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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.
Economics and Business at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
English-taught programs in Italy keep expanding, and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice takes a leading role. Its Economics and Business bachelor (class L-33) lets you study in Italy in English, pay modest fees typical of tuition-free universities Italy, and gain a degree from one of the most respected public Italian universities. This detailed guide explains the course structure, student life, funding routes such as the DSU grant, career prospects, and ApplyAZ support. By the end you will know whether this programme matches your goals and budget.
1 | Why choose English-taught programs in Italy at Ca’ Foscari?
Ca’ Foscari opened in 1868 as Italy’s first business school and now ranks in the global top 250 for Economics and Econometrics (QS 2025). The Economics and Business programme builds on that heritage while focusing on today’s data-driven markets.
Key academic strengths
- Multidisciplinary teaching: economics, management, law, and statistics sit under one roof, encouraging crossover projects.
- Research excellence: faculty publish in journals like Applied Economics and the Journal of International Business Studies.
- Global network: 700 partner universities enable Erasmus+ exchanges and double-degree tracks.
- Small class sizes: seminars average 35 students, so you discuss freely with professors.
International lecturers from Australia, Canada, and South Africa bring diverse case studies, and all core modules are delivered in English.
Recognition among public Italian universities
The Italian government rates Ca’ Foscari in the highest band for teaching quality. Employers value its focus on analytical skills and its strong alumni network. Graduates work at Deloitte, Allianz, the European Central Bank, and start-ups across Europe.
2 | Course structure: study in Italy in English and master global economics
The bachelor lasts three years and follows the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (180 ECTS). Teaching combines lectures, workshops, and project work, with continuous assessment to reduce exam stress.
Year-by-year breakdown
Year 1 – Foundations (60 ECTS)
- Microeconomics and macroeconomics
- Mathematics for economics
- Business law and private law
- Academic English writing clinic
- Computer skills: Excel, R, and basic Python
Year 2 – Core analysis (60 ECTS)
- Econometrics and data analysis
- Corporate finance
- Marketing management
- European economic history
- Public economics with policy simulations
- Optional language module (Italian, French, or Chinese)
Year 3 – Integration and specialisation (60 ECTS)
- International trade theory
- Development economics or environmental economics (choose one)
- Management accounting and control
- Labour economics with GIS mapping of regional data
- Six-month internship in Italy or abroad
- Final thesis supervised by a research-active professor
Electives let you focus on finance, sustainability, or digital business. Projects often involve Venetian SMEs, giving insight into real-world challenges.
3 | Learning methods that make a difference
- Data labs: you mine Eurostat and World Bank datasets to forecast growth scenarios.
- Role-play negotiations: simulate EU budget talks to understand public-finance trade-offs.
- Pitch deck contests: teams design start-up models and present to investors from the Venice Innovation District.
- Field visits: tours of the Port of Venice and manufacturing hubs in neighbouring Padua show how theory links to logistics and supply chains.
Guest lecturers from the Bank of Italy, Moody’s, and local fintech companies provide practical context.
4 | Venice as a learning laboratory
City overview
Venice is both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a living community of 50 000 residents in the historic centre, plus 180 000 more on the mainland in Mestre and Marghera. Its unique geography turns canals into transport arteries and offers daily lessons in the economics of tourism, culture, and climate resilience.
Cost of living
- Shared flat in Mestre: €400–450 per month.
- Student canteen meal: €4 for three courses.
- Monthly vaporetto (water-bus) pass: €25 with student discount.
- Average leisure budget (cinema, cafés): €80 per month.
Climate and lifestyle
Winters are cool and damp (4 °C average), summers warm (28 °C) with sea breezes. Evenings bring free concerts in church cloisters and sunset walks along Zattere quay. Weekends allow day trips to Verona, Bologna, or the Dolomites by train.
Public transport
- Vaporetti link all islands; night boats run hourly.
- Tram and buses connect the mainland.
- Bikes are common in Mestre, banned in the historic centre.
Your student card doubles as a travel pass and library card across seven campus libraries.
5 | Funding routes at tuition-free universities Italy
Ca’ Foscari follows the Italian principle of progressive fees within public Italian universities. Annual tuition ranges from €0 to about €1 900, depending on certified family income.
DSU grant: scholarships for international students in Italy
The DSU grant is the main support:
- Tuition waiver
- Free or subsidised housing in university residences
- Two meals daily in canteens
- Small monthly stipend for books and transport
Applicants must submit income documents translated and legalised. Deadlines usually fall in late July.
Other scholarships
- Ca’ Foscari Academic Excellence: full fee waiver and €6 500 stipend for top entrance-test scorers.
- Veneto Region Mobility Fund: travel allowance for low-income EU and non-EU students.
- Erasmus+ grant: €400–500 per month during exchange.
The ApplyAZ scholarship guide gives step-by-step instructions and winning essay samples.
6 | Internship and career prospects
Local economy
Veneto is Italy’s second-largest exporting region. Key sectors:
- Fashion and luxury (Moncler, Diesel)
- Food and beverage (Barilla, Lavazza logistics centres)
- Shipbuilding (Fincantieri)
- Green tech and circular economy projects in Porto Marghera
Venice itself hosts creative industries, cultural-event management, and maritime services.
Internship partners
- PwC advisory office in Padua
- European Investment Bank representation in Venice
- Generali Group headquarters in Trieste (90 minutes by train)
- Local start-ups in the Venice Innovation District focusing on blue economy and climate tech
Many students work part-time as data analysts or marketing assistants under flexible contracts that respect visa limits (20 hours per week for non-EU citizens).
Graduate outcomes
Recent data:
- 93 percent employment within one year of graduation.
- Average starting salary €31 000 in Italy; €40 000 in Germany or the Netherlands.
- Popular roles: business analyst, financial advisor, supply-chain coordinator, sustainability officer.
The university’s Career Service offers CV checks, mock interviews, and a job portal with 4 000 postings yearly. Alumni mentors conduct skills clinics on LinkedIn optimisation and negotiation.
7 | Soft skills and extracurricular growth
- Model United Nations team debates trade topics and travels to New York.
- Econometrics hackathon runs every spring with datasets from Eurostat.
- Student investment club manages a virtual portfolio and hosts guest traders.
- Language tandem cafés pair economics students with art-history majors to swap English, Italian, and Mandarin practice.
These activities grow leadership and cross-cultural communication, valued by employers.
8 | Digital resources and campus facilities
- Bloomberg terminals in the Finance Lab for live market analysis.
- Behavioural-economics lab with eye-tracking to test advertising impact.
- 24-hour reading room during exam periods, with free coffee vending.
- Cloud access to MATLAB, Stata, and Tableau licences.
Online lecture capture supports revision and helps if you travel for Erasmus or internships.
9 | Research pathways and postgraduate options
Graduates may continue at Ca’ Foscari or partner institutions:
- Master in Economics and Finance (taught in English)
- Double degree with University of Groningen in International Business
- Master in Environmental Change and Global Sustainability, linking economics with climate science
- PhD in Economics at the European University Institute in Florence (highly competitive but supported by professors’ references)
Academic advisers help select modules that meet master-entry requirements, such as Advanced Statistics or Game Theory.
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.
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