Is Perugia a good place to study for international students?
Yes, Perugia is a good place to study if you want a lively, affordable hill town with a long history of international students. The capital of Umbria has about 162,000 residents (2026) and two public universities: the University of Perugia, founded in 1308, and the University for Foreigners, which has taught Italian to students from around the world since 1925. It suits students who want a mid-sized city, moderate rents and central Italy on their doorstep.
Which universities are in Perugia, and which are public?
Perugia has two public universities. The University of Perugia is the large comprehensive one, with about 25,000 students, 14 departments and 100 degree programmes for 2026/27. The University for Foreigners of Perugia is a small specialist university for Italian language and culture, communication and international cooperation, based in Palazzo Gallenga in the historic centre. Both set degree tuition by family income, and together they run a joint master's in food culture.
What can you study in English in Perugia?
In Perugia, the University of Perugia teaches more than 20 of its 100 programmes partly or fully in English for 2026/27. Fully English-taught options include Engineering Management at bachelor's and master's level, Geology for Energy Resources, Agricultural and Environmental Biotechnology, and Medical, Veterinary and Forensic Biotechnological Sciences. The University for Foreigners teaches mainly in Italian and is a strong place to learn it. See our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Perugia as a student?
Living in Perugia as a student costs about €650 to €950 a month by our estimate, below Florence, Rome or Milan. The University of Perugia's cost guide, updated in April 2026, puts a single room at €300 to €500 a month plus bills and a double at €250 to €350, and Immobiliare.it Insights put the average single room at €300 in March 2026. ADiSU Umbria canteens are free for eligible students, and a year of regional transport costs €70.
- Single room: €300 to €500 a month plus bills (University of Perugia, April 2026)
- Double room: €250 to €350 a month plus bills (University of Perugia, April 2026)
- Umbria Vai transport pass: €70 for the year (University of Perugia students, 2026/27)
- Eating out: about €15 for a pizzeria dinner, €6 for a bar sandwich and drink (2026)
- Monthly total: about €650 to €950, rent included (ApplyAZ estimate)
How do you find student housing in Perugia?
In Perugia, start your housing search in early summer, before the new academic year fills the city. ADiSU Umbria assigns residence places through its scholarship call, which ran from 15 July to 2 September 2026, and it has 1,462 beds from 1 October 2026 after adding 200. Residence check-in needs a €250 deposit. Most other students rent rooms in shared flats in or near the historic centre. See rooms in person or by video call before paying anything, and ask for a registered contract.
Which scholarship covers students in Perugia, and how much is it worth?
The scholarship for students in Perugia is run by ADiSU Umbria, the regional right-to-study agency. Its 2026/27 call was open to students with an ISEE up to €28,339.88 and an ISPE up to €61,608.48, and winners get a cash grant, free canteen meals and, if off-site, can get a free bed. The national minimum grant for off-site students is €7,171.11 in 2026/27. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE), with no contribution up to €22,000 at the University of Perugia, and a DSU winner also gets a tuition waiver.
How do you get to Perugia and get around once you are there?
Perugia has its own airport, San Francesco d'Assisi, 12 km from the centre and about 20 minutes by bus, with Ryanair flights to London Stansted and several Italian cities. Florence is about 2 hours by train and Rome about 2 hours 20 minutes by coach. In town, the Minimetrò people mover climbs from the valley to the hilltop centre, and a 70-minute bus and Minimetrò ticket costs €1.50 (2026). University of Perugia students can buy the €70 Umbria Vai pass for 2026/27.
What is student life like in Perugia?
Student life in Perugia centres on the hilltop historic centre, around Corso Vannucci and Piazza IV Novembre, where the Fontana Maggiore and the cathedral steps are everyday meeting points. The city hosts Umbria Jazz each July, held since 1973, and the Eurochocolate festival each October. Students of many nationalities, drawn by the University for Foreigners, give Perugia an international mix. Assisi and Lake Trasimeno make easy day trips, and the pace is relaxed.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Perugia?
In your first weeks in Perugia, handle paperwork first, because your residence permit, tax code and health cover unlock rent, banking and scholarship payments. Non-EU students must request a permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival, using the kit from a post office. ADiSU Umbria asks off-site students to file their rental contract by its deadline, 6 November 2026 for 2026/27. Keep copies of every receipt and form 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 ADiSU Umbria place, or upload your registered rental contract on time.
- Buy the €70 Umbria Vai pass through the university's online student office.
Can you work part-time while studying in Perugia?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Perugia, 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 offer paid part-time student jobs, the collaborazioni 150 ore, through yearly calls. Perugia's job market is modest, with work mainly in hospitality, tourism, events and tutoring, and most jobs need Italian. The University for Foreigners is a good place to build that Italian first.
How does Perugia compare with other Italian student cities?
Perugia is far cheaper than Milan, Rome and Bologna: Immobiliare.it Insights put its average single room at €300 a month in March 2026, against €599 in Bologna, €609 in Rome and €729 in Milan. It is mid-sized, walkable and slower-paced, with a strong international community. Students pick Perugia for Italian language study, food, agriculture and veterinary science, or engineering management in English, and pick bigger cities for wider English-taught choice.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Perugia?
ApplyAZ helps you study in Perugia by building a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at public universities, including University of Perugia degrees where they fit your profile. No university pays us. We write your CV and SOPs, submit applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ADiSU Umbria 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.
