Is Naples a good place to study for international students?
Yes, Naples is a good place to study if you want a big, historic southern city that costs less than Milan, Rome or Bologna. The capital of Campania has about 905,000 residents (2026) and a UNESCO-listed historic centre on a bay facing Vesuvius. It hosts four public universities, from Federico II, founded in 1224, to the Scuola Superiore Meridionale. It suits independent students who like energy, food and street life more than quiet order.
Which universities are in Naples, and which are public?
Naples has four public universities, plus a private one. Federico II is the large comprehensive university, L'Orientale specialises in languages and cultures, Parthenope in economics, engineering and sport, and the Scuola Superiore Meridionale runs honours courses and funded PhDs. The University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, based in Caserta, also has its medical school in Naples. At the public universities, tuition follows family income rather than a fixed private fee.
- University of Naples Federico II: public, founded 1224, about 75,000 students
- University of Naples L'Orientale: public, founded 1732, languages and Oriental studies
- Parthenope University of Naples: public, roots in a 1920 naval institute, about 14,000 students
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale: public, independent since 2022, funded PhDs and honours courses
- Suor Orsola Benincasa University: private (non-state), with its own fee rules
What can you study in English in Naples?
In Naples, most English-taught degrees are at master's level, with a growing bachelor's offer. Federico II teaches master's in engineering, economics, science and agriculture in English, plus Medicine and Surgery through the IMAT, and adds Veterinary Medicine and an Electrical Engineering and Information Technology bachelor's in English for 2026/27. Parthenope teaches business, management and computing in English, while L'Orientale teaches mainly in Italian. Browse our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Naples as a student?
Living in Naples as a student costs about €650 to €950 a month, among the lowest of Italy's big university cities. The average single room was €447 a month in September 2026 (Immobiliare.it Insights), against €615 in Rome and €704 in Milan. Rooms in shared flats typically cost €300 to €500, and ADISURC residences are cheaper for scholarship winners. Food is cheap if you eat like locals, from pizza and street food to neighbourhood markets.
- Single room in a shared flat: €300 to €500 a month; €447 average (September 2026)
- University residence: about €250 (double) to €350 (single) a month (Federico II DIETI guide)
- Transport: free annual pass for Campania residents aged 11 to 26 with ISEE up to €35,000 (2026/27)
- Monthly total: about €650 to €950, rent included
How do you find student housing in Naples?
In Naples, start looking for housing as soon as you are admitted, because good rooms near the universities go fast. ADISURC, Campania's right-to-study agency, assigns residence places through its yearly scholarship call, which closed on 10 September 2026 for 2026/27. Most students rent a room in a shared flat, often in the centro storico near Federico II and L'Orientale, or near Fuorigrotta for Monte Sant'Angelo. See the room before paying a deposit, and ask for a registered contract.
Which scholarship covers students in Naples, and how much is it worth?
The scholarship for students in Naples is the ADISURC grant from Campania's right-to-study agency. For 2026/27 it pays up to €7,171.11 a year to off-site students, in full up to an ISEE of €17,000 and reduced up to the €25,500 limit, with an ISPE cap of €54,000; housing and meals you use are deducted. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE); lower-income students can pay little or nothing beyond the regional tax, and a DSU scholarship winner also gets a tuition waiver.
How do you get to Naples and get around once you are there?
Naples is easy to reach: Capodichino airport sits close to the centre, about 20 minutes by Alibus to Piazza Garibaldi and Napoli Centrale, and Rome is about 1 hour 10 minutes away by high-speed train. In the city, metro lines, funiculars and buses link the centre, Vomero and Fuorigrotta. For 2026/27, Campania residents aged 11 to 26 with an ISEE up to €35,000 can get a free annual student pass. Walking works in the centre, but hills make cycling hard.
What is student life like in Naples?
Student life in Naples centres on the centro storico, where Federico II and L'Orientale fill streets such as Via Mezzocannone with students. Evenings mean pizza, cheap street food and squares such as Piazza Bellini and San Domenico Maggiore. The seafront along Via Caracciolo and Posillipo is close, and Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast make easy trips. Summers are hot and humid, winters mild. Expect noise, traffic and a city that runs on its own rhythm.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Naples?
In your first weeks in Naples, deal with paperwork first, because your residence permit, tax code and health cover unlock everything that follows. Non-EU students must request a permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival, using the kit from a post office. Your university's international office can help with the codice fiscale and enrolment, and ADISURC has its own confirmation steps. Keep copies of every receipt and document you submit.
- Request your permesso di soggiorno within 8 days, using the post office kit (non-EU students).
- Get your codice fiscale (tax code), needed for rent contracts, a SIM card and enrolment.
- Arrange health cover: private insurance or voluntary registration with the SSN.
- Confirm your ADISURC scholarship and residence place, or sign a registered rental contract.
- Check whether you qualify for the free Campania student transport pass.
Can you work part-time while studying in Naples?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Naples, within the limits of your permit. Non-EU students on a study permit may work up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. Universities also offer paid part-time student jobs, the collaborazioni 150 ore, through yearly calls. Outside the university, there is work in tourism, hospitality and tutoring, but most jobs need Italian, and Campania's job market is tighter than the north's. Do not count on work to pay your rent.
How does Naples compare with other Italian student cities?
Naples is cheaper than Milan, Rome and Bologna: in September 2026 the average single room cost €447 a month, against €585 in Bologna, €615 in Rome and €704 in Milan (Immobiliare.it Insights). It is also bigger, louder and less orderly than Bologna or Pisa. Students pick Naples for Federico II's broad offer, low costs, food and the sea, and choose Milan or Bologna instead when English-speaking jobs or smoother services matter more.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Naples?
ApplyAZ helps you study in Naples by building a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at public universities, including Federico II or Parthenope where they fit your profile. No university pays us. We write your CV and SOPs, submit applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ADISURC scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. Organised students can use our roadmap alone. Next step: see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
