Is Bergamo a good place to study for international students?
Bergamo is a good choice for international students who want a mid-sized Lombard city near Milan, with its own airport and lower rents than Milan. The city of 120,629 people (2026) has a walled upper town, Città Alta, and a modern lower town linked by a funicular. Its public university, the University of Bergamo, has about 20,000 students and teaches 11 master's degrees in English. Bergamo suits students of economics, management, engineering and tourism who like a calmer pace.
Which universities are in Bergamo, and which are public?
Bergamo has one public university, the University of Bergamo (UniBg), which teaches in three areas: the historic upper town, the economics and law campus in the lower town, and the engineering campus in nearby Dalmine. For a wider choice, Milan's public and private universities are about 40 km away. ApplyAZ works with UniBg, where tuition follows family income, unlike Milan's private universities, which charge fixed and much higher fees. UniBg had 20,070 degree students in 2025/26.
What can you study in English in Bergamo?
In Bergamo you can study 11 master's degrees in English at the University of Bergamo, two of them taught in English and Italian, plus an English-taught Business Administration track at bachelor's level. They include Accounting, Governance and Sustainability; Economics and Data Analysis; Economics and Finance; International Management and Marketing; Management Engineering; Mechatronics and Smart Technology Engineering; Medical Engineering; and Tourism. See our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Bergamo as a student?
Living in Bergamo costs most students about €800 to €1,000 a month: cheaper than Milan, but no longer cheap. A private single room averaged €504 a month in August 2026, up 8.3% in a year (Immobiliare.it Insights). University residences cost €279.90 a month in 2026/27 for students within the DSU income limit. UniBg students can buy a yearly ATB pass for €200, after a free trial of the ATB and TEB network from 1 September to 31 October 2026. Cooking at home keeps food costs down.
- Private single room: about €504 a month on average (Immobiliare.it Insights, August 2026)
- University residence: €279.90 a month within the DSU income limit, €300 to €330 otherwise (2026/27)
- Food: about €200 to €250 a month if you cook (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Transport: €200 a year ATB pass for UniBg students (2026/27), about €17 a month
- Bills, phone and personal costs: about €80 to €150 a month (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Monthly total: about €800 to €1,000 (ApplyAZ estimate, 2026)
How do you find student housing in Bergamo?
In Bergamo, start with the University of Bergamo's own residences, which cost €279.90 a month in 2026/27 for students within the DSU income limit, and apply through the university's DSU call. UniBg's accommodation service also helps students find private flats free of charge. Living along the new e-BRT line, which links Bergamo station, the Via dei Caniana campus and Dalmine, makes the commute easy. Italian law caps a deposit at three months' rent; never pay for a room you have not seen.
Which scholarship covers students in Bergamo, and how much is it worth?
In Bergamo, the Lombardy DSU scholarship is run by the University of Bergamo itself. For 2026/27, off-site students in the lowest bracket who rent privately receive €7,419 plus a free daily meal, worth €8,248 in total, while those in a university residence get €4,620 plus housing and meals. The limits are an ISEE of €26,887.93 and an ISPE of €58,452.06. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE): from €200 a year plus regional tax, and DSU winners pay no contribution.
How do you get to Bergamo and get around once you are there?
Bergamo has its own international airport, Orio al Serio, 5 km from the city and about 20 minutes by public transport. Milan is about 40 km away by train or motorway. ATB and TEB run the buses, the tram and the new e-BRT line, which has a bus every 7.5 minutes at peak times. UniBg students pay €200 for a 2026/27 yearly pass, with a free trial until 31 October 2026. A funicular climbs to Città Alta, and La BiGi bike sharing costs students €10 a year.
What is student life like in Bergamo?
Student life in Bergamo moves between the medieval Città Alta, ringed by Venetian walls that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, and the livelier lower town with its shops and bars. Some UniBg departments sit in the upper town, so you may study in historic buildings. The Bergamo Alps and Lake Iseo are close for weekend hikes. Bergamo is quieter than Milan, and many students take the train to Milan for concerts and nightlife. Winters are cold and summers hot.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Bergamo?
Your first weeks in Bergamo are mostly paperwork, so line them up before you arrive. 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 residence or private contract, then your ATB pass, ideally after the free trial ends on 31 October 2026. The University of Bergamo's international office can guide you. 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 UniBg residence or sign a registered rental contract
- Buy the €200 yearly ATB pass for UniBg students before the free trial ends
Can you work part-time while studying in Bergamo?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Bergamo: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The University of Bergamo offers paid part-time student collaborations, often called 150-hour jobs at Italian universities. Bergamo has jobs in hospitality, retail and around the airport, and Milan's larger market is close, but most roles still need Italian. Treat work as a top-up to your budget, not as the way to cover your rent.
How does Bergamo compare with other Italian student cities?
Bergamo is cheaper than Milan: its €504 average single room in August 2026 compares with €704 in Milan, though it costs more than southern cities such as Bari at €426. It is a mid-sized, safe city with its own airport and fast links to Milan. Choose Bergamo for an English-taught master's in economics, management or engineering in a calmer setting near Milan's job market; choose Milan for more programmes, or a southern city if your budget is tight.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Bergamo?
ApplyAZ helps you apply to the University of Bergamo as part of a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities, and we take no university commissions. We write your CV and tailored SOPs, handle UniBg's pre-evaluation and every application, your Universitaly pre-enrolment, your DSU scholarship and your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. UniBg decides admission. Organised students can apply alone. see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
