Study Law in Italy 2027/28: English-Taught Programmes, Universities and Fees
6 English-taught law programmes at 5 public universities, what they do and do not qualify you for, QS 2026 ranks and 2026/27 fees.
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Written by İrem Yılmaz, Student Experience Lead. Reviewed by Reeya Sharma, Student Success and Partnerships. Published 28 September 2026. Updated 28 September 2026.
In short
- Programmes: we list 6 English-taught law programmes for 2027/28 at 5 public universities: 2 bachelor's and 4 master's. All of them deal with international, European or transnational law.
- What they do not do: none is Italy's five-year single-cycle law degree, so none by itself qualifies you to practise as a lawyer in Italy. We make no claim that an Italian degree will count toward practice in India.
- Rankings: Bologna (40th) and Sapienza (=60th) lead Italian public universities in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for law, but they teach law in Italian. Tor Vergata and Trento, both in the 151 to 200 band, run English-taught law master's.
- Cost: law at an Italian public university can be tuition-free for eligible students. In 2026/27 Turin charged €656 a year to residents of countries in its lowest income band, India included, about ₹71,700 at the ECB rate of 25 September 2026 (€1 = ₹109.2605).
- ApplyAZ, an independent study-in-Italy consultancy with offices in Milan and India, works only with Italian public universities and takes no commission from them. For eligible students, we handle the applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU scholarship application and the visa file.
A short eligibility check comes first. Eligible students then talk through their law options with one of our Italy experts, and our team carries every step from that point.
Law in Italy 2027/28: key facts
This table is for students from countries like India weighing an English-taught law degree at a public university. Every fee shown is for 2026/27 except Tor Vergata's, whose fee page states no year; 2027/28 tables normally arrive in the summer of 2027.
| Topic | Law in Italy, 2027/28 |
|---|---|
| English-taught law programmes in our catalogue | 6 at 5 public universities: 2 bachelor's in class L-14 (legal services) and 4 master's, 2 in LM/SC-GIUR (legal sciences) and 2 in LM-90 (European studies). |
| What they cover | International, European, transnational, food and business law. |
| Italy's professional law degree | The five-year single-cycle degree of 300 credits (Study in Italy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Our catalogue has no English-taught version. |
| Licence to practise | Not from these degrees alone in Italy; for India we make no claim. |
| Length | Three years and 180 ECTS for a bachelor's; two years and 120 ECTS for a master's. |
| Background for a master's | Legal credits: Trento asked for an L-14 degree or 27 credits in listed legal sectors, Turin for 36 credits across law and economics (2026/27). |
| English | B2; Tor Vergata set IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 87 for 2026/27, and the consulate checks B2 at the visa stage too. |
| Entry tests for bachelor's | Turin: TOLC-SU or English TOLC-E. Messina: open access with a logic and general knowledge check. |
| Tuition examples | Turin €656 (₹71,700); Tor Vergata €0 to €5,250 by family income on an undated fee page (up to ₹5.74 lakh); Trento up to €6,500 in year one by admission score (₹7.10 lakh). |
| Scholarship | Regional DSU grant; EDISU Piemonte (Turin) set an ISEE limit of €26,306.25 for 2026/27 (₹28.74 lakh). |
| Visa | Funds of €10,179.85 a year (₹11.12 lakh); for 2027/28, apply by 31 October 2027 (MUR circular). |
Which law programmes in Italy are taught in English?
Six, in our catalogue for 2027/28, at Messina, Turin, Trento, Parma and Rome Tor Vergata. Two are three-year bachelor's and four are two-year master's. We count only programmes that Universitaly lists as taught in English alone, and each one studies law across borders rather than training you for Italian practice.
Our rule for this guide: a programme counts when its name contains law or legal. That covers the legal services class L-14, the legal sciences class LM/SC-GIUR and two LM-90 European studies master's with law in their titles, at Turin and Tor Vergata.
Master's in human rights, migration or European studies are left out even when they teach some law, because their names and classes point to politics and international relations. We counted from our programme data on 28 September 2026.
| Programme | University | Level and class | City | Focus | Entry test | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Transnational and European Legal Studies | University of Messina | Bachelor's, L-14 | Messina | Transnational and European law | None, open access with a logic and general knowledge check | 2027/28, autumn intake. |
| Bachelor in Global Law and Transnational Legal Studies | University of Turin | Bachelor's, L-14 | Turin | Global and transnational law | TOLC-SU or English TOLC-E (CISIA), to check minimum requirements | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending). |
| Master in Global Food Law: Sustainability Challenges and Innovation | University of Parma | Master's (2 years), LM/SC-GIUR | Parma | Food law and sustainability | None, selection on CV and grades | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending). |
| Master in European Economy and Business Law | University of Rome Tor Vergata | Master's (2 years), LM-90 | Rome | EU economic and business law | None if your grade meets the threshold, otherwise an interview | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending). |
| Master in Global Law Making | University of Trento | Master's (2 years), LM/SC-GIUR | Trento | Law making, technology and ecological transition | None, selection on CV and grades | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending). |
| Master in European Legal Studies | University of Turin | Master's (2 years), LM-90 | Turin | EU and international law | None, selection on CV, grades and a video interview | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending). |
Entry tests and intakes come from our catalogue; the focus column summarises each title. All 2027/28 calendars are pending; we check each new call against your case before we apply.
Can you practise law with an English-taught law degree from Italy?
Not in Italy on the strength of these degrees alone, and we promise nothing for India. Italy's professional law degree is the five-year single-cycle programme of 300 credits listed by the Study in Italy portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and lawyers then sit a state qualifying exam. None of our 6 programmes is that degree.
The six sit in other classes. L-14 is a three-year class in legal services, LM/SC-GIUR a two-year class in legal sciences and LM-90 a class in European studies. They prepare people who draft, analyse and apply law, which is not the same as a licence to act as an avvocato.
The lawyers' qualifying exam, the esame di abilitazione all'esercizio della professione di avvocato, appears among the state exams on the MUR website. Trento makes a related point about its double degree with Washington University in St. Louis: the American LL.M. earned there does not give access to the bar exam.
In India, this guide makes no claim about enrolment as an advocate: an Italian degree is an academic title, and we never promise that it will count toward practice there. If practising in Italy is the goal, the single-cycle law degree is taught in Italian, and universities test Italian at B2 or above for those courses (MUR circular).
Which Italian universities rank highest for law?
Bologna and Sapienza, at 40th and =60th in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for law and legal studies. Neither has an English-taught law degree in our catalogue. Of the universities that do, Tor Vergata and Trento sit in the 151 to 200 band, alongside Roma Tre and Padua.
| University | QS law and legal studies, 2026 | English-taught law programmes in our catalogue |
|---|---|---|
| University of Bologna | 40 | 0 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | =60 | 0 |
| University of Milan | 101 to 150 | 0 |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | 151 to 200 | 1 |
| University of Trento | 151 to 200 | 1 |
| Roma Tre University | 151 to 200 | 0 |
| University of Padua | 151 to 200 | 0 |
| University of Turin | 201 to 250 | 2 |
| University of Parma | Not ranked in this subject | 1 |
| University of Messina | Not ranked in this subject | 1 |
QS shows 20 Italian institutions for law in the 2026 subject edition, published on 25 March 2026. Private universities and an intergovernmental institute appear there too; we leave them out because we work only with Italian public universities.
What do you need to get into an English-taught law programme in Italy?
For a master's, a first degree with enough law in it and English at B2. Trento's Global Law Making asked for an L-14 law degree or 27 credits in listed legal sectors for 2026/27, and it kept 15 places for non-EU citizens living abroad. Turin's European Legal Studies asked for 36 credits across law and economics.
- Turin, European Legal Studies: 15 credits in private, constitutional or comparative law, 15 in international or EU law and 6 in economics. Selection combines a profile review with an interview. English must be B2, shown by an official certificate from the last five years or by substantial study or work in English.
- Tor Vergata, European Economy and Business Law: a first-cycle degree from a list of classes that includes law, economics and philosophy, with at least 12 credits in economics, statistics or mathematics. IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 87; applicants with a final mark of 70% or more skip the interview.
- Parma, Global Food Law: selection on CV and grades, with IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 69 listed in our catalogue.
- Trento, Global Law Making: B2 English, waived when your degree was taught entirely in English, and a selection on your entry requirements set out in article 4 of the call.
An Indian LLB or a law-heavy BA can meet these rules when the university assesses it as a first-cycle degree that allows master's study at home, as the MUR circular requires. English at B2 comes up once more when the consulate reviews the visa, under Part II of the same circular.
Can you study law in Italy after 12th in English?
Yes, through two bachelor's in our catalogue: Global Law and Transnational Legal Studies at Turin and Transnational and European Legal Studies at Messina. Each lasts three years and 180 ECTS. Class XII covers the 12 years of schooling set by the MUR circular, but neither degree leads to an Italian lawyer's licence.
For 2026/27, Turin used the TOLC-SU online test, and applicants who had sat the English TOLC-E in 2025 were exempt. Its B2 English check is built into the test, and first-year courses include international, constitutional and private law with legal English.
Messina runs open access with a logic and general knowledge check, according to our catalogue. For other routes open to Class XII students, see Italy after 12th: bachelor's options.
How much does an English-taught law degree in Italy cost?
Often less than a private law school abroad, if your family's income is in India. In 2026/27 Turin charged €656 a year in all to residents of countries in its lowest band. Tor Vergata's current fee page for European Economy and Business Law, which states no academic year, lists €0 to €5,250 by family income.
| University | Law programmes here | How the fee is set when family income is abroad | Yearly amount | Rupee equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Turin | 2 | Contribution by the GDP per capita of your country of residence: €500 up to the second year where it is €26,000 or less, plus a €156 first instalment. India falls in that band (fee regulation annex); request by 20 November 2026. | €656 | ₹71,700 |
| University of Rome Tor Vergata | 1 | European Economy and Business Law: fee set on family income earned in Italy or abroad, declared on a data form for residents abroad (fee page undated; checked 28 September 2026). | €0 to €5,250 | Up to ₹5.74 lakh |
| University of Trento | 1 | Global Law Making, Group B: no fee in year one with 90 points or more at admission, then €1,000, €3,000 or €6,500; year two depends on credits earned by 10 August. | Up to €6,500 in year one | Up to ₹7.10 lakh |
Messina and Parma set their own rules, and we work out your exact figure before you apply. For living costs in Turin, Politecnico di Torino puts a single room, food, a student pass and utilities at about €696 to €1,026 a month (₹76,000 to ₹1.12 lakh).
Is there a scholarship for law students in Italy?
Yes, the regional DSU grant, which is open to any subject. EDISU Piemonte, the body for Turin, set an ISEE limit of €26,306.25 for 2026/27 and a top grant of €8,096.78 for students living away from home (₹8.85 lakh). Its window ran from 22 July to 4 September 2026, so timing matters as much as income.
Trento and Tor Vergata fall under other DSU bodies with their own limits and dates, and Trento also drops first-year tuition for its highest-scoring admits. Your family gathers the income and asset papers from our list, in the sequence we set, and we lodge the DSU claim for eligible students.
See the EDISU Piemonte scholarship page, the Lazio DiSCo page for Rome and our DSU overview for 2026/27.
Want to know whether your LLB or BA meets a law master's call? Check your eligibility, and if you are eligible, an Italy expert maps your credits in a one-to-one consultation while we handle the rest.
What jobs do graduates of international law programmes in Italy do?
Mostly roles that use law without a court licence: compliance, policy, drafting and advice. Trento lists posts in national and international institutions and expert work in contract, intellectual property, AI, privacy and environmental law. AlmaLaurea's Rapporto 2026, however, finds law graduates among the groups with weaker job chances one year out.
That AlmaLaurea finding comes from its 2025 survey of 2024 graduates, with other factors held equal and political and social sciences as the comparison group. In the same analysis, law graduates earned about €117 a month less, net, than that group (about ₹12,800). AlmaLaurea publishes no separate figure for English-taught law.
Across all two-year master's in that survey, 81.5% were working one year after graduating, on €1,488 net a month (₹1.63 lakh), and 94.1% after five years. After you graduate, a permit of 9 to 12 months lets you look for work in Italy that fits your studies (Ministry of Labour portal).
- Institutions: Trento names national, European and international organisations working on digital and environmental transitions.
- Companies and advisory work: adviser, official and consultant roles in private and public bodies, from Trento's own list.
- Further study: holding a laurea magistrale lets you enter Italian PhD calls (ministerial decree 226/2021, art. 8).
When should you apply for law in Italy for 2027/28?
Between January and May 2027, if the 2026/27 calendars repeat. Trento's Global Law Making closed its non-EU round on 4 March 2026, and Tor Vergata's last round open to visa applicants ran from 23 March to 29 May 2026. The visa request itself must reach the consulate by 31 October 2027 (MUR circular).
- Late 2026: we check your legal credits and English against each call from the year before.
- January to May 2027: we file the university applications in the rounds open to visa applicants.
- After admission: Universitaly pre-enrolment for 2027/28, opening date pending, which we complete with you.
- By 31 October 2027: the visa application, with the file we assemble.
For timing across all subjects, see our intakes guide; the New Delhi visa page covers northern India.
Reality check
Admission is the university's decision, the DSU grant is the regional body's and the visa is the consulate's. A licence to practise law in Italy is none of these, and for India we promise nothing.
What ApplyAZ does for eligible students is the work in between. We read each call, file your university applications and pre-enrol you on Universitaly, then prepare the DSU claim and the visa file. Degree certificates, attestations and bank papers come from your family: we tell you exactly which documents to get, in which order, and check every page before the visa appointment.
Where applicants usually slip, and the price of each slip:
- Expecting a licence: choosing one of these degrees to become an avvocato costs years toward a goal it cannot deliver alone.
- Too little law on your transcript: missing Trento's 27 credits or Turin's 36 can cost a full intake.
- Using the wrong round: Tor Vergata's fourth and fifth rounds were closed to visa applicants in 2026/27, so a late start meant waiting a year.
- Skipping the test date: Turin's bachelor's needs a TOLC result, and a missed sitting delays the whole application.
Test your eligibility before the 2027/28 law rounds open. A yes means a one-to-one session with an Italy expert, after which the whole process is ours to run.
Frequently asked questions
Are there law degrees taught in English in Italy?
Yes: our catalogue lists 6 English-taught law programmes for 2027/28 at Messina, Turin, Trento, Parma and Rome Tor Vergata, two bachelor's and four master's. They cover international, European, transnational, food and business law. None is the five-year single-cycle law degree that Italian lawyers take, which is taught in Italian.
Can I become a lawyer in Italy after one of these programmes?
Not through these degrees alone. Italy's professional route runs through the five-year single-cycle law degree and a state qualifying exam for lawyers. The six English-taught programmes sit in other classes, so they build legal expertise for international work rather than a licence, and we explain this before you apply, never after.
Can I do a master's in law in Italy after an LLB from India?
Often, yes, if your transcript meets the call. Trento's Global Law Making, for example, accepted a law degree or 27 credits in listed legal sectors for 2026/27. The university assesses your LLB as a first-cycle degree and decides admission; we match your credits to each call first.
How long does a law degree in Italy take?
The English-taught bachelor's at Turin and Messina take three years and 180 ECTS, and the master's take two years and 120 ECTS. Italy's professional law degree is longer: a single-cycle programme of five years and 300 credits, according to the Study in Italy portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Which is the best university for law in Italy?
In the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Bologna is Italy's top public university for law at 40th, with Sapienza at =60th. Both teach law in Italian. Among universities with English-taught law in our catalogue, Tor Vergata and Trento rank highest, both in the 151 to 200 band.
Do I need Italian to study law in Italy?
Not for the six English-taught programmes, which ask for English at B2. You do need Italian for the single-cycle law degree that leads to practice in Italy: universities test Italian at B2 or above for Italian-taught degrees, under the MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28.
What does an English-taught law degree in Italy cost?
It depends on the university and your family's income. For 2026/27, Turin charged €656 a year to residents of its lowest-income countries, India included, and Trento's first-year fee ran from nothing to €6,500 by admission score. Tor Vergata's current fee page, which states no year, lists €0 to €5,250 by family income.
Sources
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Study in Italy: the Italian higher education system (single-cycle law, 5 years, 300 credits), verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR, Esami di Stato, including the lawyers' qualifying exam notice, verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR and MAECI circular on international students, valid 2026/27 and 2027/28: master's access, Italian test for Italian-taught courses, English check and funds of €10,179.85, verified 28 September 2026.
- Universitaly, studenti stranieri page in English, visa deadlines 30 November 2026 and 31 October 2027, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Trento, Global Law Making, programme page, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Trento, Global Law Making, overview and professional profiles, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Trento, Global Law Making, admission for non-Europeans 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Trento, non-EU fee groups A and B for English-taught master's, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Turin, Global Law and Transnational Legal Studies, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Turin, European Legal Studies, admission requirements, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Turin, international students' contribution by GDP band, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, European Economy and Business Law, call for applications 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Rome Tor Vergata, European Economy and Business Law, tuition fees, verified 28 September 2026.
- QS subject ranking for Law and Legal Studies, 2026 edition, Italy filter, published 25 March 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea Rapporto 2026 on graduate outcomes, synthesis PDF, pp. 7 and 22 (law group), verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea interactive data, 2025 survey, laurea magistrale totals, verified 28 September 2026.
- EDISU Piemonte, scholarship call 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- Politecnico di Torino, cost of living in Turin, verified 28 September 2026.
- Integrazione Migranti (Ministry of Labour), post-study permit to seek work, news of 7 July 2023, verified 28 September 2026.
- Decree 226/2021 of the Ministry of University and Research, article 8 on doctoral admission, verified 28 September 2026.
INR figures are converted at the ECB euro reference rate for 25 September 2026, €1 = ₹109.2605. Programme counts are from the ApplyAZ catalogue of English-only programmes, taken on 28 September 2026.
When you are ready to test one of these law programmes against your own record, Check your eligibility; eligible students book a consultation and we carry every step from there.
Where they're studying now
Students who started exactly where you are
English-taught programmes that can be tuition-free for eligible students, and the DSU grant landing in their account every year. The funding mechanics are identical at every Italian public university: the same ISEE Parificato, the same regional bando, the same ranking. Only the authority and the dates change.
They began right where you are
Now they're studying at Italian public universities, where a degree can be tuition-free for eligible students, with DSU scholarships of up to about €8,250 a year for students living away from home, depending on the region.
