Is Macerata a good place to study for international students?
Macerata is a good place to study if you want a small, affordable hilltop town where the university shapes daily life. This Marche town has about 40,700 residents (2026 estimate) and one public university, the University of Macerata, founded in 1290, whose buildings sit in the historic centre. The Adriatic coast is about 21 km away. It suits students of law, international relations, finance, tourism and the humanities who prefer a quiet town to a big city.
Which universities are in Macerata, and which are public?
Macerata has one public university, the University of Macerata (UniMC), founded in 1290 and one of the oldest in Europe. It describes itself as Italy's only university fully specialised in the humanities and social sciences, so there is no engineering, medicine or natural science. Censis 2026/27 ranked it 4th among Italy's small public universities. Macerata also has a public academy of fine arts, and Marche's other public universities are in Camerino, Urbino and Ancona.
- University of Macerata: public, founded 1290, humanities and social sciences
- Accademia di Belle Arti di Macerata: public fine arts academy (AFAM)
- Nearby: University of Camerino and Polytechnic University of Marche, both public
What can you study in English in Macerata?
In Macerata, the University of Macerata offers four degrees taught entirely in English: a bachelor's in International, European and Comparative Legal Studies, and master's degrees in International Finance and Economics, International Relations, and International Tourism and Destination Management. It also runs English-taught PhDs. Its other degrees are taught in Italian. Compare these with options in other cities on our English-taught programmes page.
How much does it cost to live in Macerata as a student?
Macerata is one of the cheaper places in Italy to study, mainly because rent is low. UniMC's accommodation guide, last updated in 2022, lists single rooms at €180 to €230 a month and places in double rooms at €150 to €200, so expect prices today to be somewhat higher. An APM bus pass costs €30 a month or €225 a year for students. Many international students also pay a reduced fixed fee of €156 or €525 a year (2025/26), depending on their country.
- Single room: €180 to €230 a month (UniMC accommodation guide, updated 2022)
- Place in a double room: €150 to €200 a month (UniMC guide, updated 2022)
- Bus pass: €30 a month or €225 a year for students (APM)
- Single bus ticket: €1.35; weekly pass €11.30 (APM)
- University fee: €156 or €525 a year for many international students (2025/26)
How do you find student housing in Macerata?
Finding housing in Macerata usually means a room in a private shared flat, which UniMC calls the most popular option among local and international students. ERDIS Marche runs university residences, assigned through its scholarship call, and Il Faro Housing manages university-owned and private accommodation. Residence places for international students are limited, so search private flats at the same time. Start in summer, and never pay a deposit before a viewing and a written contract.
Which scholarship covers students in Macerata, and how much is it worth?
ERDIS Marche runs the regional scholarship for University of Macerata students. For 2026/27 it is open to families with an ISEE up to €24,000 and an ISPE up to €50,000, and it is worth €7,171.11 a year for off-site students, €4,190.71 for commuters and €2,890.16 for local students, plus canteen access. The deadline was 28 August 2026. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE), and scholarship winners also get a tuition waiver.
How do you get to Macerata and get around once you are there?
Macerata is reached through Ancona: Ancona Falconara airport is about 70 km away, and trains from Ancona take about an hour, sometimes with a change at Civitanova Marche. A direct Flixbus coach links Macerata with central Rome. The town has two stations, Macerata near the centre and Macerata Università, about 2.5 km away. Most students walk the compact hilltop centre, and APM buses cost €1.35 a ride, €30 a month or €225 a year with a student pass.
What is student life like in Macerata?
Student life in Macerata is small-town and sociable: students fill the squares and cafés of the old centre, where university buildings sit among the streets. Each summer the Sferisterio, a neoclassical open-air arena from the 1820s, hosts the Macerata Opera Festival. The Adriatic beaches around Civitanova Marche are about 30 minutes away, and the Sibillini mountains are close for hiking. Nightlife is modest, and most social life happens within walking distance.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Macerata?
Your first weeks in Macerata are about permits and paperwork, and UniMC asks you to start within 8 days of arrival. Non-EU students request a permesso di soggiorno with the post office kit and get a codice fiscale. Arrange health cover through private insurance or voluntary SSN registration, and if you applied to ERDIS as an off-site student, send a copy of your rental contract by 13 November 2026. Then buy an APM bus pass if you live outside the centre.
- Request your permesso di soggiorno with the post office kit within 8 days of arrival.
- Get your codice fiscale from the Agenzia delle Entrate if you do not have one yet.
- Arrange health cover: private insurance or voluntary registration with the SSN.
- Send ERDIS a copy of your rental contract by 13 November 2026, if off-site.
- Buy an APM student pass: €30 a month or €225 a year.
Can you work part-time while studying in Macerata?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Macerata: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The University of Macerata offers part-time jobs of up to 150 hours a year in its facilities and Senior Tutor roles of up to 400 hours. The local job market is small and mostly Italian-speaking, so treat work as pocket money. UniMC's Language Centre runs Italian courses free of charge, which helps.
How does Macerata compare with other Italian student cities?
Macerata costs far less than Italy's big student cities: UniMC's 2022 guide lists single rooms from €180 a month, while single rooms averaged €585 in Bologna, €615 in Rome and €704 in Milan in August 2026, and €275 in nearby Ancona (Immobiliare.it Insights). It is a small town, much quieter than any of them, with a narrow subject range. Students pick Macerata for low costs, the humanities and social sciences, and a university that fills the old centre.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Macerata?
ApplyAZ helps you study in Macerata by building the University of Macerata into a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We are independent and take no commissions. We write your CV and SOPs, submit applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ERDIS scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. Organised students can use our roadmap alone. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
