Best Universities in Italy for International Master’s Students (2026): Rankings, Fees and Admission

Introduction

The best universities in Italy for a master’s are Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Bologna, followed by the University of Padua and Politecnico di Torino, according to the QS World University Rankings 2027 published in June 2026. Bocconi University, which does not appear in the general QS table, ranks 12th worldwide for Social Sciences and Management and is the reference for finance and management master’s degrees. Together, these six institutions deliver the widest range of English-taught master’s programmes in the country.

What sets Italy apart at master’s level is the price. A two-year Laurea Magistrale at a public university costs non-EU students between €300 and €3,943 a year in 2026/27, depending on the university and your country of citizenship, a fraction of tuition in the UK or the United States, while three Italian universities now sit in the world’s top 125 and Politecnico di Milano has climbed more than 100 places in a decade. Our guide to the QS World University Rankings 2027 explained covers how those positions are calculated.

This article ranks the top Italian universities for a master’s, then covers admission requirements, real costs, scholarships, the visa and the post-study work pathway, so you can plan a complete application from outside Italy.

Best Universities in Italy for a Master’s: Comparison Table (QS 2027)

Why Study a Master’s in Italy as an International Student?

The case for a master’s in Italy is stronger than many applicants initially expect, and it rests on four concrete advantages.

Italian master’s degrees follow the two-year Laurea Magistrale format (120 ECTS), which gives you more time to specialise, complete a substantial thesis and build a professional network than the one-year British model. For students targeting industry, the second year also means longer access to career services, internship agreements and employer partnerships before graduating.

English-taught programmes have expanded substantially over the past decade. Most leading Italian public universities now deliver complete master’s degrees in English, particularly in engineering, computer science, data science, architecture, economics and the social sciences. You no longer need Italian to access the country’s top institutions at master’s level.

Tuition at public universities stays low even for non-EU students, though each university applies its own rule. Sapienza, Politecnico di Torino and Padua charge a flat fee set by your country of citizenship, from €300 a year for a Sapienza student from India, China or Nigeria to €3,761 for a Politecnico di Torino student from the United States. Bologna lets students with income abroad apply for a reduced fee through the ISEE Parificato equivalent, while Politecnico di Milano charges non-EU master’s students the maximum rate, €3,943 a year, unless they hold a scholarship. Even at the top of that range, the figure compares very favourably with Northern Europe or North America. Our guide to the real cost of a master’s abroad puts these numbers side by side with other destinations.

Italy also has a structured post-study route. After graduating, you can apply for the Permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione, a residence permit for job seeking valid for 9 to 12 months, without leaving the country. Since the Cutro Decree of 2023, graduates who secure a contract can convert their student permit directly into a work permit outside the annual Decreto Flussi immigration quotas, a meaningful advantage over several other European countries. Prepare for the Italian job market with our free CV builder.

How Do Master’s Degrees Work in Italy?

A Laurea Magistrale is a second-cycle degree within the European framework, combining coursework, seminars and a thesis over two years. Business schools such as SDA Bocconi also run MBAs and specialised masters, which sit at master’s level but follow their own admissions calendar and pricing.

There is no centralised application platform for master’s admissions in Italy. You apply directly through each university’s portal. Non-EU students must additionally complete pre-enrolment on the Universitaly portal, a separate, mandatory step for the visa. Our step-by-step guide to applying through Universitaly covers the whole procedure. Many universities also ask for a Dichiarazione di Valore (Declaration of Value), issued by the Italian embassy in your home country to certify the standing of your bachelor’s degree, or a CIMEA Statement of Comparability; allow two to four weeks.

The academic year starts in September or October. Applications for September entry typically open in January, with deadlines running from February to July depending on the institution. Applying early is strongly recommended if you need time to gather apostilled documents.

Grading runs on a scale of 18 to 30 for individual exams, with 30 cum laude for exceptional performance. Final master’s degree classifications are expressed out of 110, with 110 cum laude as the highest distinction. The framework differs from British or American systems but is well understood by European employers and straightforward to have recognised internationally.

The Best Universities in Italy for a Master’s, Ranked

The profiles below follow the QS World University Rankings 2027. At master’s level, subject rankings matter as much as the overall table, and each profile reflects both. Unsure about your odds? Estimate your admission chances with our free tool.

1. Politecnico di Milano (QS 2027: 87th)

Politecnico di Milano ranks 87th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, up from 98th, and 57th worldwide for Employer Reputation; 20% of its 49,395 students are international, including 6,608 on MSc programmes, and non-EU master’s students without a scholarship pay the maximum fee of €3,943 a year in 2026/27 (approx. $4,535). The university has risen more than 100 positions in the global table over a decade and is Italy’s leading institution for master’s programmes in engineering, architecture, design and urban planning.

The breadth of English-taught MSc programmes is among the widest in Italy: most engineering and design master’s are delivered entirely in English, and the university recruits internationally at this level. Partnerships with Ferrari, Pirelli, Eni and Leonardo bring master’s students onto real industrial projects and into professional networks from the first semester. Admission requires a relevant bachelor’s degree, transcripts, IELTS or TOEFL scores for English-taught programmes (see our guide to IELTS and TOEFL score requirements) and, for design and architecture, a portfolio.

Politecnico di Milano suits you if your field is engineering, industrial design, architecture or applied technology and you want your master’s to connect directly to the European industrial sector.

2. Sapienza University of Rome (QS 2027: 111th)

Sapienza climbs to 111th in QS 2027, up from 128th, and remains the top-ranked generalist university in Italy, with 16,493 international students in 2024/25 out of a community of almost 120,000; non-EU students with income abroad pay a flat annual fee of €300, €700 or €1,500 (approx. $345, $805 or $1,725) depending on their country’s income band, against a standard rate of €2,821 to €2,924 for students assessed on ISEE. In the QS Subject Rankings 2026, it ranks first in the world for Classics and Ancient History and in the global top 10 for Archaeology and History of Art, with internationally recognised faculties in physics, medicine, mathematics and engineering.

Its catalogue of English-taught master’s programmes keeps growing, with degrees in International Relations, Data Science, Engineering in Computer Science, and Astrophysics and Space Science among others. Sapienza also runs one of very few six-year single-cycle medicine degrees taught entirely in English in Europe (MEDTECH), though this is a separate track from the two-year master’s route.

Sapienza suits you if you are pursuing a master’s in the humanities, physics, medicine-adjacent sciences or the social sciences and want the depth of a major research university in a capital city dense with cultural institutions, international organisations and government bodies.

3. University of Bologna (QS 2027: 123rd)

The University of Bologna, founded in 1088 and the world’s oldest university, ranks 123rd in QS 2027, up from 138th, counts 11,302 international students among 97,235 (12%) and offers over 140 master’s programmes, a substantial share taught entirely in English; for 2026/27, fees run from a €157.04 fixed instalment to a programme-specific maximum of €2,550 to €4,080 (approx. $2,935 to $4,690), with a reduced flat fee of €757 or €1,357 for citizens of developing or non-OECD countries. In the QS Subject Rankings 2026, Bologna leads Italy in 16 disciplines and sits in the global top 50 in nine, including Modern Languages (36th), Law (40th) and Arts and Humanities (49th).

Bologna’s international master’s community is among the most active in Italy, and the university consistently ranks in Europe’s top five for outgoing exchange partnerships. For English-taught master’s you typically need a relevant bachelor’s degree, IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, transcripts and, for some programmes, a statement of purpose or portfolio. Applications go through the Studenti Online portal, with most deadlines between February and April for September entry.

Bologna suits you if you want academic breadth, an established international student community and one of Italy’s most liveable cities. It is especially strong for master’s students in law, languages, political science and the life sciences.

4. University of Padua (QS 2027: 204th)

Established in 1222, the University of Padua ranks 204th in QS 2027, up from 233rd, and charges non-EU master’s students a fixed annual fee for 2026/27 of €2,790 in the humanities or €2,990 in the sciences, plus €208 in regional tax and stamp duty (approx. $3,210 to $3,440 in total), reduced to one third for students from DAC-list low-income countries. It performs consistently well in engineering, medicine, life sciences, cognitive science and the natural sciences, with research output that outperforms its overall rank in these fields.

At master’s level, Padua offers a strong portfolio of English-taught programmes in data science, biotechnology, neuroscience, engineering and environmental sciences, with active research links to CNR, Italy’s National Research Council, and several EU-funded consortia. The compact academic community tends to produce closer relationships between master’s students and faculty, a real advantage for thesis work.

Padua suits you if you want a serious research environment in the life sciences, biomedical research, cognitive neuroscience or engineering without the scale and cost of a large city.

5. Politecnico di Torino (QS 2027: 206th)

Politecnico di Torino ranks 206th in QS 2027, up from 242nd, and 125th worldwide for Employer Reputation; 22% of its 38,222 students are international (8,500 in 2025/26), and the annual fee for non-EU master’s students is set by the GDP of their country of citizenship, from €761 for India to €3,761 for the United States, with China at €1,352 (approx. $875 to $4,325). It sits in the global top 50 for Engineering in the QS Subject Rankings, with particular recognition in mechanical, civil, electrical and chemical engineering.

The university offers a broad range of English-taught master’s programmes and actively welcomes international students. Turin’s industrial ecosystem, home to Fiat, Leonardo and Thales Alenia Space, gives master’s students direct access to employers in automotive, aerospace and energy. Admissions are handled through the university portal.

Politecnico di Torino suits you if you want a technically focused master’s in engineering, energy or architecture with strong industry ties and a lower cost of living than Milan.

6. Bocconi University (QS Subject Rankings 2026: 12th worldwide for Social Sciences and Management)

Bocconi is not in the QS World University Rankings 2027, which favour broad multidisciplinary institutions, but ranks 12th worldwide for Social Sciences and Management in the QS Subject Rankings 2026; its MSc programmes cost €18,550 a year in 2026/27 (approx. $21,330) and more than 97% of MSc graduates are employed on graduation day. Think of it like LSE in London or HEC Paris: absent from the general table, world-class in its field.

All master’s programmes, in economics, finance, management and data science, are taught in English. SDA Bocconi School of Management, which the Financial Times ranks 4th globally and 2nd in Europe for its Full-Time MBA (FT Global MBA Ranking 2025), holds triple accreditation from AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA; our guide to what AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accreditation means explains why that matters. The 12-month MBA costs €82,000 in total for 2026/27 (approx. $94,300) and requires GMAT or GRE scores and work experience. MSc admission is competitive: a strong undergraduate record and English at IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. Merit-based awards go up to a full tuition waiver, with partial waivers of 20% and 60%. Read our complete guide on how to get into Bocconi for a master’s.

Bocconi suits you if your goals point clearly toward finance, economics, management or consulting and you want a degree that carries real weight with recruiters in those fields internationally. The cost is real, but for the right profile the return tends to be strong.

What Are the Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Italy for International Students?

Master’s admission requirements in Italy combine a university application with two administrative steps specific to non-EU applicants.

For most programmes at public universities, non-EU students must complete pre-enrolment through Universitaly, the official Italian government portal. This step is separate from the university application and is mandatory for the visa: without a validated pre-enrolment, the Italian consulate will not process a study visa. The portal is free, it opened on 30 April 2026 for 2026/27 entry, and each university sets its own pre-enrolment deadline. You can pre-enrol for one programme at one university only, and the university confirms or rejects your pre-enrolment directly through it. The national deadline for the visa application itself is 30 November 2026 for 2026/27 entry and 31 October 2027 for 2027/28.

Many programmes additionally require a Dichiarazione di Valore, issued by the Italian diplomatic mission in your home country to certify the equivalence of your bachelor’s degree within the Italian system. Some universities accept a CIMEA Statement of Comparability instead. Processing takes two to four weeks, so start well before your deadline.

The university application itself typically includes academic transcripts, proof of English proficiency (IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 minimum for most programmes, 7.0 for the most competitive; the Ministry of University and Research sets B2 in the language of instruction as the floor, with no Italian requirement for an English-taught programme), a CV and, depending on the programme, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation or a portfolio. Our guide on how to ask for a letter of recommendation for a master’s covers the timing and the ask.

Deadlines vary significantly. For September entry, most programmes close between February and July, with competitive programmes filling earlier. Applying between January and March puts you in the strongest position, both for admission and for funding.

How Much Does a Master’s in Italy Cost for International Students?

Master’s tuition fees in Italy are among the lowest in Western Europe for non-EU students. The table gives the 2026/27 tuition figures published by each university (2025/26 for Sapienza) and 2025/26 living costs, converted at 1 EUR = 1.15 USD.

Budget also for the Dichiarazione di Valore and document apostilles, whose cost varies by country. Over two years, the gap between Milan and a city such as Padua or Turin can exceed €5,000 in living costs alone. Our guide on how to budget for studying abroad shows how to build that plan.

What Scholarships Are Available for International Master’s Students in Italy?

Scholarships in Italy for international students are more substantial than many applicants realise, and combining sources can make even Bocconi financially accessible.

DSU regional grants (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) are the most widely accessible. Administered by regional bodies such as EDISU in Piedmont and ER.GO in Emilia-Romagna, they can cover tuition entirely and include a monthly living allowance and, in some cases, free university accommodation. Eligibility is assessed through the ISEE Parificato system, and applications typically open in July; apply as soon as the portal opens, as places are limited.

MAECI scholarships, offered by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, cover tuition and living costs for master’s students from countries with bilateral agreements with Italy. Applications go through the Study in Italy portal; the deadline for 2026/27 was 26 March 2026, so expect a similar late-March cut-off for 2027/28.

University merit awards exist at all major institutions. Politecnico di Milano runs a dedicated international excellence programme for incoming master’s students. Sapienza and Bologna publish institutional funding calls annually on their international admissions pages, typically in spring. Bocconi’s Graduate Merit Awards for 2026/27 include a full tuition and fees waiver, alongside 20% and 60% partial waivers.

Start researching funding at least a year before your intended start date. Most major scholarship deadlines fall in spring or early summer, well ahead of university application deadlines.

Italy Student Visa and Post-Study Work Rights for Master’s Graduates

Non-EU students studying in Italy for more than 90 days need a Type D national study visa (visto per studio), issued by the Italian embassy or consulate in their home country before departure. The fee is approximately €50 ($58), processing takes four to eight weeks plus document legalisation time, and you must show access to at least €10,179.85 a year in funds ($11,710, the threshold set by the MUR circular for 2026/27 and 2027/28) and health insurance valid in Italy. A validated Universitaly pre-enrolment is a precondition, and the visa application must be filed by 30 November 2026 for 2026/27 entry.

The visa is an entry document only. Within eight working days of arrival, you apply for the Permesso di soggiorno at a Poste Italiane office (approx. €200, $230), then attend a Questura appointment for biometrics. The permit is renewable annually while you remain enrolled, and it allows you to work up to 20 hours a week during term.

After your master’s, the Permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione gives you 9 to 12 months (article 39-bis.1 of Legislative Decree 286/1998) to find a job or launch a self-employed activity without leaving Italy. Since the Cutro Decree of 2023, converting to a work permit once you sign a contract is no longer subject to the Decreto Flussi quotas, which makes the pathway more predictable. Graduates of both public and private accredited institutions are eligible.

Which Italian Universities Go Further for International Master’s Students?

Some institutions stand out not only for rankings but for how actively they support international students at master’s level.

Politecnico di Milano has one of the most developed international infrastructures in Italy: a dedicated international office, English-language administrative support and structured onboarding for master’s students. One student in five is international (9,940 in 2025/26, two thirds of them on MSc programmes), the highest share among Italy’s top public universities alongside Politecnico di Torino, and career services connect directly to industrial partners, which matters when you finish your master’s and look for your first role.

University of Bologna runs a graduate school system that brings master’s students across related disciplines together, creating a more cohesive academic community than single-programme models. Multilingual support services and active international student associations make it particularly welcoming for students arriving from outside Europe.

Politecnico di Torino has invested consistently in its international master’s offer and is known for accessible faculty and administration. With 8,500 international students out of 38,222 (22%), it has the highest international share of any large Italian public university, and its Turin location is a practical asset for engineering students who want proximity to industry.

For subject-specific master’s study, look beyond the overall QS table and consult the subject rankings directly. Italian universities frequently outperform their overall position in specialist areas, particularly engineering, design, classical studies and medicine. A university ranked 230th globally may sit in the top 40 worldwide in your field. If you are still weighing Italy against other countries, our comparison of the top study abroad destinations puts it in context.

How to Choose the Right University in Italy for Your Master’s

The right master’s in Italy depends on factors that go well beyond the QS table.

Start with your discipline. The best Italian university for an MSc in Computer Science is not the best for an MSc in International Law. Use the QS Subject Rankings alongside the overall table, and read each programme’s structure carefully: some master’s are research-oriented with a substantial thesis, others are coursework-focused with internships built in.

Consider location and total cost. Milan offers the strongest professional network and the highest concentration of international companies, at a clear premium on living costs. Bologna, Padua and Turin offer equally strong academic environments at a noticeably lower monthly spend, and over two years that difference adds up.

Factor in the administrative timeline. Universitaly pre-enrolment, the Dichiarazione di Valore, apostilles and the consulate appointment take longer than most applicants expect. Start the paperwork at least five to six months before your intended start date.

Finally, contact the universities you are seriously considering. Most international admissions offices respond promptly, and a direct conversation clarifies programme-specific entry requirements, scholarship timelines and housing options in ways no website fully covers. If you are still deciding between a bachelor’s and a master’s route, see our ranking of the best universities in Italy for undergraduates.

Conclusion

For international students pursuing a master’s, Italy combines world-class institutions with real research depth, public tuition that stays affordable for non-EU students, and a post-study pathway that gives you a year to build on your degree. The challenge is not finding a strong Italian university. It is identifying the right programme, in the right city, at a cost that works for you. Use the QS table as a starting point, go deeper with the subject rankings, get your Dichiarazione di Valore underway early and submit your Universitaly pre-enrolment well ahead of the deadline. Your Italian master’s starts with a clear, well-timed decision.