Is L'Aquila a good place to study for international students?
L'Aquila is a good choice for international students who want a quiet, affordable mountain city within reach of Rome. The capital of Abruzzo sits at 714 m in the Apennines, has 70,421 residents (2025) and has been rebuilding its historic centre since the 2009 earthquake; it is Italian Capital of Culture in 2026. It has two public institutions, the University of L'Aquila and the Gran Sasso Science Institute, a PhD school. It suits students of engineering, maths, physics and computing.
Which universities are in L'Aquila, and which are public?
L'Aquila has two public institutions. The University of L'Aquila (UnivAQ) is a full university with bachelor's, master's and PhD programmes across seven departments. The Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI), created by law in 2012, is an international PhD school in physics, mathematics, computer science and social sciences. The city also has a state music conservatory. ApplyAZ works with UnivAQ for degree programmes; GSSI PhD candidates usually apply directly through its yearly call.
What can you study in English in L'Aquila?
In L'Aquila you can study 15 master's degrees in English at the University of L'Aquila, across five departments. They include Applied Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics, Telecommunications Engineering, Control Systems and Automation Engineering, Structural and Construction Engineering, Neurosciences, and Atmospheric Science. Bachelor's degrees are taught in Italian. GSSI runs English-taught PhDs in four research areas. See our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in L'Aquila as a student?
Living in L'Aquila is cheap by Italian standards: most students spend about €550 to €750 a month. In September 2024 the UDU student union put the average single room at about €250 a month, with the priciest at €350, and warned that housing was getting tighter. We found no newer survey, so check current listings. AMA city bus passes cost €32 a month on the city network (2024 fares). ADSU L'Aquila runs residences and canteens for scholarship students, which cut costs further.
- Private single room: about €250 on average, up to €350 a month (UDU student union, 2024)
- ADSU scholarship housing: €1,747.39 housing component for off-site winners (2026/27)
- Food: about €180 to €230 a month if you cook (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Transport: €32 a month AMA pass on the city network (2024 fares)
- Bills, phone and personal costs: about €70 to €130 a month (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Monthly total: about €550 to €750 (ApplyAZ estimate, 2026)
How do you find student housing in L'Aquila?
In L'Aquila, apply for ADSU L'Aquila housing with your scholarship: its 2026/27 residence call for UnivAQ's international master's students closed on 27 July 2026. For private rooms, the university runs an online bulletin board where landlords and students post ads, and in 2024 the student union reported that rooms were getting harder to find. GSSI has housed its PhD students in college buildings in the historic centre. Italian law caps a deposit at three months' rent; never pay for a room you have not seen.
Which scholarship covers students in L'Aquila, and how much is it worth?
In L'Aquila, ADSU L'Aquila runs the right-to-study scholarship for University of L'Aquila students, open to non-EU students. For 2026/27, off-site students in the lowest income band receive €3,388.05 in cash plus a €1,747.39 housing component and two free meals a day, within an ISEE limit of €24,335.11. The call closed on 31 August 2026. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE): zero up to €24,000 if you meet the credit rules, plus €156 in regional tax and stamp duty.
How do you get to L'Aquila and get around once you are there?
L'Aquila has no airport of its own, so most international students fly into Rome, about 100 km away, and take a coach: the fastest services reach L'Aquila in about 1 hour 20 minutes. In the city, AMA buses link the centre with the university's Coppito and Roio sites; a monthly city pass costs €32 and a single 120-minute ticket €1.40 (2024 fares). The historic centre is walkable, but the Coppito and Roio sites lie outside it, so you will use the bus for campus trips.
What is student life like in L'Aquila?
Student life in L'Aquila is quieter than in big cities, but the rebuilt centre is coming back to life, and 2026 as Italian Capital of Culture has brought a year of events. Landmarks include the Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio, home of the Perdonanza pardon since 1294, and the Fontana delle 99 Cannelle from 1272. The Gran Sasso massif rises to the north-east for hiking and skiing. At 714 m, winters are cold and snowy at times, so budget for heating and warm clothes.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in L'Aquila?
Your first weeks in L'Aquila 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 ADSU place or private contract, then an AMA bus pass. The University of L'Aquila's international relations office can guide you. Keep copies of every document and receipt, and enrol with your originals.
- 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 ADSU L'Aquila residence or sign a registered rental contract
- Buy an AMA bus pass for the Coppito or Roio campus routes
Can you work part-time while studying in L'Aquila?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in L'Aquila: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The University of L'Aquila offers paid part-time student collaborations, often called 150-hour jobs at Italian universities. The local job market is small, mainly in hospitality and retail, and almost all roles need Italian. Treat work as a top-up to your budget, and plan to cover rent and living costs from savings or a scholarship.
How does L'Aquila compare with other Italian student cities?
L'Aquila is much cheaper than Rome, Milan or Bologna: a single room at about €250 in 2024 compares with averages of €585 in Bologna and €704 in Milan in 2026. It is a small mountain city with a slower pace and a strong science and engineering profile. Choose L'Aquila for an English-taught master's in data science, engineering, maths or physics on a tight budget, with Rome close; choose a bigger city for nightlife, a wider English-taught offer or a large job market.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in L'Aquila?
ApplyAZ helps you apply to the University of L'Aquila 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 Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ADSU scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. GSSI PhD candidates usually apply directly. Organised students can apply alone. see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
