Study in Italy 2027: IMAT, English-Taught Programmes, Tuition, Universitaly and Visa Guide

Short Answer: How Much Does Studying in Italy Cost, and How Do You Apply?

Studying at a university in Italy is one of the most affordable routes to an English-taught bachelor's degree in Europe. At public universities the annual tuition contribution is calculated from the family's income indicator (ISEE) and at most schools stays between roughly €160 and €4,000; the 2026/27 ceiling at Politecnico di Milano is €3,943, and Trieste charges a flat €800 to students residing abroad. Private universities such as Bocconi ask around €17,000 a year. English-taught medicine requires the IMAT exam; for other programmes the university's own test or the SAT is enough. Turkish students pre-enrol on the Universitaly portal and obtain a type D student visa. For 2026/27 the visa requires proof of €10,179.85 per year (€783.06 per month).

Updated: October 2026. This guide, written for Turkish families preparing for 2027 entry, covers fee ranges, English-taught programmes, the 2026 IMAT format, the Universitaly and visa steps, DSU scholarships and a 12-month timeline, with official sources throughout. To plan the process together, our Italy study abroad consultancy page offers a free initial consultation.

Key Takeaways
- Tuition at public universities runs roughly €160–4,000 per year based on ISEE; a foreign student who does not submit an ISEE pays the top bracket or the flat "abroad" rate at most schools.
- English-taught bachelor's programmes are widespread at public universities such as Politecnico di Milano, Bologna, Sapienza and Padova; Bocconi is private and selects through its own online test (or SAT/ACT).
- IMAT 2026 took place on September 29, 2026: 60 questions, 100 minutes, +1.5/−0.4 scoring; there is a test centre in Türkiye. The 2027 decree is expected in summer.
- Universitaly pre-enrolment is mandatory for the visa; in 2026/27 visa applications were accepted until November 30, with proof of funds of €10,179.85 per year.
- DSU regional scholarships for 2026/27 pay at least €7,171.11 to students from out of town; the ISEE ceiling is €28,339.88; international students can apply.

Italian University Fees: How the ISEE System Works

Italian public universities do not charge a single price. The annual fee has three parts: stamp duty (€16), the regional right-to-study tax (€120–160) and the main tuition contribution. The contribution is banded according to ISEE Università, an indicator summarising the family's income and assets. For families living abroad, some universities arrange an "ISEE parificato" (equivalent ISEE) calculation; others apply a flat rate to students residing abroad.

University (2026/27)	Lowest	Highest / flat	Source
Politecnico di Milano (bachelor's)	€157.04 (ISEE ≤ €22,000)	€3,943.04	Polimi
Università di Bologna	€157.04 (ISEE ≤ €27,000)	Ceiling varies by programme	Unibo
Università di Trieste	€0 (ISEE ≤ €30,000)	€2,900; students residing abroad flat €800 + €176 taxes	UniTS
Bocconi (private)	—	€17,000/year for 2026/27 entry; 20–100% reductions available	Bocconi

Three practical conclusions: (1) Preparing an ISEE document can make a difference of €2,000–3,500 a year for Turkish families; CAF offices or the university's international office will guide you. (2) At schools like Trieste, the flat rate for students residing abroad gives a predictable cost without paperwork. (3) Private university fees are 4–10 times those of public universities; Bocconi's scholarship and reduction system can close the gap, but it is competitive.

English-Taught Education in Italy: Which Universities, Which Programmes?

According to the Universitaly portal, Italy offers hundreds of English-taught programmes; the strongest bachelor's options include:

• Politecnico di Milano: many English-taught bachelor's tracks in engineering and architecture (for example Architectural Design); applications go through Polimi's own portal and its TOL/ENG test system.
• Università di Bologna: English-taught bachelor's such as Economics and Finance, International Relations and Genomics; each programme has its own selection process and calendar.
• Sapienza (Rome): programmes such as Bioinformatics, Applied Computer Science and AI, and Global Humanities.
• Padova, Milano Statale, Torino: English tracks such as Psychological Science, International Medicine and Business and Management.
• Bocconi (Milan, private): Economics, Management, Finance, Data Science; top 10 worldwide in business rankings.

For English proficiency most universities ask for IELTS 6.0–6.5 or equivalent; a B2-level certificate is also expected at the visa stage. Our IELTS page is a good starting point for preparation.

Applying to Bocconi: online test, SAT and calendar

Bocconi ranks applicants on 55 percent test score plus 45 percent GPA from the last three years of high school. The accepted tests are Bocconi's own online test, the SAT or the ACT. For 2027/28 entry, Bocconi's official timeline: Early Session applications run September 2–29, 2026 (results mid-November), Winter Session November 25, 2026–January 26, 2027 (results mid-March). The online test can be booked from July 13, 2026 to January 19, 2027; each attempt costs €60, each application €100, with at most 4 attempts a year; a score below 17 out of 50 is not considered. For the test format and a preparation plan, see our Bocconi test page.

IMAT: The 2026 Format of the English Medicine Exam and What to Expect in 2027

Admission to English-taught medicine, dentistry and veterinary programmes in Italy is through the IMAT (International Medical Admissions Test). The 2026 exam was held on September 29, 2026 under the MUR decree of August 6, 2026 (D.M. 1005/2026) (University of Bologna notice); registration ran on Universitaly from August 26 to September 9.

IMAT 2026	Detail
Format	60 multiple-choice questions (5 options), 100 minutes
Breakdown	Biology 23, Chemistry 15, Mathematics and Physics 13, Logical reasoning 5, Reading/general knowledge 4
Scoring	Correct +1.5; wrong −0.4; blank 0 (max. 90)
Non-EU seats	Medicine 1,362, dentistry 11, veterinary 7 (2026 decree)
Exam fee	About €130 (depending on the centre's currency)
Centre in Türkiye	Yes; seats fill quickly, so book as soon as registration opens

A notable change in 2026: veterinary medicine received its own separate ranking, so one exam no longer makes you an automatic candidate for all three programmes. The "filter semester" (semestre filtro) reform that began in 2025 for Italian-taught medicine does not cover the English-taught IMAT programmes; the IMAT continued as a classic single exam. For 2027 the decree is expected in July–August 2027 with the exam again in late September; but the date, seats and format are only final with the MUR decree. Because 85 percent of the questions are science, preparation should take at least 9–12 months; see our IMAT prep page for structure and resources.

Universitaly Pre-Enrolment, Dichiarazione di Valore and CIMEA

Every student from outside the EU runs two parallel processes:

1. Applying to the university: on each school's own portal, on its own calendar (mostly January–May). You receive an admission letter.

2. Universitaly pre-enrolment: you complete the application on the Universitaly portal, the university validates it, and the file is forwarded to the Embassy in Ankara or the Consulate General in Istanbul. No visa application is accepted until pre-enrolment is validated. For 2026/27 most universities accepted pre-enrolments for open-access programmes until September 30; from 2026/27, universities may validate pre-enrolments only up to 20 percent above their international student quota, so applying early is an advantage.

Diploma documents: there are two routes for the high school diploma and transcript. The traditional route is the Dichiarazione di Valore (declaration of value) from the consulate; the faster and increasingly common route is CIMEA's online Statement of Comparability. Most universities now accept CIMEA; the admission letter or the international office page states which document is required. Both documents confirm that the diploma gives access to university in Italy (12 years of schooling).

The Italian Language Requirement: Language in English and Italian Programmes

Applicants to Italian-taught programmes must certify B2 Italian (CILS, CELI, PLIDA, etc.) or sit the university's language test. English-taught programmes have no Italian requirement; the visa file asks for a B2 English certificate (IELTS 5.5–6.0 and above). For daily life, housing and municipal paperwork, A2 Italian is a realistic goal to reach before 2027 entry.

DSU Scholarships: Regional Grants and Housing Support

Italy's strongest financial support tool is the DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) scholarship: each region's right-to-study agency (DSU/Polimi in Lombardy, ARDSU in Tuscany, EDISU in Piedmont, etc.) provides a cash grant, free housing and meals based on income and merit criteria. The minimum amounts set by MUR for 2026/27: €7,171.11 for students from out of town (fuori sede), €4,190.71 for commuters, €2,890.16 for students living in the same city; the ISEE ceiling is €28,339.88 and the ISPE ceiling €61,608.48 (Regione Lombardia 2026/27 notice). Scholarship winners are also exempt from the tuition contribution.

International students can apply too; applications usually open between July and September on the regional agency's portal, independent of university enrolment, and require an ISEE parificato. There are also universities' own scholarships (Bologna's Unibo Action, Polimi's merit awards) and MAECI government scholarships.

The Italian Student Visa (Type D): Documents, Proof of Funds, Timing

The visa is obtained after Universitaly pre-enrolment is validated, through VFS Global or a direct consulate appointment. According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular notice for 2026/27, the required documents and figures are:

• A valid passport (at least 90 days beyond the visa expiry).
• The Universitaly pre-enrolment summary and the university admission letter.
• Proof of funds: €10,179.85 per year (€783.06 per month); bank letter plus the source of income (a family member's employment/income documents). This is a minimum; the consulate also assesses the family's overall economic situation.
• Proof of accommodation in Italy (rental contract, university housing assignment or a reservation of at least 15 days).
• Health insurance with €30,000 coverage.
• Language certificate: B2 Italian for Italian-taught programmes, B2 English for English-taught ones.
• Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA statement.
• Visa fee €50.

For 2026/27, visas could be issued until November 30, 2026; a similar calendar is expected for 2027/28. Within 8 working days of entering Italy you apply at the Questura for the permesso di soggiorno (residence permit). A type D visa allows up to 20 hours of work per week.

Cost of Living: Milan, Bologna, Rome and Southern Italy

Even with low tuition, the main budget item is living cost, and it can double from one city to the next. In Milan a student room alone runs €600–900 a month, while Bologna, Padua and Turin sit at €400–600 and southern cities such as Naples, Bari and Palermo at €250–400. Adding €350–500 for food, transport, phone and personal expenses, the monthly total should be planned at around €1,100–1,500 in Milan, €800–1,100 in mid-sized cities and €650–900 in the south. The €783.06 per month the consulate requires for the visa is therefore a realistic floor outside Milan. For students who win a DSU scholarship, housing and canteen support changes this picture fundamentally; working up to 20 hours a week on the student residence permit also helps the budget.

12-Month Application Timeline (2027 Entry)

Period	To do
October–November 2026	Programme list (English/Italian, public/private), start IMAT or Bocconi preparation, IELTS plan
December 2026–January 2027	Bocconi Winter Session (deadline January 26); Polimi and Bologna application portals open
February–April 2027	University applications (most deadlines March–May), IELTS exam, translation of high school transcripts into English/Italian
May–June 2027	Admission letters; CIMEA / Dichiarazione di Valore application; collect documents for ISEE parificato
June–July 2027	Universitaly pre-enrolment; DSU scholarship applications open; housing research
July–August 2027	IMAT decree and Universitaly registration (medicine candidates); visa file and bank letter
September 2027	IMAT (expected late September); visa appointment; enrolment and first instalment
October–November 2027	Arrival in Italy; permesso di soggiorno within 8 working days; classes begin

Applying to Italian Universities with Studrise

Our Italy study abroad consultancy team works through the process with the student and family, from programme selection and Universitaly pre-enrolment to CIMEA and ISEE documents and the visa file; IMAT, Bocconi test and IELTS preparation are part of the same plan. It starts with a free initial consultation: we discuss the target programme, the budget and the calendar, and draw up a realistic roadmap.