47 FELLOWS
اردو
Colosseum at blue hour, Rome, Italy

Europe

Study in Italy: Costs, Visa, Universities and Scholarships for Pakistani Students

A practical guide for Pakistani students on Italian tuition, regional DSU grants with ISEE parificato, Universitaly pre-enrolment, the study visa and living costs.

Bachelor's · Master's · PhD · 10 min read · Updated 15 October 2026

Share with a friend or parent

Share on WhatsApp

Italy is one of the most popular European destinations for Pakistani students, and for a good reason. Public universities charge fees based on family income, many master's programmes are taught in English, and every region runs a need-based scholarship (the DSU grant) that can cover your living costs and sometimes give you a free room. Italian degrees are recognised by HEC, and a large Pakistani community in cities such as Milan, Rome, Brescia and Bologna makes the first months easier.

The catch is paperwork. Italy has more steps than most countries: Universitaly pre-enrolment, a Declaration of Value or CIMEA statement, the ISEE parificato for fee reductions, and a visa file that is checked carefully. This guide walks you through each step.

All money figures use €1 ≈ PKR 310 (October 2026). Rates move, so recalculate before you apply.

Quick facts Italy
Language of teaching Italian; many master's and some bachelor's programmes in English
Academic year / intake Main intake September/October; a few programmes start in February/March
Public university tuition Approx. €150 to €4,000 a year (PKR 46,500 to 1.24 million), based on family income
Private university tuition Approx. €10,000 to €20,000+ a year (PKR 3.1 to 6.2 million+)
Monthly living cost Approx. €750 to €1,400 (PKR 232,500 to 434,000), depending on city
Part-time work Up to 20 hours a week, 1,040 hours a year
Post-study stay Up to 12 months to look for work (permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione)

Budget options: what you can do on every budget

Budget Route What it looks like
Fully funded MAECI Italian Government scholarship; Erasmus Mundus joint master's; funded PhD positions (borsa di dottorato) MAECI pays €900 a month (approx. PKR 279,000) and waives tuition at public universities. Erasmus Mundus covers tuition, travel and a monthly allowance. Italian PhD positions with a scholarship pay a salary-like stipend and charge no tuition.
Low fee + need-based grant Public university + regional DSU grant (DiSCo Lazio, ER.GO, EDISU Piemonte, DSU Toscana, ESU Padova, Lombardy universities) using the ISEE parificato This is the main route for most Pakistani students. With a low ISEE you can pay little or no tuition, receive roughly €3,600 to €8,200 a year (PKR 1.1 to 2.5 million) and, in some regions, get a free room and meals. You still need around €10,180 in the bank for the visa.
Self-funded, mid-range Public university in a smaller city (Padua, Pavia, Pisa, Turin, Bari, Catania, Messina) Tuition approx. €1,000 to €4,000 a year plus €750 to €1,000 a month to live. Total approx. €10,000 to €16,000 a year (PKR 3.1 to 5 million).
Self-funded, premium Private universities (Bocconi, Cattolica, LUISS) or Milan/Rome without a grant Tuition approx. €10,000 to €20,000+ and €1,100 to €1,400 a month to live. Total approx. €24,000 to €37,000 a year (PKR 7.4 to 11.5 million). Some private universities offer their own merit and need-based discounts.

A note on Invest Your Talent in Italy: this MAECI scholarship (€10,800 for nine months plus a tuition waiver for selected English-taught master's) is popular, but Pakistan was not on the eligible country list for 2026/27. Check the list every year at investyourtalent.esteri.it in case it changes.

University costs

Public universities set fees on a sliding scale linked to your family's income and assets, measured through an Italian indicator called the ISEE (for students with income abroad, the ISEE parificato or ISEEU parificato). If you do not submit one, you are placed in the highest band. As an example, at Politecnico di Milano the top band is roughly €3,900 a year; many other public universities top out at approx. €2,500 to €4,000. With a low ISEE parificato, many students pay only the regional tax (approx. €140 to €190) and a €16 stamp duty. Fees change yearly.

How to get the ISEE parificato. You collect family documents from Pakistan (family composition, income for the reference year, property and bank balances), have them translated and legalised or apostilled as your region requires, and submit them to a CAF (tax assistance centre) approved by your university or regional agency. The CAF calculates your ISEE parificato for free. Start gathering these papers before you leave Pakistan, because getting them later from abroad is slow.

Application fees at public universities are usually €0 to €100 per programme. Private universities often charge €100 to €150.

Notable low-cost options: most public universities in the south (Calabria, Sicily, Apulia, Campania) have lower living costs and a good chance of DSU housing. Medicine and dentistry in English require the IMAT entrance test and are competitive.

Living costs

City Rent (shared room) Food Transport Total per month
Milan €550 to €800 €250 to €300 €22 to €40 approx. €1,000 to €1,400 (PKR 310,000 to 434,000)
Rome €450 to €700 €230 to €280 €20 to €35 approx. €900 to €1,300 (PKR 279,000 to 403,000)
Bologna €400 to €650 €220 to €270 €20 to €30 approx. €850 to €1,200 (PKR 263,500 to 372,000)
Turin / Padua €300 to €500 €200 to €250 €20 to €30 approx. €750 to €1,050 (PKR 232,500 to 325,500)

These are approximate ranges. Add a one-off €100 to €200 for the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) kit and fees, and a yearly amount for the national health service registration or private insurance.

Scholarships and need-based funding

Regional DSU grants (diritto allo studio universitario). Each region pays need-based grants through its own agency. International students qualify on the same terms as Italians if their ISEE parificato is below the threshold. Approximate 2026/27 figures (they change every year):

Region / agency ISEE limit (approx.) Top grant for off-campus students 2026/27 deadline
Lazio: DiSCo (Rome) €28,340 approx. €7,560 plus meals 22 July 2026
Emilia-Romagna: ER.GO (Bologna, Modena, Parma) €25,000 approx. €8,250 24 August 2026
Piedmont: EDISU (Turin) €26,300 approx. €8,100 4 September 2026
Tuscany: DSU Toscana (Pisa, Florence, Siena) €27,000 approx. €3,340 cash plus free room and meals 7 September 2026
Veneto: ESU Padova €26,300 approx. €8,250 30 September 2026

The DSU grant usually also gives a full tuition exemption. Housing in a residence is often deducted from the cash amount. Calls for 2027/28 are expected between June and September 2027, so plan your ISEE documents in spring. Payment of the first instalment can take until December or later, so you still need your own money for the first months.

MAECI Italian Government scholarships. €900 a month, tuition exemption at public universities and insurance, for master's, PhD and research stays. Applications are made at studyinitaly.esteri.it. The 2026/27 deadline was 26 March 2026; the 2027/28 call is likely to open in early 2027. Age limits apply (check the call).

Erasmus Mundus joint master's. Many include an Italian university. Deadlines usually fall between October and January for the following September.

University scholarships. Most universities offer merit awards or fee waivers for international students (for example at Padua, Bologna, Pavia and Politecnico di Milano). PhD positions in Italy are advertised with a monthly stipend and no tuition.

Browse current options at /scholarships?country=Italy.

Student visa: steps, documents and fees

  1. Apply to the university and get an admission letter.
  2. Pre-enrol on Universitaly (universitaly.it). Your university must validate the pre-enrolment. Only validated applicants can apply for the visa.
  3. Get a Declaration of Value or a CIMEA Statement of Comparability with Statement of Verification. Many universities now accept CIMEA. Have your degrees HEC-attested (and IBCC for school certificates) and apostilled by MOFA. See the HEC attestation guide.
  4. Wait for the appointment email. For 2026/27, the Embassy of Italy in Islamabad, through BLS-Intiana, assigns study visa appointments directly in order of university validation date, using the email on your Universitaly profile. Booking is free. Do not pay anyone for an appointment.
  5. Submit the file at the BLS-Intiana centre and attend if asked for an interview.

Key documents (per the Embassy checklist): national visa (D) form, ICAO photo, passport valid at least three months beyond the visa, validated Universitaly summary, admission letter, CIMEA or DoV, apostilled and translated academic documents, B2 English (for example IELTS) or Italian certificate, motivation letter to the visa officer, proof of accommodation, flight booking, NADRA Family Registration Certificate (apostilled, under six months old), and sponsor documents.

Proof of funds: at least €10,179.85 per year (approx. PKR 3.16 million) in an account in the student's name for 2026/27 and 2027/28. The Embassy looks at regular, traceable income, not only the balance. Cash, bank guarantees and sponsors outside the family are not accepted. A confirmed scholarship award counts.

Health insurance: at least €30,000 cover valid across Schengen for the visa.

Fees: approx. €50 visa fee for study (Italian consular tariff) plus a service charge, paid in local currency. Confirm with BLS-Intiana, because fees change.

Processing time: no fixed time; allow 3 to 8 weeks. The 2026/27 visa deadline is 30 November 2026.

Within eight days of arriving in Italy, apply for your permesso di soggiorno at the post office.

Working while studying and after graduating

You can work up to 20 hours a week (1,040 hours a year) with a student permit. Typical jobs are in restaurants, delivery, retail and university services. Italian language skills make a big difference.

After graduating, you can apply for a permesso di soggiorno per attesa occupazione for up to 12 months to look for a job, then convert to a work permit once you are hired. PhD graduates have similar options.

Month-by-month timeline (for September/October 2027 intake)

When What to do
Oct to Dec 2026 Shortlist programmes, take IELTS, start HEC/IBCC attestation
Nov 2026 to Apr 2027 Apply to universities (many have early rounds from November)
Jan to Mar 2027 Apply for MAECI and Erasmus Mundus; gather ISEE family documents
Mar to Jun 2027 Universitaly pre-enrolment once admitted; request CIMEA or DoV
Jun to Sep 2027 Apply for the regional DSU grant; prepare bank statements
Jul to Sep 2027 Visa appointment and decision
Sep to Oct 2027 Travel, permesso di soggiorno, CAF appointment for ISEE parificato

Common mistakes Pakistani applicants make

  • Depositing a lump sum just before the visa. The Embassy checks the history and source of funds, not only the final balance.
  • Missing the DSU deadline because the ISEE documents were not ready. Prepare them in Pakistan.
  • Paying agents for "guaranteed" appointments. Study visa appointments are free and assigned by the Embassy. Read how to avoid scams.
  • Choosing a programme in Italian without the B2 Italian certificate.
  • Assuming Invest Your Talent is open to Pakistan. Check the eligible list first.
  • Forgetting the permesso di soggiorno within eight days of arrival.

More help: document checklist, English test guide, visa and pre-departure checklist, master's motivation letter sample.

Official links

Figures checked on 10 October 2026. Always confirm on the official sites before applying.

Scholarships in Italy

See all scholarships in Italy

Questions and answers

Questions about this guide? Ask here. The 47 Fellows team and other students answer, and everyone can read the replies.

Never shown. We email you when someone answers.

Signed-in students' posts appear straight away. Sign in

No questions yet. Be the first to ask.