Is Trento a good place to study for international students?
Trento is a good choice for international students who want a safe, well-organised small city and a research-focused public university. The capital of Trentino lies in the Adige valley just south of the Dolomites and has 119,179 residents (2026). The University of Trento, founded in 1962, has about 16,000 students, around 1,600 of them international. Trento suits students aiming for an English-taught master's in computing, cognitive science or management who prefer mountains to nightlife.
Which universities are in Trento, and which are public?
Trento has one public university, the University of Trento (UniTrento), with campuses in Trento, Rovereto and San Michele all'Adige. The city is also home to research centres that work closely with it, notably Fondazione Bruno Kessler in computer science. The Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, north of Trento, is a non-state university with fixed fees. ApplyAZ works with UniTrento, where tuition follows family income, and it is the only public university option in the city.
- University of Trento: public, founded 1962, about 16,000 students on three campuses
- Fondazione Bruno Kessler: research institute and UniTrento partner, not a university
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano: non-state, based in Bolzano, fixed fees
What can you study in English in Trento?
In Trento, most master's and PhD programmes at the University of Trento are taught in English, while most bachelor's degrees are taught in Italian. Popular English-taught master's include Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence Systems, Cognitive Science, International Management, Innovation Management and Environmental Engineering. A few bachelor's, such as International Studies, are partly or fully in English. Without B2 Italian, a master's is the realistic way in. See our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Trento as a student?
Living in Trento costs most students about €750 to €950 a month, less than Bologna or Milan. A private single room averaged €444 a month in August 2026, down 18.3% in a year (Immobiliare.it Insights), although local press reported rents up by almost 40% since 2020. Opera Universitaria residences cost much less, and the Trentino-wide transport pass for UniTrento students is only €70 a year. Heating matters in an Alpine winter, so ask whether bills are included before you sign.
- Private single room: about €444 a month on average (Immobiliare.it Insights, August 2026)
- Opera Universitaria residence: €230 single or €190 double a month (2026/27)
- Food: about €200 to €250 a month if you cook (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Transport: €70 a year for all public transport in Trentino (UniTrento students, 2026/27)
- Bills, phone and personal costs: about €80 to €150 a month (ApplyAZ estimate)
- Monthly total: about €750 to €950 (ApplyAZ estimate, 2026)
How do you find student housing in Trento?
In Trento, start with Opera Universitaria, the provincial right-to-study agency, which assigns residence places by ranking. For 2026/27 the housing application closed on 19 August 2026, earlier than the scholarship deadline, and rooms cost €230 single or €190 double a month, with a €360 deposit. Private rooms are the alternative: search from spring, compare several listings and never pay for a room you have not seen, in person or on a live video call. Italian law caps a rental deposit at three months' rent.
Which scholarship covers students in Trento, and how much is it worth?
In Trento, Opera Universitaria runs the right-to-study scholarship for University of Trento students. For 2026/27, off-site students receive between €3,585.56 and €8,605.34 a year, depending on family income, within an ISEE limit of €26,000 and an ISPE limit of €52,000. Winners also get a total tuition waiver, and the 2026/27 scholarship application closed on 7 September 2026. Tuition is set by family income: students in the lowest bracket pay little more than the regional tax.
How do you get to Trento and get around once you are there?
Trento sits on the Brenner railway, with trains north to Bolzano and Austria and south to Verona, about an hour away. The nearest large airport is Verona Villafranca, 90 km away, linked to Verona station by a shuttle bus every 20 minutes; Bolzano's small airport is 60 km away. In Trento, UniTrento students pay €70 a year in 2026/27 for all public transport in Trentino, including buses, local trains and the Sardagna cable car. The compact centre is easy to walk or cycle.
What is student life like in Trento?
Student life in Trento is calm, outdoorsy and well organised. The Dolomites rise just to the north, Lake Garda and smaller lakes such as Caldonazzo and Levico are close, and many students ski or hike at weekends. Trento was named Italy's most sustainable city in the 2020 Smart City Index, and its Christmas market draws visitors every winter. January averages 1.6 °C and July 23.4 °C. Evenings are quieter than in Bologna or Milan, so social life often revolves around the university and sport.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Trento?
Your first weeks in Trento are mostly paperwork, and the order matters. Non-EU students must request the permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days of arrival, using the kit from a post office. You also need a codice fiscale, health cover and confirmation of your Opera Universitaria place or private contract, then your yearly transport pass. The University of Trento's international staff can guide you, but deadlines are yours. Keep copies of every document and receipt.
- Request your permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days, with the post office kit (non-EU)
- Get your codice fiscale if you did not receive one during your visa or pre-enrolment
- Arrange health cover: private insurance or voluntary SSN registration (about €700 a year)
- Confirm your Opera Universitaria room or sign a registered rental contract
- Buy the €70 yearly Trentino transport pass for UniTrento students
Can you work part-time while studying in Trento?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Trento: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. The University of Trento offers paid part-time student collaborations in its libraries and services, often called 150-hour jobs at Italian universities. Trento's job market is small and strongest in tourism, hospitality and research, and most jobs outside the university need Italian. Note that the €70 transport pass requires that you do not work more than 20 hours a week.
How does Trento compare with other Italian student cities?
Trento is cheaper than Bologna or Milan for a room: its €444 average single in August 2026 compares with €585 in Bologna and €704 in Milan. It is much smaller than those cities, with 119,179 residents, and it is safe, green and well run. Choose Trento for a research-led English-taught master's with the Alps on the doorstep and a very cheap transport pass. Choose Bologna or Milan if you want big-city life, a wider range of subjects or easier links to the rest of Italy.
Comparing University of Trento campuses? Read our Rovereto student guide too, and confirm the teaching location of your chosen programme before looking for housing.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Trento?
ApplyAZ helps you apply to the University of Trento as part of a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities, and we take no university commissions. We write your CV and tailored SOPs, submit each application and your Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your Opera Universitaria scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person owning each stage. UniTrento decides admission. Organised students can use our roadmap alone. see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
