Study in Italy

Non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a full Italian university programme lasting more than 90 days need a national long-stay Type D study visa. Pre-enrolment is completed through the Universitaly portal where applicable, then the visa application is submitted at an Italian mission abroad. After arrival, a study residence permit (permesso di soggiorno per studio) is generally required for the longer stay.

For the 2026/27 academic year, visa applications for ordinary Laurea, Laurea Magistrale, first-level and second-level academic diploma courses (including single-cycle programmes) have a 30 November 2026 deadline. Master, PhD, Erasmus, single-course and foundation-course visa applications do not have that same fixed ministerial deadline but must be submitted in time and not after the start of academic activities.

The reference minimum financial means for study visa applicants is EUR 10,179.85 per year (approximately EUR 783.07 per month), based on 13 monthly instalments. It concerns means of subsistence for the first academic year, must come from lawful and traceable resources, and does not include university tuition. This is an immigration financial requirement, not an estimate of actual living costs.

Tuition varies by institution, degree course and declared family income. Public universities generally charge lower fees than private universities, and there is no single national tuition figure. Universitaly provides course-level information, including tuition fees, for individual programmes and institutions; verify the exact fees with the chosen institution.

Living costs vary by city, accommodation type and lifestyle. Major cities such as Milan and Rome are generally more expensive than many smaller Italian cities. Budget separately for accommodation, food, transport, utilities, insurance and personal expenses; this is separate from the visa financial requirement, which is an immigration threshold rather than an estimate of actual living expenses.

Yes, with limits. Students holding a study residence permit may undertake subordinate (employee) work for up to 20 hours per week, subject to a maximum of 1,040 hours per year. The study residence permit also enables self-employment, subject to the applicable legal requirements.

A study residence permit can be converted to subordinate employment or self-employment provided the legal requirements are met. Eligible graduates who hold specified Italian qualifications and meet the legal conditions may apply for a residence permit for job seeking or entrepreneurship, generally lasting between 9 and 12 months. Not every graduate automatically qualifies.

After entering Italy for a long stay, a non-EU student generally must apply for the appropriate residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 working days of arrival. The visa itself does not replace the residence permit for the entire long-term stay.