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University of Cagliari (Università degli Studi di Cagliari)
Welcome to a Mediterranean centre of learning
Many applicants search for English‑taught programs in Italy that blend research quality, personal support, and modest fees. The University of Cagliari answers that call. As one of the long‑standing public Italian universities, it offers chances to study in Italy in English while keeping costs close to those at many tuition‑free universities Italy. Established in 1626 and rebuilt after the Second World War, the institution stands today among global rankings for its scientific output, student satisfaction, and regional impact.
A brief history with modern reach
The university began as a Spanish crown college, teaching law, medicine, and philosophy to serve Sardinia. Centuries later, it has evolved into a full research hub with 15 departments and more than 25,000 students. Times Higher Education places it in the 501‑600 band worldwide, noting strong citation scores in physics, computer science, and medicine. Local companies partner with university labs to refine drug discovery, marine engineering, and renewable‑energy storage, building the school’s reputation far beyond the island.
Key academic areas
- Engineering and Architecture: civil, environmental, chemical, and computer engineering.
- Life Sciences: biotechnology, bioinformatics, and marine biology.
- Medicine and Surgery: clinical practice, neuroscience, and sports science.
- Economics, Law, and Political Science: international management, data analytics, and EU policy studies.
- Humanities and Education: archaeology, linguistics, and digital communication.
Many of these departments host English‑taught postgraduate tracks, joint doctorates, and Erasmus mobility exchange, reinforcing the university’s role within the circle of English‑taught programs in Italy.
English‑taught programs in Italy: degree map at Cagliari
The university offers more than a dozen full degrees and numerous single modules in English.
- Master of Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity stream
- Master of Electronic Engineering
- Master of International Management and Sustainability
- Master of Biosciences and Biotechnology
- Joint Doctorate in Sustainable Tourism Management (shared with Spanish and French partners)
Short specialist tracks include Deep Learning for Robotics and Big‑Data Mining for Finance. These options let you study in Italy in English while linking classroom theory to Mediterranean case studies.
Students who prefer Italian instruction can still select up to 40 ECTS in English modules, keeping language skills fresh. Tandem‑learning clubs pair locals and internationals, so everyone benefits.
Scholarships, fees, and the DSU grant
Like all public Italian universities, the University of Cagliari uses income‑based tuition. Annual fees rarely exceed €3,000 and may shrink below €500 when family income meets low‑band thresholds.
DSU grant overview
- Tuition waiver: 100 % of fees removed for eligible income brackets.
- Living stipend: up to €5,600 each academic year.
- Meal plan: two free meals per day in campus cafeterias.
- Accommodation: discounted rooms at university halls.
Regional bodies such as ERSU Sardegna handle DSU applications, yet ApplyAZ guides you through each form, translation, and deadline.
Other support
- Excellence awards: €2,000‑€4,000 for students in the top 10 %.
- Research assistantships: part‑time roles in labs for €600‑€800 per month.
- Industry fellowships: Port Authority and Tiscali sponsor final‑semester projects.
These scholarships for international students in Italy can combine with the DSU grant, lowering net costs to near zero.
Campus architecture and learning resources
Cagliari’s main hub sits on a hill overlooking the lagoon. Buildings mix Baroque façades with high‑glass labs and open makerspaces. Facilities include:
- Digital Innovation Centre: home to Sardegna Ricerche supercomputers.
- Marine Station: vessels, scuba gear, and ocean sensors for field courses.
- Biomedical Complex: simulation wards, MRI scanners, and tissue‑culture suites.
- Language Centre: free IELTS preparation, Italian A1‑C1 classes, and subtitling labs.
Each faculty offers evening help sessions led by doctoral tutors—ideal for non‑native English speakers adjusting to technical vocabulary.
The city: life, cost, and daily rhythm
Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, hugs a gulf framed by limestone cliffs and pink‑salt lagoons. Its population of 150,000 blends island heritage with student energy.
Affordability
- Rent: €250‑€350 per month for a shared flat.
- Groceries: €150 on average, lower if you use open markets.
- Transport: €25 monthly pass covers buses, trams, and suburban trains.
Compared with mainland metros, you save 20 %‑30 % on living costs, stretching scholarship funds further.
Climate
- Winter: mild, 12 °C average, plenty of sunshine.
- Spring and autumn: perfect for hiking coastal trails.
- Summer: hot but breezy; classes mostly end by July, letting you enjoy beaches.
Public transport
Orange CTM buses run day and night, linking dorms, labs, and entertainment areas. Bike‑sharing stations and e‑scooters serve the flat lowlands. The airport sits 10 minutes by train, connecting you to Rome and Milan in one hour.
Culture and leisure
- Roman amphitheatre concerts and open‑air cinema nights.
- Sardinian folk festivals with masks, horses, and pipe music.
- Street‑art routes and indie‑music bars in the Marina district.
- Mediterranean diet celebrated in student canteens: fregola, sea urchin pasta, and pecorino cheese.
Erasmus Student Network organises wind‑surf weekends and language‑exchange aperitivos, making it easy to build friendships.
Industry scene: jobs and internships
Sardinia’s economy blends traditional and high‑tech domains.
Key sectors
- ICT: Tiscali, CRS4 research park, and start‑ups in cybersecurity and cloud computing.
- Energy transition: Enel Green Power solar projects and Wave Power pilot plants.
- Marine and aerospace: Fincantieri ship repair, Dassault Systems flight‑test outpost.
- Tourism and culture: luxury resorts, archaeological consulting, and event management.
- Agri‑food: organic wine, botanical extracts, and nutraceutical labs.
Internship offices connect students with these employers through career days and project challenges. For example, data‑science students may analyse sailing‑race telemetry, while automation engineers program robots that pack pecorino rounds. Humanities students curate VR tours of Nuragic ruins, merging culture with tech.
Innovation hubs
- Parco Tecnologico di Pula: houses biotech and AI ventures; offers summer traineeships.
- INAF‑Sardinia Radio Telescope: physics students assist in pulsar data crunching.
- Port of Cagliari Smart Logistics Cluster: engineers model container‑flow algorithms.
Local authorities run “Voucher Tirocinio” schemes giving stipends to companies that host international interns. These keep costs down for small firms and open many positions.
Relevant industries for every faculty
- Economic analysis: fintech for small islands and blue economy forecasting.
- Engineering: aerospace composites, renewable micro‑grids, and hydrogen storage.
- Life sciences: marine pharmaceutics, coral eco‑genomics, and anti‑aging compounds.
- Law and policy: EU maritime law, migration studies, and smart city governance.
- Humanities: digital archives of Phoenician artefacts and endangered dialect preservation.
This variety ensures that whatever field you choose, Cagliari provides specialised avenues for research, internships, or entrepreneurial trials.
Support services and student welfare
- Buddy programme: older internationals help new arrivals with housing and healthcare forms.
- Counselling centre: free sessions in English and Italian.
- Sports association: discounted sailing, climbing, and five‑a‑side leagues.
- Career mentoring: LinkedIn clinics, mock interviews, and start‑up incubator workshops.
These services ensure you can focus on learning rather than paperwork or stress.
Why Cagliari stands out
- Historic campus plus modern labs in one setting.
- Lower living costs than mainland capitals.
- Strong funding through DSU grant and additional aid.
- Fast air links to Europe and rich Sardinian culture at your doorstep.
- Job market that values English‑speaking graduates with technical or creative skills.
Picture your next step
Imagine coding a hydro‑meter predictor by day, watching flamingos at sunset, and enjoying pasta alla bottarga with classmates after study. Picture printing your thesis on algae‑derived paper, knowing the research fed directly into a start‑up trial. This is the rhythm that awaits at the University of Cagliari.
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, Finance and Data Analysis LM‑56 at University of Cagliari
English‑taught programs in Italy let ambitious students master advanced topics without leaving Europe’s rich cultural zone—or draining their wallets. This LM‑56 degree lets you study in Italy in English while paying the modest fees typical of public Italian universities. Add the DSU grant and other scholarships for international students in Italy and your cost profile may look similar to many tuition‑free universities Italy, yet with state‑of‑the‑art labs and direct links to research projects.
Below is the complete guide to the Economics, Finance and Data Analysis master—its curriculum, teaching style, funding pathways, and the global career doors it can open for you.
The programme at a glance
Goal: train economists and analysts who blend solid theoretical insight with real‑world data science.
Core skills you gain:
- Macroeconomic and microeconomic modelling
- Asset‑pricing and risk‑management techniques
- Machine learning, big‑data pipelines, and econometric coding
- Policy evaluation and impact assessment
- Clear communication for boardrooms, policy circles, and academic forums
This mix positions graduates for finance, consulting, international organisations, and doctoral tracks.
Why English‑taught programmes in Italy give you an edge
- Global language, European context
Lectures, labs, and exams run entirely in English, letting you engage with international literature from day one. - Research‑active faculty
Professors publish in top journals on banking stability, fintech regulation, and data‑driven poverty metrics. Their projects feed directly into classroom examples. - Affordable fees
Public Italian universities link tuition to family income. With official proof, many students pay under €1,000 per year. - Generous support
The DSU grant can wipe out fees and cover living costs, bringing expenses close to those in tuition‑free universities Italy. - Portable qualification
The LM‑56 code sits at Level 7 of the European Qualifications Framework, easing cross‑border recognition for PhD or employment.
Curriculum structure: two years, 120 ECTS
Year 1 – analytical foundations
Macroeconomic Theory (9 ECTS)
Dynamic stochastic models, monetary policy rules, and open‑economy issues.
Microeconomics and Strategic Behaviour (9 ECTS)
Game theory, market design, and welfare analysis with real case studies.
Statistical Learning with R (6 ECTS)
Regression trees, random forests, and cross‑validation on economic data sets.
Corporate Finance and Valuation (6 ECTS)
Capital structure, cost of capital, discounted‑cash‑flow modelling.
Econometrics I: Classical Framework (6 ECTS)
OLS, heteroskedasticity, panel‑data basics, replication exercises in Stata.
Project Lab 1 (6 ECTS)
Teams analyse inflation shocks using FRED data, present dashboards, and write policy briefs.
Research Ethics and Open Science (6 ECTS)
Reproducibility, data privacy, pre‑registration strategies.
Year 2 – specialisation and thesis
Econometrics II: Time‑Series and Causality (6 ECTS)
VARs, cointegration, difference‑in‑differences, and synthetic‑control methods.
Machine Learning for Finance (6 ECTS)
Neural networks for credit scoring, NLP for sentiment indices, and algorithmic trading prototypes.
Risk Management and Derivatives (6 ECTS)
Value‑at‑Risk, stress testing, swaps, and futures hedging strategies.
International Political Economy (6 ECTS)
Trade conflicts, currency unions, and development‑finance institutions.
Elective pool (choose two, 6 ECTS each)
- Behavioural Economics and Data
- Sustainable Finance and ESG Metrics
- Development Microdata and Impact Evaluation
- Blockchain Economics and Regulation
Internship or Applied‑Research Project (12 ECTS)
Placement in a bank, think tank, or university lab to solve a live analytics problem.
Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS)
Independent empirical work—often a publishable paper—supervised by a professor and, if applicable, an industry mentor.
All module descriptions sit under 80 words to keep reading smooth at CEFR B2 level.
Learning model: flipped, data‑driven, and collaborative
Flipped classrooms
Pre‑recorded videos cover theory; in‑person sessions focus on coding workshops and case debates.
Data sprints
Two‑week blocks where teams ingest raw data—say, World Bank indicators or high‑frequency stock prices—clean them with Python or R, build a model, and pitch findings.
Continuous assessment
Mini‑quizzes, group reports, code notebooks, and oral defences replace single end‑of‑year exams. Feedback cycles every fortnight.
Software stack
- Python (pandas, scikit‑learn, TensorFlow)
- R (tidyverse, caret, forecast)
- Stata for econometrics
- SQL and NoSQL basics for data warehousing
- Tableau or Power BI for dashboard delivery
Students can VPN into university servers for large simulations.
Research culture and professional exposure
Professors run funded projects on:
- AI credit‑risk scoring
- Climate‑risk stress tests for banks
- Labour‑market shocks from automation
- Impact of digital currencies on monetary sovereignty
Students join as research assistants, often co‑authoring conference papers. Industry seminars bring portfolio managers, central‑bank economists, and fintech founders to critique student projects.
Funding your master: DSU grant and more
Income‑based tuition bands
Provide ISEE documentation. In low‑income brackets, annual tuition drops to little more than the regional tax.
DSU grant essentials
- Tuition waiver
- Cash stipend up to €6,000 per academic year
- Meal vouchers valid on campus
- Housing subsidy or dorm place
Other scholarships for international students in Italy
- Merit Award €2,500–€5,000 for top entry GPA.
- Women in Data Science grant €2,000 first‑year bonus.
- Green Finance thesis stipend €1,500 for ESG topics.
- Erasmus+ mobility funding for a semester at partner institutions.
Career trajectories and market demand
Typical roles
- Data analyst at investment banks or asset managers
- Quantitative researcher in hedge funds
- Development‑economics consultant at international organisations
- Risk‑management associate in insurance or fintech
- PhD candidate in economics, finance, or data science
Placement data
University tracking shows 88 % job placement within six months. Alumni work at the European Central Bank, Deloitte, Amazon, and research institutes. Those pursuing PhDs receive full‑funding offers from leading European and North‑American universities.
Accreditation value
The LM‑56 code corresponds to Level 7 qualifications, smoothing visa processes and professional certification across the EU.
Admission roadmap
- Bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS or equivalent) in economics, finance, statistics, engineering, or related field.
- Transcript with at least 24 ECTS in quantitative subjects (maths, stats, or econometrics).
- English proof B2: IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, or prior English‑medium degree.
- Motivation letter (700 words) explaining your data project experience and career plan.
- CV listing coding skills, internships, and any publications.
- Passport copy and digital photo.
Soft‑skill ecosystem
- Communication labs: write policy briefs and investor memos under 600 words.
- Negotiation workshops: simulate IMF‑country loan talks and corporate M&A bids.
- Team leadership module: Agile project boards, sprint retrospectives, and conflict resolution.
- Career office: LinkedIn optimisation, mock interviews, and networking evenings.
Continuous improvement
Student representatives meet faculty each term. Recent changes sparked by feedback:
- Added a short course on causal machine‑learning.
- Extended Bloomberg terminal hours in the finance lab.
- Introduced mandatory reproducible‑research notebooks in every econometrics module.
A week in the life
Imagine Monday morning starts with Macroeconomic Theory; you model an IS‑LM shock using Python to visualise results. Tuesday afternoon brings Statistical Learning labs—building a random‑forest classifier for credit defaults. Wednesday features a guest lecture from a data head at a fintech. Thursdays involve your Project Lab team crunching inflation datasets. Friday wraps up with peer presentations and feedback circles. Evenings stay flexible for Italian language practice, gym sessions, or additional coding work.
Key takeaways
- Blend of economics, finance, and data science prepares you for high‑demand roles.
- English‑medium delivery aligns with global research and business practice.
- Low tuition via income‑linked policy plus the DSU grant makes the programme accessible.
- Hands‑on labs and real data ensure you graduate with a job‑ready portfolio.
- Accredited LM‑56 qualification smooths further study or cross‑border employment.
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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