What is the University for Foreigners of Perugia, and is it public?
The University for Foreigners of Perugia (Università per Stranieri di Perugia) is a public university that has taught Italian language and culture to students from around the world since 1925. It is based in Palazzo Gallenga in central Perugia, Umbria, and welcomes students from more than a hundred nationalities. Besides its Italian language courses, it offers four bachelor's and four master's degrees in communication, Italian studies, food and hospitality, and international cooperation.
Can you study at the University for Foreigners of Perugia in English?
Mostly no: the University for Foreigners of Perugia is an Italian-language university, and its degrees are designed to be studied in Italian. Its master's in International Relations and Development Cooperation (RICS) has a bilingual Italian and English curriculum, but non-EU students who need a visa must show Italian at B2 level for any degree. If you need a degree taught fully in English, look at other public universities, and consider this one as the place to learn Italian first.
Which Italian courses does the University for Foreigners of Perugia offer?
The University for Foreigners of Perugia runs in-person Italian language courses at every level from A1 to C2, with lessons Monday to Friday, two to four hours a day. Courses last at least four weeks: A1 takes two months and each higher level three months, with three-month courses starting in January, April, July and October. A four-week A1 to B2 course costs €540, with €50 off if you pay by the 10th of the month before. Its CVCL centre runs Italian language certification.
What are the degree entry requirements at the University for Foreigners?
The University for Foreigners of Perugia asks non-EU students who need a visa to prove Italian at B2 level or higher, checked through the university's own tests unless you are exempt. Master's applicants also need a bachelor's degree with set credits: the RICS master's, for example, asks for 51 credits in named fields, including 12 in foreign languages, plus an entrance interview. Bachelor's applicants need a school diploma that gives access to university. No acceptance rate is published.
How do you apply to the University for Foreigners of Perugia, step by step?
Applying to a degree at the University for Foreigners of Perugia starts on Universitaly, where non-EU students living abroad complete pre-enrolment before applying for a study visa. For 2026/27, standard enrolment runs from 1 August to 31 October 2026, and late enrolment for justified reasons until 28 February 2027. On arrival you complete enrolment online and present your residence permit documents. Students joining only a language course enrol directly with the language course office.
- Reach Italian B2, or plan a language course first.
- Pre-enrol on Universitaly in the international students section.
- Apply for your type D study visa at the Italian consulate.
- Enrol between 1 August and 31 October 2026 and pay through PagoPA.
- Apply to ADiSU Umbria for a scholarship, housing and meals.
How much does the University for Foreigners of Perugia cost?
Degree tuition at the University for Foreigners of Perugia is set by family income (ISEE). For 2026/27 there are no fees up to an ISEE of €22,000 and reduced fees up to €30,000, paid in five instalments from October 2026 to May 2027 through PagoPA. Students whose family income is abroad need an ISEE parificato to get an income band, and the rules for everyone else are in part two of the university's study guide. Italian language courses are priced separately, at €540 per four weeks for A1 to B2.
Can you study at the University for Foreigners of Perugia for little or nothing?
You can study for a degree at the University for Foreigners of Perugia with little or no tuition if your family income qualifies. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE); students from lower-income families can pay little or nothing beyond the regional tax, and a DSU scholarship winner also gets a tuition waiver. The no-fee line here is an ISEE of €22,000 for 2026/27. Language courses work differently: they are paid courses at fixed prices, so budget for them in full.
Which scholarship covers the University for Foreigners of Perugia?
Degree students at the University for Foreigners of Perugia apply to ADiSU Umbria, the regional right-to-study agency, for scholarships, residences and canteen meals. For 2026/27 the call ran from 15 July to 2 September 2026, with limits of €28,339.88 ISEE and €61,608.48 ISPE, and applications need SPID or CIE and an Italian bank account. ADiSU publishes a separate guide for students whose family income is abroad. The cash and service amounts are set in an annex to the call.
How does the University for Foreigners of Perugia do in rankings?
The University for Foreigners of Perugia does not appear in the QS 2027, THE 2026 or ARWU 2026 world rankings, and Censis 2026/27 does not list it in its tables of public universities. That is normal for a small, specialist university, because global rankings reward large research output in science and medicine. For this university, judge the quality of its Italian teaching, the certification it offers and how well its degrees fit your plans instead.
- QS World University Rankings 2027: not ranked
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026: not ranked
- ShanghaiRanking ARWU 2026: not ranked
- Censis 2026/27: not listed in the public university tables
What is student life like in Perugia, and what does it cost to live there?
Student life at the University for Foreigners of Perugia centres on Palazzo Gallenga in the historic centre of a hilltop city shaped by students of many nationalities. The University of Perugia's cost guide, updated in April 2026, puts a single room at €300 to €500 a month plus bills and a double at €250 to €350. A 70-minute bus and Minimetro ticket costs €1.50. Rome is about 2 hours 20 minutes by coach and Florence about 2 hours by train.
Should you choose the University for Foreigners or the University of Perugia?
The University for Foreigners of Perugia is small and specialised, while the University of Perugia is a large public university founded in 1308, with about 25,000 students and more than 20 programmes taught partly or fully in English. Choose the University for Foreigners to learn Italian, or to study communication, Italian teaching, food culture or cooperation in Italian. Choose the University of Perugia for sciences, engineering or English-taught degrees. The two run a joint master's in food culture.
Is the University for Foreigners of Perugia a good choice for you?
The University for Foreigners of Perugia is a good choice if you want to learn Italian properly, to teach Italian, or to take a degree in Italian in a small, international community. It suits you less if you need a degree taught fully in English or a research-intensive university for science or engineering. Its language courses can also be a bridge: reaching B2 opens Italian-taught degrees at public universities across Italy. Plan your language level and visa timing together.
How can ApplyAZ help with the University for Foreigners of Perugia?
ApplyAZ builds shortlists of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities, so the University for Foreigners of Perugia usually fits a plan as a language step rather than a main application. We are independent, take no commissions and tell you honestly whether an Italian-taught route makes sense. We write your CV and SOPs, submit applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship and prepare your visa file. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
