Is Modena a good place to study for international students?
Modena is a good place to study for international students who want a mid-sized Emilian city with an old public university and strong engineering. It has about 185,000 residents, and its cathedral, Ghirlandina tower and Piazza Grande have been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1997. It sits in Italy's Motor Valley car industry, which shapes its automotive degrees. It suits engineering and management students who want a calm city.
Which universities are in Modena, and which are public?
Modena's university is the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Unimore), a public university whose origins go back to 1175. It runs a network campus across Modena and Reggio Emilia, with more than 28,000 students, about 1,400 of them international, in 13 departments. Tuition follows family income (ISEE): for 2026/27 there is no university contribution up to an ISEE of €30,000. ApplyAZ works only with public universities like Unimore.
What can you study in English in Modena?
In Modena you can study a group of master's degrees in English at Unimore, while its bachelor's degrees are mainly in Italian. Calls for 2026/27 included International Management, Digital Automation Engineering and the inter-university Advanced Automotive Engineering, with curricula such as Racing Car Design. Recent English-taught options also include Electronics Engineering, Physics, Artificial Intelligence Engineering and Energy Engineering. See our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Modena as a student?
Living in Modena costs less than in Bologna or Milan, but rents move fast. A single room averaged €408 a month in August 2026, down 19.3% from €506 a year earlier (Immobiliare.it Insights). Unimore estimates €7,000 to €8,000 a year for living costs before fees, or about €580 to €670 a month, but that figure assumes a €250 room, so budget more if you rent privately at 2026 prices. SETA's student bus pass is €140 a year.
- Single room: about €408 a month (Immobiliare.it Insights, August 2026)
- Same average a year earlier: about €506 a month (August 2025)
- Eating out: about €15 for a pizzeria meal, €5 for a café lunch (Unimore)
- SETA urban bus pass: €140 a year for Unimore students
- Monthly total: about €580 to €670 on Unimore's estimate, more at 2026 rents
How do you find student housing in Modena?
In Modena, ER.GO residences are assigned by competition, with priority for scholarship winners, and Unimore adds its own Paolo Giorgi residence and the historic San Carlo College in the centre. Private halls include Camplus Sant'Eufemia, with 73 beds, and CampusX Modena Crocetta. Most students rent rooms, and Unimore's housing board lists offers. For 2026/27, first-year ER.GO housing requests closed on 24 August 2026, so apply as soon as you are admitted.
Which scholarship covers students in Modena, and how much is it worth?
ER.GO, Emilia-Romagna's right-to-study agency, runs the main scholarship for students in Modena. For 2026/27 it pays up to €7,171.11 a year to off-site students, for a family ISEE up to €25,000, with 15% more for an ISEE up to €12,500. Winners can also compete for residence places and meals. Tuition is set by family income, and a DSU winner also gets a tuition waiver. The 2026/27 scholarship deadline was 24 August 2026.
How do you get to Modena and get around once you are there?
Modena sits on the main Milan to Bologna railway, so it is easy to reach by train from across Italy, and Bologna Guglielmo Marconi is the nearest international airport. In the city, SETA runs the buses: Unimore students pay €140 a year for the urban annual pass, and since January 2024 they can board with the digital university badge in the Unimore App. The centre is flat and compact, so cycling works well; check whether your classes meet in Modena or Reggio Emilia.
What is student life like in Modena?
Student life in Modena is relaxed and centred on Piazza Grande, the cathedral and the arcaded streets of the old town, with campus life split between Modena and Reggio Emilia. Food is a real draw: Modena is the home of traditional balsamic vinegar, and tortellini and Lambrusco are local staples. The Motor Valley brings car museums, industry events and internships. The city is quieter than Bologna, which is nearby if you want a bigger student scene.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Modena?
Your first weeks in Modena are mostly paperwork, and most of it can be done within a few days. Non-EU students must request a permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days of arrival, using the post office kit. You also need a codice fiscale, health cover and your ER.GO scholarship or housing confirmation. Then activate your SETA pass through the Unimore App, and check whether your programme meets in Modena or Reggio Emilia.
- Request your permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days, using the post office kit
- Get your codice fiscale (Italian tax code) if you do not already have one
- Arrange health cover: SSN registration or private health insurance
- Confirm your ER.GO scholarship and residence place, if you applied
- Buy the €140 SETA pass and use your digital badge in the Unimore App
Can you work part-time while studying in Modena?
Yes, non-EU students in Modena can work part-time on a study permit, up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The area's industry, from cars to machinery and food, offers internships, especially for engineering students, while retail and hospitality provide casual jobs. Unimore also offers paid part-time student collaborations, often called 150-hour jobs, through internal calls. Most local jobs expect some Italian, so start learning early.
How does Modena compare with other Italian student cities?
Modena is cheaper than the big university cities: single rooms averaged €408 in August 2026, against €585 in Bologna, €704 in Milan and €479 in Turin (Immobiliare.it Insights). It is a mid-sized city with a slower pace, and Bologna is close by for a bigger student scene. Students pick Modena for automotive and digital engineering, international management and industry links. Those who want many English-taught bachelor's degrees should look elsewhere.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Modena?
ApplyAZ can build the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia into a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at public universities, if it fits your profile. We are independent and take no university commissions. We write your CV and tailored SOPs, submit applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ER.GO scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. Unimore decides admission. Next step: see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
