Public Universities in Italy 2026/27: Full List, Fees and Rankings

Italy has 61 public universities, the state universities on the list of the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), in every region except Aosta Valley. Eight state special schools for advanced study sit alongside them.

This guide lists all 61 with their city, QS 2027 rank, English-taught programmes, fee rules and entry tests. It also names the body that runs each region's DSU scholarship, with every figure taken from MUR's list of state universities, QS or each university's own fee rules.

In short

• How many: 61 state universities, plus 8 state special schools. MUR also lists 21 legally recognised non-state universities and 11 online (telematic) universities; neither group is public.
• Fees: each university sets its own yearly contribution, mostly from family income (ISEE). In the 2026/27 rules we read, the no-tax area reaches an ISEE of €22,000 to €32,000. Above it, the contribution rises with family income.
• Students from India: the fee depends on the rule for family income abroad, an ISEE parificato where the university accepts it or a flat fee set by country. Study can be tuition-free for eligible students through a regional DSU scholarship.
• English and rankings: 58 of the 61 have English-taught programmes listed on ApplyAZ, 800+ in all, and 44 are in the QS World University Rankings 2027, led by Politecnico di Milano (=87).
• ApplyAZ: ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, takes care of the whole process for eligible students from countries like India: university checks, applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU scholarship and the visa file.

How many public universities are there in Italy?

Italy has 61 public universities, the state universities (università statali) on MUR's list, in every region except Aosta Valley. The state funds and regulates them, and each sets a yearly contribution that depends mostly on family income. Lombardy has the most, with 7, followed by Lazio and Campania, with 6 each.

Source: MUR, Università statali.

MUR also lists 9 special-status institutes (istituti a ordinamento speciale).

Eight are state institutions: Scuola Normale Superiore and Sant'Anna in Pisa, IMT in Lucca, IUSS in Pavia, SISSA in Trieste, GSSI in L'Aquila, the Scuola Superiore Meridionale in Naples and CASD, the defence and security school in Rome. The ninth, IASA in Jolanda di Savoia, is non-state. These schools focus on PhD and advanced study.

Source: MUR, special-status institutes.

What is the difference between public and private universities in Italy?

Public universities are state institutions that set fees mostly by family income, with a no-tax area in every set of 2026/27 rules we read. Non-state universities, including private ones such as Bocconi, are legally recognised but set their own fee lists. Online (telematic) universities teach mainly at a distance.

Source: MUR, Le Università.

What is the full list of public universities in Italy?

The table below lists all 61 state universities: 22 in the north, 19 in the centre and 20 in the south and islands. Each name links to its ApplyAZ page, and the fee rules column links to each university's own rules, where the yearly contribution follows family income (ISEE).

Sources: MUR list of state universities, QS World University Rankings 2027, published 18 June 2026 and each university's fee rules, linked in the fee rules column. "=" marks a joint rank.

The fee rules cover a regular student within the normal length of the course; some courses, such as dentistry, have a higher contribution. Programme counts come from our own listings, counted on 9 October 2026, and include degrees with an English-taught curriculum. Fee rules verified on 28 September 2026.

Where a cell says we confirm the rules, the university's 2026/27 rules were not readable online when we checked, and we check them for each student we work with. The universities of Bozen-Bolzano and Aosta Valley are non-state universities, so they are not in this list. The A to Z directory covers every university on ApplyAZ.

The special schools for advanced study

Source: MUR, special-status institutes. The schools mainly run PhD and advanced programmes.

What do the public universities in each region offer?

Every region except Aosta Valley has at least one public university, from 7 in Lombardy to 1 each in Trentino-South Tyrol, Liguria, Molise and Basilicata. The DSU scholarship is run region by region, so the region decides who runs your grant, housing and meals.

Sources: MUR list of state universities, QS World University Rankings 2027 and our own programme listings. Our DSU scholarship guide explains how each regional body works.

How tuition works at Italy's public universities

Tuition at a public university in Italy follows family income (ISEE), under each university's own rules for 2026/27. Each university sets a no-tax area where only the regional tax and stamp duty are due, and study can be tuition-free for eligible students who win a DSU scholarship.

Rules differ between universities, so we work out the fee for each student we shortlist, before the application goes in.

Most families abroad do not have an Italian ISEE, which is why the rule for income abroad matters as much as the fee table. Where a university accepts the ISEE parificato, the family's income and assets documents are translated and legalised, and the fee is worked out as for a family in Italy. We prepare those documents with you for the university and for the DSU scholarship.

How tuition works for students from India

For a first-year bachelor's student from India, the rule for family income abroad decides what the family pays in 2026/27, and an ISEE parificato in the no-tax area usually costs least.

Tuition follows family income (ISEE). Families with income abroad can file an ISEE or request the flat fee for their country, and DSU scholarship winners are exempt from tuition. Among the universities we checked, Pavia, Pisa, Palermo, Chieti-Pescara and Bologna accept an ISEE parificato or family income documents. Milan, Messina, Teramo, Reggio Calabria and Sapienza set a fee by country, Tor Vergata and Catania use a flat fee for students from abroad, and Macerata a band for students from non-OECD countries.

India is not on the list of particularly poor countries some universities use for their lowest flat fees.

Verified on 28 September 2026 against each university's rules.

We work out which route costs your family least, prepare the documents and file them with the university. Our fees guide breaks down an Italian fee bill line by line.

Which public universities in Italy teach in English?

58 of the 61 public universities have English-taught programmes listed on ApplyAZ, 800+ programmes in all. English teaching is strongest at master's level. Bologna, Padua and Sapienza list the most programmes, while Bologna, Sapienza and Messina list the most English-taught bachelor's degrees, 9 each.

Source: our own programme listings, counted on 9 October 2026, including degrees with an English-taught curriculum; QS World University Rankings 2027. English-taught bachelor's degrees are fewer, so our bachelor's guide is the place to start.

Which subjects can you study in English at Italy's public universities?

Engineering has by far the most English-taught programmes at Italy's public universities, with 272 on ApplyAZ, followed by business and economics with 134. Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino lead in engineering, and Bologna in business. Most English-taught programmes are master's degrees.

Source: our own programme listings at the 61 public universities, counted on 9 October 2026, including degrees with an English-taught curriculum.

How many graduates of Italy's public universities find work?

Among master's graduates of 2024 surveyed by AlmaLaurea about a year later, employment at the 24 public universities below ranged from 66.4% at Messina to 93.0% at Politecnico di Torino. Mean net pay was about €1,349 to €1,824 a month, and five years after graduating most universities were above 90%.

Source: AlmaLaurea, XXVIII survey of graduate outcomes (Rapporto 2026, published June 2026): 2024 master's graduates at 1 year and 2020 graduates at 5 years. AlmaLaurea counts anyone in paid work, including paid training, as employed. Politecnico di Milano is not an AlmaLaurea member, so it is not in the table, and Camerino's figures rest on a small number of respondents.

Which entry tests do public universities in Italy use?

Most public universities use the CISIA online tests: TOLC for Italian-taught courses and CEnT-S or English TOLC for many English-taught ones. Some set their own, such as Politecnico di Milano's TOL and Politecnico di Torino's TIL, and several accept the SAT. English-taught Medicine uses one national test, the IMAT, at 17 public universities in 2026/27.

Since 2025/26, Italian-taught Medicine has used an open first semester instead of an entry test, and English-taught courses are excluded from that reform (Legislative Decree 71/2025, art. 8(3)). For eligible students, we match each course to its test and handle the registration and application steps. Our IMAT guide and MBBS in Italy guide cover medicine in detail.

Sources: each university's admissions pages, summarised in the entry-test column above; MUR Decree 1005, Table B for the IMAT universities; 16 of the 17 have places for non-EU applicants living abroad, and Florence has none this year.

How do you choose between Italy's public universities?

Choose in five steps: the course, then the entry route, the cost, the city and the eligibility check. Rank matters less than whether the course fits your profile, its entry test fits your strengths and the fee rule fits your family. We walk through each step with you before anything is filed.

1. Start with the course. Find programmes taught in your language at the level you need; for English-taught degrees, the counts above show where the choice is widest.
2. Check the entry route. Note the test the course uses (TOLC, CEnT-S, SAT, its own test or the IMAT) and how many places it offers non-EU applicants living abroad.
3. Work out the real cost. Compare the fee rule for income abroad, not only the top band; the ISEE parificato and the DSU scholarship can change the total sharply.
4. Weigh the city. Rent and living costs differ a lot between Milan or Rome and smaller cities such as Perugia, Macerata or Catania.
5. Check your eligibility with us. We review your academic profile against each shortlisted course, and for eligible students we handle the rest.

How do you apply to a public university in Italy from outside the EU?

Applicants from outside the EU apply to the university first, then pre-enrol on Universitaly for the study visa, and enrol once they arrive. Each university sets its own windows, and English-taught courses often open in the winter or spring before the September start.

The process usually runs in five stages. The university assesses your school or bachelor's qualification, with a Declaration of Value or a CIMEA statement, and you take the entry test where the course has one. After acceptance you pre-enrol on Universitaly, and the consulate decides the study visa.

For eligible students, we handle each step: the shortlist, the applications, the Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU scholarship application and the visa file.

We work only with Italian public universities, and we do not promise outcomes: the university decides admission, the region decides the DSU scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. Our Declaration of Value guide and study visa guide cover the documents.

Frequently asked questions

How many public universities are there in Italy?

There are 61 public (state) universities in Italy, in every region except Aosta Valley, according to the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). MUR also lists 8 state special schools for advanced study, such as Scuola Normale Superiore and SISSA. Non-state and online universities are not public.

Can study at a public university in Italy be tuition-free for eligible students?

Study can be tuition-free for eligible students, through a university's no-tax area or a regional DSU scholarship. In the no-tax area almost everyone still pays the regional tax and stamp duty. Above it, the yearly contribution rises with family income (ISEE).

How does tuition work for a student from India at a public university in Italy?

It follows each university's rule for family income abroad. Universities that accept an ISEE parificato, such as Pisa and Palermo, usually cost least; Milan and Messina charge a flat fee by country. Study can be tuition-free for eligible students who win a DSU scholarship.

Which is the cheapest public university in Italy?

It depends on family income and the rule for income abroad. In the no-tax area, a student pays mostly the regional tax and stamp duty. For a student from India, universities that accept an ISEE parificato or income documents, such as Pavia, Pisa and Palermo, are among the lowest in 2026/27.

Which is the best public university in Italy?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, Politecnico di Milano ranks highest in Italy at =87, followed by Sapienza at =111 and Bologna at =123. Padua (204) and Politecnico di Torino (=206) come next. Rankings measure whole universities, so the course and the fee rule matter more for your choice.

Do public universities in Italy teach in English?

Yes. 58 of the 61 public universities have English-taught programmes listed on ApplyAZ, 800+ in all, mostly at master's level. Engineering and business have the most, and Bologna, Padua and Sapienza list the most programmes overall. English-taught bachelor's degrees are fewer, so the choice at that level is narrower.

Which public universities in Italy have no entrance exam?

It depends on the programme, not the university. Many bachelor's degrees are open access, with a non-selective TOLC that only checks your starting level; Messina's English-taught bachelor's degrees have no additional entrance test, and Siena's Economics and Management needs none. Medicine, engineering and many English-taught courses do set a test.

Do I need an ISEE to study at a public university in Italy?

You need income documents to pay less than the top band at most public universities. Families abroad use an ISEE parificato where the university accepts it; some universities, such as Sapienza and Messina, charge a flat fee by country instead. We prepare the documents for the university and the DSU scholarship.

Can international students get a scholarship at a public university in Italy?

Yes. Each region runs a DSU scholarship that can include a grant, tuition exemption, housing and meals, decided on family income and, after the first year, credits. The national minimum grant for 2026/27 is €7,171.11 a year for students living away from home (MUR Directorial Decree 175 of 10 February 2026).

Do I need Italian to study at a public university in Italy?

Not for English-taught programmes, which teach and examine in English. Italian-taught courses need Italian, and some universities test it: the universities for foreigners in Siena and Perugia ask non-EU applicants for B2. Italian helps with daily life on any course.

How much does it cost to live in Italy as a student?

For the 2026/27 study visa, the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata asks you to show at least €10,179.85 (about ₹11.2 lakh) a year for living costs, which works as a floor, not a full budget. Rent differs a lot between cities, and a DSU scholarship can add a grant, housing and meals.

What is the difference between public and private universities in Italy?

Public universities are the 61 state universities, which set fees mostly by family income, with a no-tax area. Non-state universities such as Bocconi are legally recognised but set their own fees, and ApplyAZ works only with public universities. MUR lists 21 legally recognised non-state universities and 11 online ones.

Sources

• MUR, Università statali, special-status institutes and Le Università
• QS World University Rankings 2027, published 18 June 2026
• Each university's fee rules for 2026/27 (or 2025/26 where marked), linked in the tables above
• MUR Directorial Decree 175 and 176 of 10 February 2026, DSU scholarship limits
• Legislative Decree 71 of 15 May 2025 and MUR Decree 1005 of 6 August 2026
• Universitaly, international students
• Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead. First published 25 September 2026; last updated and verified 28 September 2026.

Further reading

• Universities in Italy: A to Z directory
• Best universities in Italy: QS 2027 rankings
• MBBS in Italy for Indian students
• IMAT exam 2026
• DSU scholarship in Italy, 2026/27
• Italy study visa guide
• How to choose a public university in Italy