Is Sassari a good place to study for international students?
Yes, Sassari is a good place to study if you want a quiet, low-cost city with a well-rated public university and the sea nearby. Sardinia's second-largest city has about 120,000 residents (2026) and sits in the island's north-west, near Alghero and the north coast. The University of Sassari, founded in 1617, came 1st among Italy's medium-sized public universities in Censis 2026/27. It suits students in veterinary and life sciences who like a calm pace.
Which universities are in Sassari, and which are public?
Sassari has one public university, the University of Sassari, with over 13,000 students, 11 departments and 65 programmes for 2026/27. Teaching is based in Sassari, with further sites in Alghero, Olbia, Nuoro and Oristano, so check where your programme runs. Sardinia's other public university is the University of Cagliari, in the south. Tuition at Sassari follows family income (ISEE), and students without an ISEE are charged the highest band.
What can you study in English in Sassari?
In Sassari, English-taught study is small and specialised: the University of Sassari teaches mostly in Italian, with a few master's in English. Two are confirmed as taught entirely in English, Biotechnology for Human and Animal Health, and Wildlife Management, Conservation and Control, both in Veterinary Medicine. The 2026/27 plan also lists Biomedical Sciences for One Health and Innovation Management for Sustainable Tourism. See our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Sassari as a student?
Living in Sassari as a student is cheap, at about €500 to €700 a month by our estimate. Erasmus Play's 2026/27 guide puts private rooms at about €200 to €300 a month and says students usually spend under €500 a month. ERSU residences cost €170 a month for a double room, or €225 for a single for students with particular needs, says the university. For 2026/27, students with an ISEE up to €25,500 can get a year of ATP city buses for €10.
- Private room: about €200 to €300 a month (Erasmus Play, 2026/27)
- ERSU residence: €170 a month for a double, €225 for a single (special needs), €150 deposit
- ATP city bus pass: €10 for the year with ISEE up to €25,500 (2026/27, 1,500 passes)
- Monthly total: about €500 to €700, rent included (ApplyAZ estimate)
How do you find student housing in Sassari?
In Sassari, start with ERSU Sassari, which runs student residences and canteens and assigns housing through its scholarship call. For 2026/27 the call ran from 27 July to 7 September 2026, with final housing rankings due on 30 September. For private rooms, use the University of Sassari's Vetrina alloggi portal, and ESN Sassari helps international students settle in. Check which town your programme uses before signing, since some departments teach outside Sassari.
Which scholarship covers students in Sassari, and how much is it worth?
The scholarship for students in Sassari is the regional right-to-study grant run by ERSU Sassari. Its 2026/27 call was open to students with an ISEE up to €28,339.88 and an ISPE up to €61,608.48, from 27 July to 7 September 2026, with first payments to new students set for 10 November 2026. The national minimum grant for off-site students is €7,171.11. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE), and a DSU scholarship winner also gets a tuition waiver.
How do you get to Sassari and get around once you are there?
Sassari is reached through Alghero-Fertilia airport, about 25 km from the city centre, with Olbia's airport further east. Within the city, ATP runs the buses, and for 2026/27 University of Sassari students with an ISEE up to €25,500 can get a yearly pass for €10, with 1,500 passes funded by ERSU. The historic centre is walkable. If your programme runs in Alghero, Olbia, Nuoro or Oristano, plan for regular regional travel and its cost.
What is student life like in Sassari?
Student life in Sassari centres on the old town and Piazza d'Italia, the large square by the provincial palace, with cafés and bars along Corso Vittorio Emanuele. The city's big events are the Cavalcata Sarda on the last Sunday of May, when thousands parade in traditional costume, and the Candelieri each August, on UNESCO's intangible heritage list. Beaches at Platamona and around Alghero are close, and the pace is calm and friendly.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Sassari?
In your first weeks in Sassari, sort out your paperwork before anything else, 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. File your ISEE on time too: University of Sassari fees without one are charged at the highest band, and late ISEE declarations after 31 December 2026 bring penalties.
- 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 ERSU Sassari place, or find a room through Vetrina alloggi.
- Apply for the €10 yearly ATP bus pass if your ISEE is up to €25,500.
Can you work part-time while studying in Sassari?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Sassari, 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. Sassari's job market is small, with seasonal work in tourism and hospitality along the coast, and nearly all jobs need Italian. Plan your budget so that you do not rely on a job.
How does Sassari compare with other Italian student cities?
Sassari is much cheaper than Milan, Rome or Bologna, where average single rooms cost €729, €609 and €599 a month in March 2026 (Immobiliare.it Insights), against about €200 to €300 in Sassari. It is smaller and slower, and an island location makes trips home longer. Compared with Cagliari, Sardinia's other public university, it is smaller, with a narrower English-taught offer. Students pick Sassari for veterinary and life sciences and a quiet pace.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Sassari?
ApplyAZ helps you study in Sassari by building a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at public universities, including the University of Sassari's English-taught master's where they fit your profile. No university pays us. We write your CV and SOPs, submit applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your ERSU Sassari scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. Next step: see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
