Is Bra a good place to study for international students?
Bra is a good place to study only if you want the University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG), a private university in the Pollenzo district, because the town has no public university. Bra is a small town of about 30,000 people in Piedmont's province of Cuneo, about 50 km south-east of Turin, and the home of the Slow Food movement. It suits food studies students who want a small, international community, not students looking for income-based public tuition.
Which universities are in Bra, and which are public?
Bra has no public university. Its only university is UNISG, a private, non-profit university recognised by the Italian state, founded in 2004 by Slow Food with the Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna regions and based in the Agenzia di Pollenzo, a UNESCO-listed royal estate. The nearest public universities are in Turin, about 50 km away. ApplyAZ works only with public universities and takes no commissions, so we do not handle UNISG applications; see our public universities.
- University of Gastronomic Sciences (UNISG): private, founded 2004, fixed fees
- University of Turin: public, founded 1404, the nearest large public university
- Politecnico di Torino: public, engineering and architecture, in Turin
- University of Eastern Piedmont: public, founded 1998, campuses in Vercelli, Novara and Alessandria
What can you study in English in Bra?
In Bra, English-taught study means food studies at UNISG, the private University of Gastronomic Sciences. It lists bachelor's degrees in Food Sciences and Cultures and in Food Tech for Ecological Transition, and master's such as Food Industry Management, Food and Planetary Health, and Food Communication and Marketing. UNISG charges fixed private fees. For income-based tuition in English, compare public universities in Turin and across Italy on our English-taught programmes page.
How much does it cost to live in Bra as a student?
Living in Bra costs less than Turin or Milan, but a small town means little choice of housing. UNISG says a furnished flat in Bra usually costs €350 to €500 a month, plus about €30 in building fees and up to €150 for utilities, and many students share one to cut costs. Expect a total of about €700 to €950 a month. Bra is walkable, students reach the Pollenzo campus by bus or bike, and food is good value if you cook and shop at local markets.
- Furnished flat: €350 to €500 a month, often shared between students (UNISG guidance)
- Building fees and utilities: about €30 plus up to €150 a month (UNISG guidance)
- Food: about €200 to €250 a month if you cook (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Transport: bus or bike to Pollenzo, and 31 SFM4 trains a day to Turin
- Phone and personal costs: about €50 to €100 a month (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Monthly total: about €700 to €950 (ApplyAZ estimate, 2026)
How do you find student housing in Bra?
In Bra, student housing is mostly private, and most UNISG students share furnished flats in town rather than living in residences. UNISG's students' association, ASSG, keeps a blog with housing announcements and room shares, which is the best place to start. Search early, because a town of about 30,000 people has few rooms free each autumn. Ask for a registered contract, remember Italian law caps a deposit at three months' rent, and never pay for a flat you have not seen.
Which scholarship covers students in Bra, and how much is it worth?
In Bra, the regional right-to-study body is EDISU Piemonte, and its 2026/27 call lists the University of Gastronomic Sciences among eligible institutions. Off-site students in the lowest income band can receive up to €8,096.78 a year, within limits of an ISEE of €26,306.25 and an ISPE of €57,187.53; the deadline for first-year students was noon on 4 September 2026. UNISG also runs its own scholarships. At Turin's public universities, tuition is set by family income (ISEE), unlike UNISG's fixed fees.
How do you get to Bra and get around once you are there?
Bra is linked to Turin by the SFM4 suburban railway, with 31 trains a day, hourly on weekdays, via Turin Lingotto and Porta Susa, and UNISG describes Turin as under an hour away. The nearest airport is Cuneo, about half an hour by car, and Turin Caselle is about an hour away. From Turin, high-speed trains reach Milan, Rome and the rest of Italy. In Bra itself you walk, and students reach the Pollenzo campus by bus or bike.
What is student life like in Bra?
Student life in Bra is small-town and food-centred. UNISG welcomed around 210 new students from 43 countries in 2025/26, so the community is international but tight-knit, and much of it happens around the Pollenzo campus and its restaurant and wine bank. Bra hosts Cheese, a biennial international festival organised by Slow Food, and it sits between the Langhe and Roero wine hills. For big-city life, museums and nightlife, most students take the train to Turin.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Bra?
Your first weeks in Bra are mostly paperwork, so plan the steps and appointments 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 a signed rental contract or room confirmation. UNISG's student services can guide its students. 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 process
- Arrange health cover: private insurance or voluntary SSN registration (about €700 a year)
- Sign a registered rental contract for your flat or room
- Apply to EDISU Piemonte by its deadline if you qualify on income
Can you work part-time while studying in Bra?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Bra: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The local job market is small and centred on food, wine, hospitality and tourism in the Langhe and Roero, where some knowledge of Italian is usually expected. Universities often offer paid part-time student collaborations, so ask UNISG what it offers. Turin, an hour away, has a larger job market. Treat work as a top-up to your budget.
How does Bra compare with other Italian student cities?
Bra is not a typical student city: it is a small town with one private university, so the real choice is between UNISG and a public university elsewhere. Life is cheaper and calmer than in Turin or Milan, and the food focus is unique. Turin, about 50 km away, has large public universities where tuition is set by family income and many more English-taught programmes. Choose Bra for specialised food studies at a private university; choose Turin or another city for public options.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Bra?
ApplyAZ works only with Italian public universities and takes no commissions, so we do not apply to UNISG for you, and you can apply to it directly. If you want food, agriculture or sustainability studies in English with income-based tuition, we build a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at public universities, write your CV and SOPs, and handle applications, DSU scholarships and your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
