Heading
Heading
Study in Italy in English at tuition-free universities Italy and public Italian universities – Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia)
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia) stands on the Grand Canal yet looks firmly to the future. Founded in 1868 as the first Italian business school, it now offers a wide mix of English-taught programs in Italy. Students come to study in Italy in English, pay fair fees set by tuition-free universities Italy, and enjoy the strengths of one of the leading public Italian universities. This guide explains what makes Ca’ Foscari and Venice a unique launch-pad for global careers.
Why choose English-taught programs in Italy at Ca’ Foscari?
Ca’ Foscari began with economics and languages; today it places in the top 250 worldwide for modern languages (QS 2025) and enters the global top 500 for arts, humanities, and environmental sciences. Key departments include:
- Economics and Management
- Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics
- Linguistics and Cultural Studies
- Digital and Public Humanities
The university hosts more than 1 500 international students each year and delivers over 20 full degrees entirely in English. Small seminar groups mean direct contact with professors who publish in top journals. Partnerships with 700 universities ensure easy Erasmus+ exchanges.
How to study in Italy in English and thrive in Venice
Venice is famous for art, gondolas, and film festivals, yet it is also a living campus spread across six historic districts.
- Student ID cards unlock discounted vaporetto (water-bus) passes, letting you cross the lagoon in minutes.
- Cafe culture encourages language exchange; an espresso costs €1.30 and comes with free tap-water refills.
- Climate is mild: cool, wet winters around 5 °C; warm summers near 28 °C with evening breezes from the Adriatic.
- Most classes lie within a twenty-minute walk, so you save on daily travel costs.
International students find rooms on the mainland in Mestre for around €400 a month, or apply for university dorms on Giudecca Island at similar rates.
Funding and fees at tuition-free universities Italy
Ca’ Foscari follows the national rule that links tuition to family income. Annual fees range from €0 to €1 900; many students qualify for zero cost.
- DSU grant (regional scholarship) – covers fees, meals, and housing if family income is under the set threshold.
- Merit reductions – waive up to 100 per cent of fees for high first-year marks.
- Additional scholarships for international students in Italy – target STEM, sustainability, and cultural-heritage fields.
ApplyAZ scholarship advisers provide checklists, deadlines, and examples of winning DSU grant statements, easing the paperwork load.
Academic structure: flexible paths in public Italian universities
Bachelor programmes last three years, master programmes two. Each uses the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS), so you can move easily between partner institutions. Sample bachelor in Environmental Sciences:
Year 1
- Mathematics, chemistry, and computer tools
- Field trip to the lagoon to sample water quality
Year 2
- Coastal management, climate data analysis, GIS labs
- Optional Erasmus semester in Denmark or Portugal
Year 3
- Sustainable tourism planning, internship, and final thesis
Master options in Digital and Public Humanities, Global Development and Entrepreneurship, or Computer Science let you specialise without leaving Venice.
Research excellence and innovation hubs
Ca’ Foscari leads the European Centre for Living Technology, studying bio-inspired computing. The Department of Economics hosts the Venice Centre in Economic and Risk Analytics for Public Policies, advising EU bodies. Engineering students partner with the Italian Institute of Technology on soft robotics, while climate scientists share data with UNESCO to protect fragile heritage sites from rising seas.
City snapshot: living and learning in a floating laboratory
Venice may look like an open-air museum, yet it offers a modern student lifestyle.
- Supermarkets on the mainland keep grocery bills low; bring produce back on the water-bus.
- Free Wi-Fi squares let you work outdoors between lectures.
- Student theatre at Santa Marta campus stages discounted shows.
- 150 student groups cover rowing, photography, and coding.
Cultural immersion is simple: volunteer as a room steward during the Biennale art exhibition and network with curators worldwide, all while earning ECTS credits.
Public transport and sustainability
The city bans private cars on the historic islands, so you rely on:
- Vaporetti – main water-bus lines run all night, handy after group projects.
- People Mover – a cable-pulled tram linking bus station, cruise terminal, and train station.
- Bicycles – allowed on the mainland; many students keep one in Mestre.
Reduced emissions align with university research on climate resilience. Courses in environmental economics and green finance draw on Venice’s living lab status.
Part-time jobs and internships: real-world experience while you study
Tourism still powers Venice, but the city’s economy now branches into culture tech, marine biology, and sustainable fashion.
- Major employers include luxury group LVMH, UNESCO Venice Office, and shipbuilder Fincantieri.
- Porto Marghera industrial zone offers internships in energy transition, recycling, and logistics optimisation.
- The Venice Innovation District (VeniSIA) incubates start-ups tackling ocean plastics and low-carbon shipping; English-speaking interns are welcome.
- Film students gain paid roles at the Venice International Film Festival each September.
Ca’ Foscari’s Career Service hosts monthly fairs, CV clinics, and mock interviews. ApplyAZ adds industry panels and introduces you to alumni in multinational firms.
Key industries linked to your field of study
- Economics students analyse tourism data or blue-economy funding.
- Computer scientists develop AI tools for art-catalogue digitisation.
- Environmental scientists evaluate flood-barrier performance.
- Language majors intern in translation at publishing houses based in the historic centre.
These projects feed directly into coursework, creating portfolios valued by employers across Europe.
Day-to-day costs and student budget tips
Typical monthly budget (mainland apartment):
- Rent and utilities – €450
- Meals (canteen and groceries) – €250
- Transport pass – €25 with student discount
- Phone and internet – €20
- Leisure and culture – €80
Joining the university sports centre cuts gym fees, and the municipal card offers half-price entry to museums. Many employers reimburse transport expenses during internships.
Language and integration support
While you study in Italy in English, free Italian classes help you navigate daily life. Tandem exchanges pair you with local students keen to practise English or Mandarin. Volunteer tutors also assist with bureaucratic steps such as getting a codice fiscale (tax code) and opening a bank account.
Alumni success and global network
Graduates enter firms like Deloitte, IBM, and the European Central Bank. Others remain to pursue PhDs in History of Art and Conservation Science, often funded by EU projects. The alumni network spans 80 000 members and organises reunions in London, Dubai, and Shanghai.
In two minutes we’ll confirm whether you meet the basic entry rules for tuition-free, English-taught degrees in Italy. We’ll then quickly see if we still have space for you this month. If so, you’ll get a personalised offer. Accept it, and our experts hand-craft a shortlist of majors that fit your grades, goals, and career plans. Upload your documents once; we submit every university and scholarship application, line up multiple admission letters, and guide you through the visa process—backed by our admission-and-scholarship guarantee.
Business Administration at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Venice is more than gondolas and Gothic palaces. It is also home to one of the oldest business schools in Europe. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia) opened in 1868 to train merchants for global trade routes. Today it offers English-taught programs in Italy that blend classic theory with digital analytics. The Business Administration bachelor, coded L-18, lets you study in Italy in English, enjoy the affordable fees of tuition-free universities Italy, and graduate from a leading public Italian university with strong employer links across Europe.
English-taught programs in Italy: why choose Business Administration in Venice
Ca’ Foscari ranks in the global top 250 for economics and management (QS 2025). The Business Administration degree builds solid foundations in finance, marketing, operations, and business law, yet leaves room for electives in sustainability and data science.
- International classroom – More than 40 per cent of first-year students come from outside Italy. Lecturers use case studies from Asia, Africa, and South America, so you discuss diverse markets, not just EU trends.
- Research-active faculty – Professors publish in journals such as the Journal of Business Research and Harvard Business Review. Their studies on circular economy often feed directly into lectures.
- Small seminars – The average class size is 35, encouraging debate and one-on-one feedback.
- Double degrees and Erasmus+ – Spend a year at the University of Groningen or University of Adelaide and still finish in three years.
Venice itself serves as a living textbook. The city’s visitor economy, heritage management, and supply-chain challenges around lagoon shipping provide constant business puzzles for student projects.
Study in Italy in English: course structure and learning experience
The degree totals 180 ECTS over six semesters. Teaching mixes lectures, workshops, and project-based learning.
Year 1 – Foundations
- Principles of Management
- Micro- & Macroeconomics
- Mathematics for Business
- Information Systems (introductory Python and SQL)
- Business Law and Contract Basics
- Academic English Writing Clinic
Group assignments analyse local cafés to understand pricing power and break-even points. Field trips to the Port of Venice reveal real-time logistics.
Year 2 – Core Analysis
- Financial Accounting and Reporting
- Marketing Management
- Statistics and Econometrics
- Corporate Finance
- European Economic History
- Operations Management Lab (simulated factory runs)
You will join a week-long study tour to Milan’s stock exchange, meeting venture-capital analysts and fintech founders.
Year 3 – Integration and Electives
- International Business Strategy
- Digital Marketing Analytics or Sustainability Accounting (choose one)
- Human-Resource Management
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Six-month internship in Italy or abroad
- Final Thesis overseen by a research mentor
The internship counts for 12 ECTS. Past placements include Deloitte Milan, the European Space Agency’s procurement unit, and green-tech start-ups in the Venice Innovation District.
Teaching remains fully in English. Free Italian courses run twice weekly for daily-life skills and part-time job opportunities.
Tuition-free universities Italy: costs, DSU grant, and scholarships
Italy’s public-funding model means tuition is income-based. Annual fees at Ca’ Foscari range from €0 to €1 900. Many students fall into the lowest bracket after presenting certified family-income documents.
DSU grant – key facts
- Covers tuition, housing in university residences, and two daily meals.
- Adds a small cash allowance for books and transport.
- Awarded on merit and need; about 70 per cent of eligible applicants succeed each year.
Additional scholarships for international students in Italy
- Ca’ Foscari Academic Excellence – fee waiver plus €6 500 stipend for top entrance-test scores.
- Veneto Regional Mobility Fund – travel allowance for low-income students commuting from outside Venice.
- Erasmus+ grant – €400 to €500 per month during an exchange semester.
The ApplyAZ scholarship guide explains how to gather translations, legalisations, and financial proofs on time. Our advisers review essays and suggest stronger evidence before you submit.
Total living costs average €750 per month in Mestre (shared flat, utilities, food, public transport, leisure). University canteens serve full lunches for €4, keeping budgets predictable.
Public Italian universities and your career: internships, jobs, and global outlook
Local economy and work placements
Veneto is Italy’s second-largest exporting region. Sectors near Venice include luxury fashion (Diesel, Golden Goose), shipbuilding (Fincantieri), renewable energy (Enel Green Power pilot sites), and cultural-event management (Biennale Foundation). Ca’ Foscari’s Career Service maintains partnerships that feed internship offers directly into your student email.
Typical part-time roles
- Spreadsheet analyst for import-export firms in Marghera port.
- Social-media assistant for design boutiques in Dorsoduro district.
- English-speaking guide at the Guggenheim Museum for 15 hours a week.
Italian law allows up to 20 hours per week on a student visa, enough to gain experience without hurting grades.
Graduate outcomes
- 94 per cent employed or in master’s study within 12 months.
- Average starting salary €32 000 in Italy, €42 000 in Germany or the Netherlands.
- Top roles: business analyst, finance associate, supply-chain coordinator, sustainability officer.
Alumni work at PwC, LVMH, Samsung, and the European Central Bank. Many join Ca’ Foscari’s own master’s in Global Development and Entrepreneurship or double-degree MBAs across Europe.
Career-service tools
- AI-powered job portal listing 4 000 openings yearly.
- CV and LinkedIn clinics with HR professionals.
- Monthly sector webinars featuring alumni in fintech, ESG auditing, and cultural management.
ApplyAZ adds mock interview sessions, visa-extension advice, and invitations to employer coffee chats exclusive to our advisees.
Ready for this programme?
If you qualify and we still have a spot this month, we’ll reserve your place with ApplyAZ. Our team will tailor a set of best-fit majors—including this course—and handle every form and deadline for you. One upload, many applications, guaranteed offers, DSU grant support, and visa coaching: that’s the ApplyAZ promise. Start now and secure your spot before this month’s intake fills up.
They Began right where you are
