Is Como a good place to study for international students?
Como is a good place to study if you want a lakeside city with a public university and Milan within reach. The Lombardy city had 84,250 residents in October 2022 and sits on Lake Como, about 40 km north of Milan, on the Swiss border. It hosts one of the two main campuses of the University of Insubria, whose sister campus is in Varese. It suits students who want a smaller, scenic city, an English-taught master's and a calmer life than Milan.
Which universities are in Como, and which are public?
Como's university is the University of Insubria, a public university founded in 1998 that teaches in Como, Varese and Busto Arsizio, and it is the one ApplyAZ works with here. Insubria has more than 12,000 students and ranks 2nd in Italy for graduate employability in Censis 2026/27. International students pay a €146 registration fee plus tuition set by their country's World Bank income group, from €200 to €3,960 a year, and DSU scholarship winners are exempt.
What can you study in English in Como?
In Como, English-taught options come from the University of Insubria, which teaches 7 master's degrees entirely in English across its Como and Varese campuses; its bachelor's degrees are taught in Italian. The list covers Biomedical Sciences, Biotechnology, Computer Science, Global Entrepreneurship Economics and Management, Hospitality for Sustainable Tourism Development, Mathematics and Physics. Check which campus hosts your course. Our English-taught programmes list 8 Insubria options (September 2026).
How much does it cost to live in Como as a student?
Como costs more than most small Italian cities because of tourism: plan on about €700 to €950 a month. Il Giorno reported single rooms from about €350 a month in August 2026, citing Immobiliare.it Insights, and a bed in a shared double at €250 to €300. Rooms in Varese, Insubria's other campus city, ran €270 to €420. DSU winners can take an Insubria residence place at €2,940 a year, with free canteen meals, which brings costs down sharply.
- Single room: from about €350 a month (Il Giorno, August 2026)
- Bed in a shared double room: about €250 to €300 a month (Il Giorno, August 2026)
- Insubria residence for DSU winners: €2,940 a year, about €245 a month (2026/27)
- Phone: about €10 a month for a SIM plan (HousingAnywhere, 2026)
- Monthly total: about €700 to €950, our estimate including food and transport
How do you find student housing in Como?
In Como, students either win a place in an Insubria residence or rent privately. Insubria's 2026/27 call listed two residences in Como, La Presentazione with 66 beds and Santa Teresa, at €2,940 a year for DSU winners, and housing requests closed at 3 pm on 24 August 2026. Private rooms compete with holiday lets, so start in spring and look beyond the lakefront. Deposits are capped by law at three months' rent, and you should see the room before you pay.
Which scholarship covers students in Como, and how much is it worth?
In Como, the regional DSU scholarship is run by the University of Insubria itself, under Lombardy's rules. For 2026/27, off-site students in the lowest income band received up to €7,419, commuters up to €3,991 and local students up to €2,601, and off-site winners get a free meal every day plus an evening meal worth €4. Limits were an ISEE of €26,887.93 and an ISPE of €58,452.06, and scholarship applications close at 3 pm on 30 September 2026. DSU winners are also exempt from tuition.
How do you get to Como and get around once you are there?
Como is about 40 km north of Milan, and Trenord trains run from two stations, Como San Giovanni and Como Nord Lago, while Milan Malpensa is the nearest major airport. The city borders Switzerland at Chiasso. Locally, ASF runs 11 urban bus lines, a funicular climbs from the centre to Brunate, and boats serve the towns around the lake. The centre is compact enough to walk, so you can often reach your campus on foot and keep the train for trips to Milan.
What is student life like in Como?
Student life in Como is scenic and fairly quiet, built around the lake, the old town and weekend trips. The cathedral, begun in 1396, the Tempio Voltiano museum of Alessandro Volta and the lakeside Villa Olmo are part of daily walks, and the Brunate funicular leads to hiking trails above the city. Summers are hot and humid, and tourism is intense: Como counted about 400,000 overnight visitors in 2023. Milan's nightlife and events are a train ride away.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Como?
Your first weeks in Como go smoothly if you follow a clear order. Non-EU students must request the permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days of arrival, using the post office kit. Then get your codice fiscale, sort out health cover, complete enrolment and pay the €146 registration fee, and confirm your Insubria residence or private lease. Check early which campus, Como or Varese, hosts your classes, and plan your trains or buses around it.
- Request your permesso di soggiorno with the post office kit within 8 working days (non-EU students)
- Get your codice fiscale from the Agenzia delle Entrate if you do not have one yet
- Register with the SSN or keep private health insurance valid in Italy
- Complete enrolment, pay the €146 registration fee and confirm your DSU outcome
- Confirm your residence place or lease, and plan routes to your Como or Varese campus
Can you work part-time while studying in Como?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Como: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. Universities offer part-time student jobs, often called 150-hour collaborations (collaborazioni 150 ore). Como's tourism season creates jobs in hotels, restaurants and shops, and Milan is close, but most roles need Italian, and summer peaks can clash with exams. Plan your budget without relying on work, and protect your study time.
How does Como compare with other Italian student cities?
Como is cheaper than Milan but not a budget city. Single rooms start at about €350 in Como, against an average of €704 in Milan, €400 in Pavia and €270 to €420 in Varese (Immobiliare.it Insights data, August 2026). You trade Milan's scale for a lake, a compact centre and a public university that ranks 2nd in Italy for graduate employability in Censis 2026/27. Como suits students who want a smaller city with Milan a short train ride away.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Como?
ApplyAZ helps you study in Como by building the University of Insubria into a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities, if it fits you. We take no commissions from any university. We write your CV and tailored SOPs, submit applications and Universitaly, file your DSU scholarship and prepare your visa file, and a named person owns each stage. Insubria still decides admission, and organised students can use our roadmap alone: see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
