Università degli Studi di Palermo (UniPa)
University of Palermo, one of Italy's public universities.
The University of Palermo (UniPa) is a public university in Palermo, Sicily's capital, and the largest on the island, with more than 40,000 students. Its origins go back to earlier academies, and it was established as a university in 1806. The main campus is at Parco d'Orléans, with historic buildings across the city centre. UniPa is known for engineering, architecture, agriculture, medicine, economics, mathematics and physics.
Yes, the University of Palermo teaches a range of master's degrees in English, while most of its bachelor's degrees are taught in Italian. English-taught fields include data science, artificial intelligence, electronic engineering, management engineering, economics and finance, business administration, tourism management and international relations. UniPa publishes its current list of English-taught programmes each year, together with scholarship calls for international students.
For its English-taught master's degrees, the University of Palermo asks for a relevant bachelor's degree and English at B2 level, such as IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. Applicants are evaluated on their previous degree, transcripts and English, and some programmes have limited places and rank applicants. UniPa does not publish an acceptance rate, so treat any figure you see online with care. Bachelor's degrees taught in Italian require B2 Italian.
Applying to the University of Palermo follows five steps, and for English-taught master's degrees the cycle usually starts in spring. Scholarship calls for international students are published alongside the programme calls, so you can apply for both at once. ERSU Palermo applications follow in summer. Once you arrive, you enrol and request your residence permit within 8 working days, so plan your travel with that deadline in mind.
At the University of Palermo, tuition is set by family income (ISEE), so what you pay depends on your family's finances rather than a single international fee. Students within the no-tax area pay only the regional tax and stamp duty, and contributions rise with income. International students can use an ISEE parificato, based on translated and legalised family income documents. Without one, the maximum contribution applies, which is why the paperwork deserves early attention.
Yes, the University of Palermo can cost little in tuition, but only when your family income and paperwork qualify. Tuition is set by family income (ISEE); students from lower-income families can pay little or nothing beyond the regional tax and stamp duty, and an ERSU Palermo scholarship winner also has tuition covered. In your control: a complete ISEE parificato and every call met on time. Not in your control: your family income, the ERSU assessment and each programme's admission decision.
The main scholarship for University of Palermo students is ERSU Palermo, Sicily's right-to-study agency for the city. It awards scholarships based on income and merit, covering tuition, accommodation and meals plus a cash grant, with a national minimum of €7,171.11 for off-site students in 2026/27. Applications usually open in summer. UniPa also regularly offers its own scholarships for international students on English-taught master's degrees, and MAECI and Invest Your Talent in Italy grants are available too.
The University of Palermo is seventh among Italy's mega public universities in Censis 2026/27, and it sits in the 801 to 850 band of QS 2027. QS, THE and ARWU mostly measure research output and reputation across a whole university, so they say little about one degree. Censis compares Italian public universities by size and weighs services, scholarships, international outlook and employability. Use rankings as one signal, then judge the programme, the entry requirements, the scholarship and the city.
Student life at the University of Palermo comes with one of the lowest costs of living among Italy's big cities. Palermo is a lively, layered city of Arab-Norman palaces, street markets and famous street food, with beaches such as Mondello nearby. Most students budget about €550 to €850 a month, including a room at €250 to €400. ERSU residences and canteens are cheaper still for scholarship winners. Palermo Falcone Borsellino airport is about 45 minutes from the city, and ferries and flights link Sicily to the mainland.
The University of Palermo is the largest of Sicily's three large public universities and ranks well in Censis. Messina ranks highest in QS 2027 and has the widest English-taught catalogue, including medicine. Catania is strong in science and engineering. Choose Palermo if you want a big university in a vibrant capital city at a low cost, and look at Messina if you want medicine taught in English, since UniPa's English-taught offer is mainly at master's level.
The University of Palermo is a good choice if you want an English-taught master's at a large public university in a low-cost Mediterranean city. It suits students heading into data science, artificial intelligence, engineering, economics, business, tourism or international relations. It suits you less if you want a bachelor's in English, because most bachelor's degrees are taught in Italian and need B2 Italian. Island life also means flights or ferries to reach the mainland.
ApplyAZ helps you apply to the University of Palermo as part of a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We are independent and Italy-based, and no university pays us. A named person owns each stage: CV and SOP, applications, Universitaly, ERSU, the visa file and arrival. UniPa still decides admission. If you are strong and organised, our roadmap lets you apply on your own. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Open a programme for its entry requirements, entrance tests, fees and intake dates.
