2026 its MUVTinBUS365 offer gave residents and students of the city's universities a yearly pass for €20 until funds ran out. The seafront and the Murat grid are flat and easy to walk.
What is student life like in Bari?
Student life in Bari moves between the old town, the seafront and the shopping streets of the Murat district. Bari Vecchia, on a peninsula between two harbours, is home to the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, whose relics arrived in 1087, and to the orecchiette pasta made by hand in its alleys. The Lungomare is where students walk, run and meet in the evening. Summers are long and hot, beaches are reachable by bus or train, and the city stays lively late into the night.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Bari?
Your first weeks in Bari are mostly paperwork, so plan them before you land. Non-EU students must request the permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days of arrival, using the kit from a post office. You also need a codice fiscale, health cover and confirmation of your ADISU Puglia place or private contract, then a bus pass. The International Students Office at Palazzo Ateneo helps University of Bari students with arrival. Keep copies of every document and receipt.
- Request your permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days, with the post office kit (non-EU)
- Get your codice fiscale if you did not receive one during your visa or pre-enrolment
- Arrange health cover: private insurance or voluntary SSN registration (about €700 a year)
- Confirm your ADISU Puglia residence or sign a registered rental contract
- Get your AMTAB bus pass, checking whether the €20 MUVTinBUS365 offer is open
Can you work part-time while studying in Bari?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Bari: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. Both public universities offer paid part-time student collaborations, often called 150-hour jobs at Italian universities. Bari's job market is strongest in hospitality, retail, tourism and the port, but almost all roles need Italian, and pay is lower than in the north. Treat a job as a top-up to your budget, not as the way to cover rent.
How does Bari compare with other Italian student cities?
Bari costs less than the big northern cities: its €426 average single room in August 2026 compares with €585 in Bologna and €704 in Milan, though Bari prices are rising faster. It is the main city of Apulia and big enough for a full urban life, with the sea on its doorstep. Lecce, to the south, is smaller and cheaper. Choose Bari for English-taught engineering, physics or medicine at two public universities; choose the north for more English-taught options and larger job markets.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Bari?
ApplyAZ helps you apply to the University of Bari Aldo Moro and the Polytechnic University of Bari as part of a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at public universities, with no university commissions. We write your CV and tailored SOPs, submit each application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ADISU Puglia scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. Organised students can apply alone. see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
