Università degli Studi della Basilicata
University of Basilicata. Photo: LucanoPz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
The University of Basilicata (Unibas) is the public university of the Basilicata region, created by the reconstruction law passed after the 1980 earthquake, with classes starting in Potenza in 1982. It teaches in Potenza and Matera, where a second campus opened in 1992. It had 5,602 enrolled students in 2024/25 (ANVUR), organised in schools and departments of agriculture and food, engineering, mathematics, computer science and economics, sciences, humanities and architecture.
The University of Basilicata teaches its degree programmes in Italian, so it is not a fit if you need a full degree in English. Its rules for non-EU applicants require Italian at B2 level or higher for access to every degree course, and applicants without an official certificate can take the university's own online Italian test. If you can study in Italian, it offers bachelor's, master's and single-cycle degrees in fields from agriculture and engineering to architecture and the humanities.
The University of Basilicata admits non-EU students living abroad through Universitaly pre-enrolment, with a qualification valid for university entry in Italy and Italian at B2 level. Without a certificate, you sit a 90-minute online Italian test run by the university over video call, covering vocabulary, grammar and communication, and the result counts only for that academic year. The university publishes the places available to non-EU candidates living abroad, but no acceptance rate.
Applying to the University of Basilicata from abroad runs through Universitaly and the Italian consulate. For 2026/27, pre-enrolment on Universitaly must be submitted by 31 October 2026, and the study visa requested by 30 November 2026 at the latest. The university notes that pre-enrolment does not secure a visa appointment, so book early. Pass the Italian requirement before you arrive, then complete enrolment and your regional scholarship application.
The University of Basilicata lets international students living outside the EU choose a flat regime in 2026/27: they are fully exempt from the annual contribution and pay only the €140 regional tax and €16 stamp duty. Other students pay by family income (ISEE): first-year students with an ISEE up to €22,000 are fully exempt, and the maximum contribution reaches €2,830 for some students above €30,000. Anyone who does not share ISEE data by the deadlines pays the maximum.
Yes, the University of Basilicata is a clear low-cost option for non-EU students: those living outside the EU who choose the flat regime pay €156 a year in taxes and no contribution in 2026/27. Tuition is otherwise 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. Your Italian level, deadlines and progress are in your control; the visa is not.
The right-to-study (DSU) scholarship for University of Basilicata students comes from ARDSU Basilicata, the regional agency, which also allocates residence places in Potenza and Matera. Its 2026/27 call for scholarships and housing opened on 24 August and closes on 2 October 2026, through the SOL online portal. Grants follow family income and merit, and non-EU students apply with an ISEE parificato. We could not verify this year's grant amounts, so read them in the ARDSU call.
The University of Basilicata is 8th among Italy's small public universities in Censis 2026/27, with 79.0 points, one place lower than the year before. It does not appear in the QS 2027, THE 2026 or ARWU 2026 world tables, which mostly reward large research universities. For a small regional university, what matters more is whether your programme exists in Italian at a level you can follow, and whether Potenza or Matera suits your life and budget.
Student life at the University of Basilicata is split between Potenza, the regional capital, with sites at Macchia Romana and Rione Francioso, and Matera, whose campus on via Lanera opened in 2019. Both are small cities, so expect a quiet, local student scene. ARDSU Basilicata runs residences in both cities for scholarship winners. We found no official rent or monthly budget figures, so compare listings and visit or video-call before you pay any deposit.
The University of Basilicata is the only public university in its region, so the comparison is with neighbouring regions. In Censis 2026/27 it came 8th of Italy's small public universities, while Mediterranea University in Reggio Calabria came 3rd, and the University of Foggia 11th among medium-sized ones. Unibas stands out on cost: its flat regime for non-EU students charges only €156 a year in taxes. Private universities charge fixed fees, not income-based ones.
The University of Basilicata is a good choice if you speak Italian at B2 level or above, want a small public university and value very low fees, since non-EU students living abroad can pay just €156 a year in taxes. It suits agriculture, engineering, science and architecture students who prefer small cities. It suits you less if you need a degree taught in English, want a large international community, or want big-city life and quick international travel links.
ApplyAZ builds shortlists of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at public universities, so the University of Basilicata fits your plan only if you are ready to study in Italian at B2 level. We are independent and take no commissions. We write your CV and tailored SOPs, submit each application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship and prepare your visa file, and a named person owns each stage. Organised Italian speakers can apply alone. see how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
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