6 Things Every International Student Must Know About Italian Higher Education

Italian Higher Education is one of the highly reputed education systems in the world. Italy has historically been the center of scholarship considering it has had one of the most influential empires in the world. People from all over the world come to its land to educate themselves of the distinctive cultural, political, and economic values, and ultimately, Italy was the center of attention. Today as well, students from all over the world apply for admission to many of its world-class universities.

Just like any other higher education system, Italy has its own peculiarities and other details which should be known. Any decision you make should be preceded by many considerations. A few of them have been mentioned below. There are certain things which every international applicant should know about Italian Higher Education—and here are some of them for you to consider.

1. English may not be entirely useful
   We often take local languages for granted. Many of us rely too much on English, and we are not entirely at fault. However, there are countries that will not offer complete convenience so far as language is concerned. Over here in Italy, while English is not uncommon, you may not be able to get by just with English. You should strongly consider learning at least elementary Italian so that you can verbally communicate the essentials. Sign up for online or offline language classes; there are many of these for non-native learners, and they are truly life-savers.

2. Choose between public and private
   European education is generally very expensive. That being said, Italian universities can and cannot be expensive depending upon your choices. For instance, public universities here are cheap and cost around 1000 euros a year on average. On the other side, private universities can be an exorbitant affair and can cost around as much as 20k euros. Note that there are certain benefits extended to students coming from EU countries. In case you find this range of expenses too much, consider applying for scholarships that can be of great use to you.

3. You can work while studying
   International students generally want to work during education so that they can earn extra income along with knowledge of course. However, visa conditions can dictate how many hours students can put into work during education. As mentioned earlier there will be differences so far as EU and non-EU students are concerned. For instance, a student from a non-EU country is restricted from working more than 20 hours a week and is disallowed from undertaking full-time work during vacations. These limitations have been eased for EU students.

4. Universities are really good here
   Italy is home to some of the oldest universities in Europe and the world. While the old universities have already carved their names in international rankings, the relatively new ones are inching their way closer to the world’s best. The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, University of Bologna, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa are among the highest-ranked universities. As many as 27 universities here have been placed among the top 500 in the world, and the performances of many of them have been consistently improving. So, rest assured, all your investments shall give good results.

5. English tests may not be necessary
   Well, much of the requirements depend on the type, of course, you are taking up. If the program selected is instructed in Italian, then you do not need to submit TOEFL or any other English proficiency scores. You may also be exempted from submitting such scores in case your previous education in the home country has been significantly done in English, especially when you are applying for Master’s programs.

6. The cost of living depends
   Yes, it depends on the city you are in. Milan and Rome are very expensive and can make you spend more than you bargained for. However, lesser-known cities are inexpensive and accommodating. Expect the costs to fall between 800 euros and 1500 euros a month, though your lifestyle can affect the estimation quite naturally. In case you are living off-campus and want to contain expenditure, then consider getting a roommate to split your bills with.