Is Bologna a good place to study for international students?
Bologna is a strong choice for international students who want a real student city with a wide choice of English-taught master's degrees. The capital of Emilia-Romagna has 390,734 residents (2025) and a compact, walkable centre. Its public university, the University of Bologna, was founded in 1088 and teaches about 97,000 students across five campuses. The city suits organised students who can handle a large, bureaucratic university and a tight rental market every September.
Which universities are in Bologna, and which are public?
Bologna has one public university, the University of Bologna (UniBo), which dominates student life and also runs campuses in Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna and Rimini. The city also hosts a state fine arts academy and a music conservatory, which belong to Italy's separate arts and music sector, and Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe, a private American graduate school. ApplyAZ works only with public universities, so in Bologna that means UniBo, where tuition follows family income, not a fixed private fee.
- University of Bologna: public, founded 1088, about 97,000 students on five campuses
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna: public fine arts academy (arts and music sector)
- Conservatorio G. B. Martini: public music conservatory (arts and music sector)
- Johns Hopkins SAIS Europe: private US graduate school, fixed fees
What can you study in English in Bologna?
In Bologna you can study about 89 degree programmes fully in English at the University of Bologna, most of them master's degrees. The widest English-taught choice is in economics, management, international relations, engineering, data science, biotechnology and agricultural sciences, and Medicine and Surgery in English selects students through the IMAT. English-taught bachelor's are far fewer. Some programmes run in Forlì, Cesena, Ravenna or Rimini, so check the city. Browse our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Bologna as a student?
Living in Bologna costs most students about €950 to €1,200 a month, and rent is the biggest and least predictable part. A private single room averaged €585 a month in August 2026, down about 7.5% in a year (Immobiliare.it Insights), which still left Bologna fourth in that survey behind Milan, Florence and Rome. ER.GO residences cost far less for students who qualify. Buses are cheap for UniBo students, and cooking at home and using university canteens keeps food costs down.
- Private single room: about €585 a month on average (Immobiliare.it Insights, August 2026)
- ER.GO residence: €217 to €322 a month for eligible students, bills included (2026/27)
- Food: about €240 a month, based on UniBo's estimate of €60 a week at the supermarket
- Transport: €161 a year TPER pass for UniBo students (2026/27), or €61 with the Alma Mater grant
- Bills, phone and personal costs: about €100 to €150 a month (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Monthly total: about €950 to €1,200 (ApplyAZ estimate, 2026)
How do you find student housing in Bologna?
In Bologna, start your housing search as soon as you are admitted, ideally by early summer. ER.GO, the regional right-to-study agency, has 1,842 residence beds in Bologna for 2026/27, assigned by ranking through its scholarship call, so apply there first. Most students rent a room in a shared flat. Districts such as Bolognina and San Donato rent for less per square metre than the historic centre (August 2026 data). Italian law caps a deposit at three months' rent; never pay for a room you have not seen, in person or on video.
Which scholarship covers students in Bologna, and how much is it worth?
In Bologna the regional scholarship is run by ER.GO, which for 2026/27 pays off-site students up to €7,171.11 a year when the family ISEE is up to €16,666.67. The limits are an ISEE of €25,000 and an ISPE of €50,000, and the 2026/27 window ran from 23 June to 24 August 2026. Winners also get a full tuition waiver and can use ER.GO residences and canteens. At UniBo, tuition is set by family income: with an ISEE of €27,000 or less you pay only the fixed €157.04 instalment for 2026/27.
How do you get to Bologna and get around once you are there?
Bologna is one of Italy's main rail junctions: high-speed trains reach Florence in about 35 minutes and Milan in about an hour. Bologna Marconi airport is 7 minutes from Bologna Centrale by the Marconi Express monorail (€12.80 one way). In the city, most students walk or cycle, often under the porticoes. UniBo students pay €161 for a yearly TPER bus pass in 2026/27, and 4,000 students with an ISEE up to €35,000 can win a further €100 off. The standard under-27 yearly pass is €230.
What is student life like in Bologna?
Student life in Bologna happens in the streets and squares of the centre. The university quarter around Via Zamboni is where most lectures, libraries and student bars are, and Piazza Maggiore is the city's meeting point. The porticoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021, cover you on most walks to class. Bologna is known across Italy for its food, and eating well on a budget is part of daily life. Summers are hot, reaching the mid-30s °C, and winters are cold, sometimes with snow.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Bologna?
Your first weeks in Bologna are mostly paperwork, and doing it in the right order saves time. 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 your ER.GO or housing confirmation, then your TPER pass. The University of Bologna's international desk can help, but deadlines are yours to keep. Keep copies of every document, receipt and appointment letter.
- 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 ER.GO residence place or sign a registered rental contract
- Buy your yearly TPER pass through the University of Bologna offer
Can you work part-time while studying in Bologna?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Bologna: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The University of Bologna also pays students for part-time collaborations in libraries, offices and student services, often called 150-hour jobs at Italian universities. Bologna's private job market is strongest in hospitality, food and tourism, but most roles need conversational Italian. Treat work as a top-up to your budget, not as the way to pay rent.
How does Bologna compare with other Italian student cities?
Bologna is cheaper than Milan, Florence or Rome for a room, but pricier than most other university cities: its €585 average single room in August 2026 compares with €704 in Milan and €426 in Bari. It is smaller and calmer than Milan or Rome, yet its university of about 97,000 students gives it a student feel few cities match. Choose Bologna for English-taught master's and city life; choose Trento, Bari or a smaller city if keeping your monthly budget low matters most.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Bologna?
ApplyAZ helps you apply to the University of Bologna 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, submit each application and your Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ER.GO scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. UniBo decides admission and ER.GO decides the grant. Organised students can apply alone. see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
