Study Psychology in Italy 2027/28: English-Taught Programmes, Universities and Fees
11 English-taught psychology programmes at 6 public universities, the route to the Italian licence, 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
- What you can study: our catalogue lists 11 English-taught psychology programmes for 2027/28 at 6 public universities: 1 bachelor's and 10 two-year master's. Eight of those master's sit in class LM-51, the Italian psychology class.
- Where it is strongest: the University of Padua (48th) and Sapienza University of Rome (=57th) lead Italy for psychology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Between them they run 7 of the 11 programmes.
- The licence: an LM-51 master's is the qualifying degree for the Italian psychologist licence; after its practical internship and final exam, entry to the register follows the procedures set by law. The Italian qualification is not a licence to practise in any other country.
- What it costs: psychology at an Italian public university can be tuition-free for eligible students. Without an exemption, 2026/27 fees for a family with income in India ran from €390 a year at Pavia to €4,500 in the first year at Trento (set by admission score), about ₹42,600 to ₹4.92 lakh 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.
Start with a quick eligibility check. If you qualify, one of our Italy experts meets you one to one, and from there we take care of everything.
Psychology in Italy 2027/28: key facts
These rules cover English-taught psychology at Italian public universities for students from countries like India. Fees are 2026/27 figures, because universities usually publish 2027/28 fee tables in the summer before the year starts.
| Topic | Psychology in Italy, 2027/28 |
|---|---|
| English-taught programmes in our catalogue | 11 at 6 public universities: 1 bachelor's (class L-24) and 10 master's (8 in LM-51 psychology, 2 in LM-55 cognitive science). |
| Length | Bachelor's: 3 years, 180 ECTS. Master's: 2 years, 120 ECTS. |
| Route to practise in Italy | An LM-51 master's is the qualifying degree: after its practical evaluation internship and final exam, entry to the register follows the procedures set by law (Law 163/2021, cited in MUR decree 567/2022). |
| Qualification you need | Bachelor's: 12 years of schooling, so Class XII fits. Master's: a psychology-heavy bachelor's; Pavia asked for 88 credits across at least 7 psychology sectors for 2026/27. |
| English | B2 in most calls; the consulate checks B2 again at the visa stage (MUR circular 2026/27 and 2027/28, Part II, p. 18). |
| Entry tests | Online tests at Padua (bachelor's) and at two Sapienza master's; the rest select on CV and grades or check requirements. |
| Tuition for a family with income in India | Pavia €390 (₹42,600, 2026/27); Sapienza €456 (₹49,800, 2025/26, as the 2026/27 table is pending); Bologna €1,357.04 (₹1.48 lakh, 2026/27); Padua €3,198 (₹3.49 lakh, 2026/27). |
| Scholarship | Regional DSU grant. For Padua in 2026/27 the family ISEE had to stay within €26,306.25 (₹28.74 lakh). |
| Visa funds | €10,179.85 a year (₹11.12 lakh), MUR circular 2026/27 and 2027/28. |
| Visa deadline for 2027/28 | 31 October 2027 (Universitaly and the MUR circular). |
| Work while studying | Up to 20 hours a week, 1,040 hours a year (Ministry of Foreign Affairs). |
Which psychology programmes in Italy are taught in English?
Eleven, in our catalogue for 2027/28, spread over six public universities. Eight are two-year LM-51 master's, the only class that qualifies for the Italian psychologist licence, and one is Padua's Bachelor in Psychological Science. We count only programmes that Universitaly lists with English as the sole teaching language.
Our inclusion rule: a programme belongs here if its Italian degree class is L-24 or LM-51, the two psychology classes, or if it is a cognitive science master's (LM-55) run by a psychology department or a mind and brain research centre. That adds Trento's Cognitive Science and Sapienza's Cognitive Forensic Sciences.
Neuroscience degrees in biology classes are left out, and so is cognitive science taught in arts or computing departments. Counts were made from our programme data on 28 September 2026.
| Programme | University | Level and class | City | Entry test | Intake | Qualifying degree for the Italian licence? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Psychological Science | University of Padua | Bachelor's, L-24 | Padua | Admission test set by the university (online, in English) | 2027/28, October intake | First step only: continue with an LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Applied Dynamic and Clinical Psychology | Sapienza University of Rome | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Rome | Admission test set by the university (online, multiple choice) | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending) | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Cognitive Forensic Sciences | Sapienza University of Rome | Master's (2 years), LM-55 | Rome | None, selection on CV and grades (interview possible) | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending) | No: cognitive science (LM-55). |
| Master in Cognitive Neuroscience | Sapienza University of Rome | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Rome | Admission test set by the university (online, multiple choice) | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending) | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Psychology of Wellbeing and Social Inclusivity | University of Bologna | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Bologna | None, open access: requirements and personal preparation checked as set in the admission notice | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending) | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Applied Experimental Psychological Sciences | University of Milan-Bicocca | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Milan | None, selection on CV and grades | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending) | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology | University of Padua | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Padua | No entrance test stated; ranking for limited places (see the call) | 2027/28, October intake | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Clinical, Social and Intercultural Psychology | University of Padua | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Padua | None, selection on CV and grades | 2027/28, October intake | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Cognitive Neuroscience and Clinical Neuropsychology | University of Padua | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Padua | None, selection on CV and grades | 2027/28, October intake | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Psychology, Neuroscience and Human Sciences | University of Pavia | Master's (2 years), LM-51 | Pavia | None, selection on CV and grades | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending) | Yes: qualifying LM-51 master's. |
| Master in Cognitive Science | University of Trento | Master's (2 years), LM-55 | Rovereto | None, selection on CV and grades | 2027/28, autumn intake (calendar pending) | No: cognitive science (LM-55). |
Tests and intakes come from our catalogue. Every 2027/28 calendar is still pending; we check each new call against your profile before we apply.
Which Italian universities are best for psychology?
Padua and Sapienza, on the latest edition. The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, published on 25 March 2026, place the University of Padua 48th in the world for psychology and Sapienza =57th. Both teach psychology in English, and together they account for 7 of our 11 programmes.
| University | QS psychology rank, 2026 | QS overall rank, 2027 | English-taught psychology programmes in our catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Padua | 48 | 204 | 4 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | =57 | =111 | 3 |
| University of Bologna | 101 to 150 | =123 | 1 |
| University of Milano-Bicocca | 151 to 200 | 544 | 1 |
| University of Trento | 151 to 200 | =438 | 1 |
| University of Pavia | Not ranked in the 2026 psychology table | =395 | 1 |
QS lists 11 Italian institutions for psychology in the 2026 subject edition; private universities among them are left out, because we work only with public ones. The overall column is the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026. Our list of the best public universities in Italy covers every subject.
Does a psychology degree from Italy make you a licensed psychologist?
Only through the Italian route, and only from an LM-51 master's. Under Law 163/2021, cited in MUR decree 567/2022, the psychology master's is a qualifying degree: its final exam, taken after a practical evaluation internship, gives the professional qualification, and entry to the register follows the procedures set by law. The bachelor's alone does not qualify you.
The Ministry of University and Research (MUR) defines a qualifying degree as one whose final exam carries professional value as well as academic value. Its decree 567 of 20 June 2022 applies Law 163/2021 to psychology. People who hold an older, non-qualifying LM-51 degree still need a practical evaluation internship and a practical test.
Pavia shows how the qualifying version works. Its second year carries 500 hours of applied practical activity, worth 20 credits, followed by an evaluative practice test. The university states that the degree then allows entry to the Italian register of psychologists through the procedures set by law.
Under the 2022 decree (art. 3), half of each examining commission are psychologists designated by the territorial Order of Psychologists. Bologna lists its English-taught LM-51 master's among its qualifying degrees. We check the internship and final test of each curriculum before you choose.
What can an international student do with an Italian psychology degree?
Quite a lot beyond clinical practice, though no licence travels with it automatically. A two-year master's is the entry title for an Italian PhD under ministerial decree 226/2021. After graduating, you can also apply for a permit of 9 to 12 months to look for work in Italy (Ministry of Labour portal).
- Research: PhD calls in Italy accept a laurea magistrale or a suitable foreign degree (DM 226/2021, art. 8).
- Work outside the licensed title: Padua lists health services, schools, industry, organisations, NGOs and community mediation for its clinical master's. For its bachelor's it lists psychometric and developmental assessment, education, companies, the third sector and human resources.
- Further training in Italy: Pavia points graduates to specialisation schools, PhD programmes and the path to the register of psychotherapists.
- Staying on: the job-search permit covers work consistent with the degree you completed.
Outside Italy, an Italian degree carries no licence of its own. CIMEA, the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre, says its comparability statements do not establish formal recognition. We never promise recognition, and we plan your route with this in mind.
Unsure whether your bachelor's carries enough psychology credits? Check your eligibility first; if you qualify, an Italy expert reviews your transcripts with you and we handle every step after that.
What do you need to get into a psychology master's in Italy?
A bachelor's with a large block of psychology, plus English at B2. For 2026/27, Pavia asked for 88 credits across at least 7 psychology sectors, or a foreign degree comparable to Italy's L-24 bachelor's, and scored applicants out of 100 with a pass mark of 50. Each university writes its own threshold into its call.
- Background: the LM-51 master's expect a psychology degree or its equivalent in credits. Trento's and Sapienza's cognitive science master's select on CV and grades, according to our catalogue.
- Tests: Sapienza's Applied Dynamic and Clinical Psychology and its Cognitive Neuroscience use an online multiple-choice test. Padua's bachelor's sets its own online test in English.
- English: B2 in every call that states a level. Pavia's call recommends a certificate without making it compulsory, while Sapienza's Cognitive Forensic Sciences lists IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 80.
- Places: Pavia reserved 70 places for non-EU applicants living abroad in 2026/27, 35 in each of its two curricula.
The consulate also checks English at B2 when you apply for the visa, as Part II of the MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28 sets out. We match your transcript to each call and tell you where you stand before anything is submitted.
Can you study psychology in Italy after 12th?
Yes, at one university in our catalogue. Padua's Bachelor in Psychological Science is taught in English over three years and 180 ECTS, with the university's own online admission test in English. Class XII meets the 12 years of schooling that the MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28 requires for bachelor's access.
Places are limited and the 2027/28 call is pending. After the bachelor's, the licence route continues with a two-year LM-51 master's. Our guide to studying in Italy after 12th lists the other bachelor's degrees open to Class XII students.
How much does it cost to study psychology in Italy?
From a few hundred euros to €4,500 a year in 2026/27 for a family whose income is in India, before any DSU grant. Pavia charged €390, Padua €3,198 and Trento up to €4,500 in the first year, set by admission score. Because each public university sets its own rules, the university matters more than the subject.
| University | Programmes in this guide | Rule for a family with income abroad | Yearly total | About, in INR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pavia | 1 | Flat rate by country bracket; India is in bracket 1 (Annex 3, 2026/27). | €390 | ₹42,600 |
| Sapienza University of Rome | 3 | Fixed contribution by country band, India in band A: €300, plus €140 regional tax and €16 stamp duty. These are 2025/26 amounts; Sapienza publishes 2026/27 after 30 September 2026. | €456 | ₹49,800 |
| University of Bologna | 1 | Reduced fixed fee for non-OECD citizens whose family has income and assets only abroad, second cycle: €1,200 plus €157.04 (2026/27). | €1,357.04 | ₹1.48 lakh |
| University of Trento | 1 | First-year fee by admission score for Cognitive Science: nothing with 90 points or more, then €1,000, €2,000 or €4,500 (2026/27). | Up to €4,500 | Up to ₹4.92 lakh |
| University of Padua | 4 | Fixed fee for non-EU students with a household abroad, psychology group: €2,990 plus €192 regional fee and €16 stamp duty (2026/27). | €3,198 | ₹3.49 lakh |
These are tuition figures only. Padua quotes a single room at €300 to €600 a month plus expenses (about ₹32,800 to ₹65,600), and our cost of studying in Italy guide builds a full yearly budget.
Can you get a DSU scholarship for psychology in Italy?
Yes, when your family's income and assets fall within the limits of the DSU call. For Padua in 2026/27, the ISEE limit was €26,306.25 and the top grant for a student living away from home was €8,246 a year (₹9.01 lakh). The DSU body decides each award, and at Padua the university runs that call itself.
The grant and the fee rules are separate. Under Padua's 2026/27 fee call, non-EU students with a household abroad can use an ISEE parificato only to reduce the regional fee. We tell you exactly which family documents to get and in which order, then prepare the DSU application for eligible students.
Details by body are on our DSU scholarship guide for 2026/27 and the University of Padua DSU page.
How many psychology graduates in Italy find work, and what do they earn?
Most do, though later than graduates in other fields. In AlmaLaurea's 2025 survey, reported in Rapporto 2026, 62.3% of the 2024 psychology master's graduates were working one year on, against 81.5% for all two-year master's. Five years on, 93.6% of the 2020 cohort were working, on €1,641 net a month.
| AlmaLaurea group, survey year 2025 | Working after 1 year | Net monthly pay after 1 year | Working after 5 years | Net monthly pay after 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, two-year master's | 62.3% | €1,126 (₹1.23 lakh) | 93.6% | €1,641 (₹1.79 lakh) |
| All two-year master's | 81.5% | €1,488 (₹1.63 lakh) | 94.1% | €1,862 (₹2.03 lakh) |
| Psychology, bachelor's graduates not studying for another degree | 70.7% | €1,341 (₹1.47 lakh) | Not published | Not published |
AlmaLaurea's summary report also places psychology among the groups least favoured for finding work one year after graduating, with other factors held equal. The report gives no reason for this. These figures describe all graduates of Italian universities, not international students or English-taught courses alone.
When do you apply for psychology in Italy for 2027/28?
Early 2027 is the likely window, well ahead of the 31 October 2027 visa deadline set by the MUR circular. For 2026/27, Pavia's evaluation window ran from 23 February to 23 March 2026. The 2027/28 calls are pending, and we check each one against your profile.
- Autumn 2026: we compare your credits and grades with each programme's last published requirements.
- January to March 2027: the likely application period, judging by the 2026/27 calendar at Pavia; we submit the university applications.
- Spring 2027: Universitaly pre-enrolment for 2027/28; the opening date is still pending.
- By 31 October 2027: the visa application at the Italian consulate, with the file we prepare.
Our pages on intakes in Italy and the Italian student visa explain each stage in more depth.
Reality check
The university decides admission, the DSU body decides the grant and the Italian consulate decides the visa. Entry to the register of psychologists follows the law and the Order's procedures, not a promise from any university or from us.
For eligible students, ApplyAZ handles the work around those decisions: matching your credits to each call, the applications, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the DSU application and the visa file. We tell you exactly which documents your family needs, in which order, and check every page before the visa appointment.
The usual pitfalls, and what each one costs:
- Too few psychology credits: a neighbouring degree can fall short of a threshold such as Pavia's 88 credits, which closes the LM-51 route for that year.
- Choosing LM-55 when you want to practise: cognitive science is a strong research degree, but it is not a qualifying degree for the Italian licence.
- Applying late: Pavia filled and then reassigned its non-EU places for 2026/27, so a late application can mean waiting a full year.
- Assuming the licence travels: an Italian qualifying degree is not a licence in India or elsewhere, and planning around that assumption can cost years.
Check your eligibility before the 2027/28 calls open. If you are eligible, you book a one-to-one consultation with an Italy expert, and from there we take care of everything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study psychology in Italy in English?
Yes: our catalogue lists 11 English-taught psychology programmes for 2027/28 at 6 public universities: Padua, Sapienza, Bologna, Milano-Bicocca, Pavia and Trento. One is a bachelor's and ten are two-year master's. Only the eight LM-51 master's are qualifying degrees for the Italian psychologist licence, so we check the degree class with you before you apply.
Is a psychology degree from Italy valid in India?
It is a full Italian academic degree, not a licence to practise in India or anywhere outside Italy. CIMEA, Italy's ENIC-NARIC centre, says its statements do not establish formal recognition of a qualification. We never promise recognition abroad; we help you choose a programme knowing exactly where this line sits.
How many years does it take to study psychology in Italy?
The full route takes five years: a three-year bachelor's of 180 ECTS, then a two-year LM-51 master's of 120 ECTS. The practical evaluation internship sits inside the qualifying master's. With a psychology bachelor's from India, you apply straight to the master's if your credits meet the university's call.
Is Italian required for an English-taught psychology degree in Italy?
Not for the 11 programmes in this guide. Lectures, exams and theses run in English, and the calls ask for English at B2. Some Italian still makes daily life easier in Padua, Rome or Pavia, but our catalogue shows no Italian requirement for admission to these programmes.
Which is the best university for psychology in Italy?
On the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the University of Padua is Italy's highest-ranked public university for psychology at 48th, followed by Sapienza at =57th. Padua also has the most English-taught psychology programmes in our catalogue, four, including the only bachelor's. The right choice still depends on your background and budget.
Can I get a scholarship to study psychology in Italy?
Yes: the regional DSU grant, awarded on family income and assets, is the main one. For Padua in 2026/27, the ISEE limit was €26,306.25 and the top grant €8,246 a year for a student living away from home. The DSU body decides each award, and we prepare the application for eligible students.
Can international psychology students work part time in Italy?
Yes, up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year on a study permit, according to Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Working as a psychologist is different: it needs the qualifying LM-51 degree and entry to the register of psychologists through the procedures set by law, not student status.
Sources
- MUR, Titoli abilitanti (qualifying degrees), current page, verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR, Decreto Interministeriale n. 567 of 20 June 2022 on qualifying for the psychologist profession (Law 163/2021, art. 7), verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR, Esami di Stato page listing the psychology decrees of 2022, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Pavia, Psychology, Neuroscience and Human Sciences, programme page, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Pavia, MSc Psychology call for applications 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Pavia, Annex 3, flat rate fee brackets 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Bologna, Psychology of Wellbeing and Social Inclusivity, programme page, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Padua, Clinical, Social and Intercultural Psychology, programme page, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Padua, Psychological Science, programme page, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Padua, Call for Student Fees and Exemptions 2026/27, Tables 1 and 4, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Padua, Competition for regional scholarships 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Padua, living costs page (indicative), verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, standard fee amounts and foreign-income bands, 2025/26, verified 28 September 2026.
- Sapienza University of Rome, fees page: 2026/27 information due after 30 September 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Bologna, reduced fixed fee, 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- University of Trento, tuition for non-EU residents abroad on English-taught master's (Cognitive Science in Group A), 2026/27, verified 28 September 2026.
- QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, Psychology table filtered to Italy, published 25 March 2026, verified 28 September 2026.
- QS World University Rankings 2027, Italy (published 18 June 2026), verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea, Rapporto 2026 sugli esiti occupazionali della laurea, synthesis, p. 7, verified 28 September 2026.
- AlmaLaurea outcomes tool, 2025 survey, psychology group (gruppo 6), verified 28 September 2026.
- Universitaly, international students: pre-enrolment and visa deadlines for 2026/27 and 2027/28, verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR circular for international students 2026/27 and 2027/28 (schooling, B2 at the visa stage, means of €10,179.85), verified 28 September 2026.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs FAQ on studying in Italy: part-time work on a study permit, verified 28 September 2026.
- Ministry of Labour integration portal, news item on the permit to look for work after graduating, 7 July 2023, verified 28 September 2026.
- MUR, Decreto Ministeriale n. 226 of 14 December 2021, art. 8 (PhD admission), verified 28 September 2026.
- CIMEA DiploMe, comparability and verification service, verified 28 September 2026.
Rupee amounts use the ECB euro reference rate of 25 September 2026: €1 = ₹109.2605. Programme counts come from the ApplyAZ catalogue, English-only programmes, counted on 28 September 2026.
Ready to see which of these psychology programmes fits you? Check your eligibility, book a consultation if you are eligible, and we take care of everything 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.
