Is Turin a good place to study for international students?
Yes, Turin is a good place to study if you want a large, affordable northern city with strong engineering, economics and science. Piedmont's capital has about 855,000 residents (2026) and two public universities, the University of Turin and Politecnico di Torino. It is elegant and orderly, with arcaded streets, the Po river and the Alps on the horizon. It suits students who want big-city life and industry links at lower rents than Milan.
Which universities are in Turin, and which are public?
Turin has two large public universities, and neither charges fixed private-style fees. The University of Turin (UniTo), founded in 1404, covers economics, law, medicine, agriculture, the sciences and the humanities, and charges international students a flat fee linked to their home country. Politecnico di Torino (PoliTO), with roots in 1859, is the technical university for engineering, architecture and design, with tuition set by family income (ISEE).
What can you study in English in Turin?
In Turin you can study a wide range of subjects in English across the two public universities. For 2026/27 the University of Turin lists 3 bachelor's, 21 master's and a Medicine and Surgery degree taught fully in English, from Business and Management to Physics of Complex Systems. Politecnico di Torino teaches engineering in English, including computer, mechanical, automotive, aerospace, energy and data science. Browse them in our English-taught programmes.
How much does it cost to live in Turin as a student?
Turin is one of the cheaper big student cities in northern Italy. Politecnico di Torino puts a single room at €400 to €600 a month, a shared room at about half that, food at €200 to €300 and bills at €70 to €100. Single rooms averaged €479 a month in August 2026 (Immobiliare.it Insights), against €704 in Milan. With an under-26 GTT pass at €25 a month, most students need about €700 to €1,050 a month, before any EDISU support.
- Single room: €400 to €600 a month (Politecnico di Torino); €479 average in Aug 2026
- Shared room: about half the price of a single (Politecnico di Torino)
- EDISU residence for scholarship winners: €2,700 for 11 months, taken from the grant (2026/27)
- Food: €200 to €300 a month; bills €70 to €100 (Politecnico di Torino)
- Transport: €25 a month or €258 a year with the GTT under-26 pass (2026)
- Monthly total: about €700 to €1,050
How do you find student housing in Turin?
In Turin, the cheapest option is an EDISU Piemonte residence: the agency runs 67 residences across Piedmont with about 3,345 beds, the largest share in Turin, assigned through its yearly scholarship and housing call. Most open 11 months a year and close in August. Most students rent a room in a shared flat, often in San Salvario, Vanchiglia or near Campus Luigi Einaudi. Start in spring, and see the room and a registered contract before paying a deposit.
Which scholarship covers students in Turin, and how much is it worth?
Students at both public universities in Turin apply to EDISU Piemonte, the regional right-to-study agency. For 2026/27 an off-site student with an ISEE up to €13,153.12 receives €8,096.78 a year (€8,455.33 for women in STEM), less €150 for meals, with smaller grants up to the €26,306.25 ISEE limit. Residence winners have €2,700 deducted. The call closed on 4 September 2026. Tuition is set by family income, and a DSU winner also gets a tuition waiver.
How do you get to Turin and get around once you are there?
Turin Caselle airport is 16 km north of the city: buses to Porta Susa and Porta Nuova take about 45 minutes, and the SFMA train reaches Dora station in 19 minutes. High-speed trains link Turin with Milan in about an hour. In town, GTT runs buses, trams and metro line 1, and students under 26 pay €25 a month or €258 a year, with lower rates from €158 for low ISEE bands. The flat, grid-plan centre is easy to walk and cycle.
What is student life like in Turin?
Student life in Turin mixes a big-city cultural scene with a relaxed pace. San Salvario and Vanchiglia are the main student nightlife areas, and aperitivo is a daily ritual in the city that gave the world vermouth. The Egyptian Museum and the National Cinema Museum inside the Mole Antonelliana are student favourites, and the Parco del Valentino runs along the Po. Winters are cold, summers hot, and the Alps are close enough for weekend skiing.
What should you sort out in your first weeks in Turin?
Your first weeks in Turin are about paperwork, and the order matters. Non-EU students must request a permesso di soggiorno within 8 days of arrival, using the kit from a post office. You also need a codice fiscale and health cover, and if you won an EDISU residence place, check in on time and upload what EDISU asks for. Once your documents are in order, buy a GTT under-26 pass, which is far cheaper than single tickets over a year.
- Request your permesso di soggiorno at a post office within 8 days of arrival (non-EU students).
- Get your codice fiscale, needed for rent contracts, enrolment and transport passes.
- Arrange health cover: private insurance or voluntary registration with the SSN.
- Confirm your EDISU Piemonte residence or scholarship status and meet its deadlines.
- Buy a GTT under-26 pass: €25 a month or €258 a year.
Can you work part-time while studying in Turin?
Yes, you can work part-time while studying in Turin: a non-EU study permit allows up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. Both universities offer paid part-time student jobs, the collaborazioni often called 150-hour jobs, in libraries, labs and offices. Turin's economy is built on automotive, aerospace and engineering firms, so internships are realistic for PoliTO students, but most service jobs expect Italian, so start learning early.
How does Turin compare with other Italian student cities?
Turin is cheaper than Milan, Rome and Bologna while offering similar scale: single rooms averaged €479 a month in August 2026, against €704 in Milan, €615 in Rome and €585 in Bologna (Immobiliare.it Insights). It is calmer and more spacious than Milan, with a strong industrial base. Students pick Turin for engineering, economics and the sciences at two large public universities, with Alpine weekends and lower rent than the biggest hubs.
How can ApplyAZ help you study in Turin?
ApplyAZ helps you study in Turin by building the University of Turin and Politecnico di Torino into a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We are independent and take no commissions. We write your CV and SOPs, submit every application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your EDISU scholarship and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. Next step: see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
