Study in Italy
Italy is a popular destination for international students, offering quality higher education, highly-ranked universities and more affordable tuition fees than many other Western European countries. For these reasons, many internationals choose to study abroad in Italy.
There are around 32,000 international students in Italy, including independent students and those on exchange programes. Italy was one of the 4 countries to first implement the Bologna Process, a higher education reform that’s now being implemented throughout Europe. The country has a rich history and tradition of higher education and great intellectuals, which makes Italy a very attractive option for international students.
Why Study in Italy
One of the first universities in Europe were founded in Italy during the Middle Ages and Renaissance. For example, the University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is recognized as the oldest university in continuous operation. Today, Italy is the home of many prestigious universities and other institutions of higher education. Many of Italy’s universities perform well in the QS World University Rankings, such as the Università di Bologna (194), The Sapienza University of Rome (216), Politecnico di Milano (244), Università di Roma in Rome, Università degli Studi di Milano, Università degli Studi di Padova in Padua, Università degli Studi di Firenze in Florence, and the Università di Pisa in Pisa.
Italy has played an important role in recent reform of higher education known as “Bologna Process”, as one of the four countries that created the European Area of Higher Education, formed by signing the Sorbonne Declaration in 1998, which was to be the first step in the higher education reform. Today the Bologna Process is now being implemented throughout Europe.
Italy has 89 universities, which are divided into several categories:
State universities:
These are state funded public universities which comprises of most of the universities in Italy, particularly the larger universities.
Other publicly funded universities:
Funded by Province rather than state.
Private universities:
Non state funded.
Superior Graduate Schools (Scuola Superiore Universitaria):
These are independent institutions that offer advanced training and research courses specialising in postgraduate studies.
There are also certain non-university institutions of higher education, such as higher schools of design, schools of higher education in language meditation and schools of higher integrated education.
Italy has several levels of higher education. Completing undergraduate studies (bachelor’s degree – ‘laurea’) can lead to master’s studies and earning a master’s degree (‘laurea magistrale’). Undergraduate studies typically take 3 years to complete and master’s studies take 1 year. Following the completion of your masters studies you can continue with a PhD which usually lasts 3 academic years.
Most of the courses and programs offered are taught in the Italian language but the number of English language programs available is growing. This is particularly true for graduate level courses. Therefore, it may be possible to find courses and program taught in English if you wish to study in Italy but your Italian language skills are not good enough.
Cost of Studying in Italy
University tuition fees in Italian universities
Tuition fees in public universities: Public universities in Italy set their tuition fees according to the level of degree, and the study program me.
- Average tuition fees: 850 and 1,000 EUR/year.
- Tuition fees in prestigious public universities in Italy may exceed 1,000 EUR/ year.
In most institutions, EU students also benefit from lower tuition fees compared to non-EU students and some of the state universities in Italy set the tuition based on the student's parental income.
Tuition fees in private universities: Private universities in Italy usually charge higher tuition fees compared to public universities and most of them have the same fees for both EU and non-EU students.
The average tuition fees in private universities range from 6,000 to around 20,000 EUR/year.
Accommodation in Italy
Out of the total monthly expenses of EU students, they usually pay around 35 % on accommodation, 9% on transportation and around 12% on tuition fees. Rates for accommodation in Italy are in the international range of 200 – 300 EUR/month.
On average, here are the prices students spend on housing, depending on the type of accommodation:
- students that live alone: 266 EUR/month
- students living in student accommodation: 257 EUR/month
- students living with partner/children): around 133 EUR/month
Application Requirements and Deadline
Additional entry requirements may include:
- Resume/CV
- Letters of recommendation (minimum two)
- Passport sized photos
- Copies of your passport
- GMAT/GRE test certificates (if asked)
- Medical certificate
- Insurance letter
- Documents stating work experience (if applicable)
- Course specific questionnaire (if asked)
- Test AS certificate
- Translations of certificates (if asked)
- Proof of funds (if asked)
- Certificate and transcript of your undergraduate studies
Application Deadlines:
Application deadlines is vary from university to university and course which you opt for according to course and intake.
Employment Opportunity in Italy
There are various kinds of part-time as well as full-time job opportunities in Italy. However, it is compulsory for an individual to know the Italian language because working here will require conversing and communicating in Italy mostly and there is not much of scope for English language here.
While studying here, one can easily find part-time working opportunities in the restaurants, bars, supermarkets, newspapers, pamphlets and magazine offices while studying in Italy, provided, the working hours limit do not exceed more than 20 hours per week. It becomes easier if some local Asian contacts are found here in Italy so that they can assist in finding some appropriate working opportunities.
There are some full-time career prospects as well but at first, it is vital to get a valid work permit in case of non European immigrants.
In this regard, it will be wise to state that Italy is always in need of English speaking professionals. In fact, English tutors are always held in high esteem and they have a high demand in Italy.
Apart from these, other career domains include fashion designing, journalism, media and mass communication, arts, tourism, finance and international business in the various cities of Italy that include Florence, Rome, Milan, Bologna, Sardinia and Aquila that have got the highest number of employment opportunities in Italy.
Other aspects of study and work opportunities in Italy
There are different consulting agencies that will provide perfect guidance regarding study and work opportunities in Italy.
Short-term placement cells are available and various online job portals are present that will help any foreigner to find some job opportunities in Italy. Although at first, one may not get the ideal job and might have to start off with a moderately paid part-time job, yet, this will help to gain an added advantage by getting to know about the work culture of Italy and also develop networking.
One may even have to do many odd jobs as well but with hard work, perseverance and tenacity, it will not be impossible to find rewarding career prospects in Italy as the scope of flourishing here is immense, especially in the domain of mass communication, media, journalism, fashion, finance and management.
With years of work and experience, one can even ride up the corporate ladder and get to an executive ran position too.
Visa Information
HRD/APP
After getting offer letter from an university, it is necessary to do HRD/APP to the original educational documents before going to the Pre-Enrollment.
NOTE
For HRD/APP it may costs like 700 to 3000 rupees. For HRD/APP it will take 2 to 7 working days.
Documents required for HRD/APP
- Offer letter
- Passport Xerox
- Original educational documents
Pre-Enrollment (Mumbai)
At consulate general Italy they will ask some questions relating to the university, about Italian education system, about subjects of chosen course, educational background, financial support, etc
NOTE
The embassy will release the dates for Pre-Enrollment. The Pre-Enrollment dates are like make be 5 to 6 working days.
At the time of Pre-Enrollment student must attend physically with all the required documents at the consulate general of Mumbai.
Documents required for Pre-Enrollment
- Original educational documents completed with HRD/APP.
- Two passport-size photographs (white background) for the photo authentication.
- Two original pre-enrollment forms (called as FORM-A which can be downloaded from the university or embassy website duly filled by the student except for the signature to be done in Front of the consular office).
- Passport original along with two Xerox copies (first and last).
- Resume: Italy visa process
Certificate Verification
Certificate verification can be done before or after going to the Pre-Enrollment. Certificate verification will be done at VFS Global Services Hyderabad.
NOTE
It will take 10 to 15 working days. It costs like 2300 rupees (for intermediate certificates it's like 150 to 500 rupees).
Why Process Through UES
- There are innumerable ways through which the educational consultants help a student.
- UES will offer you the necessary information on the programs,
- UES will help you in deciding the country, college and program,
- UES will guide you about the financial requirements,
- UES will make arrangements for admission,
- UES will give you information on the place and make arrangements for living,
- CAREER COUNCELLING
- ADMISSION GUIDANCE
- SAFETY
- FINANCE ESTIMATION
- VISA ASSISTANCE
- ACCOMMODATION GUIDANCE
- JOB AWARENESS IN ABROAD