Compare the same applicant profile
This comparison explains fee structure. The current official fee notice determines your bill; historical figures below are not 2027–2028 quotations.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
| University | Basis in existing 2026–2027 guidance | Cost checks | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Padua | Applicant category and fee group; historical figures below | Compulsory charges and waiver exclusions | Padua fee route ↗ |
| Polimi | Study load and economic/applicant category | First instalment and later assessment | Polimi fee route ↗ |
| Bologna | Fixed instalment plus programme/economic contribution | Required financial evidence and degree-specific dates | Bologna fee route ↗ |
How to read an Italian tuition figure
A single number rarely describes every student. The payable amount can depend on the programme, ECTS load, family economic indicator, foreign-income documentation, citizenship or residence category and any exemption. Application fees, regional tax, stamp duty and insurance can sit outside an advertised tuition waiver.
The figures below come from official pages for 2026–2027 and provide a comparison method. Confirm the exact programme and your assessed amount before accepting an offer.
University of Padua
For 2026–2027, Padua lists fixed all-inclusive contributions of €2,790 for Group A and €2,990 for Group B for extra-EU students whose household is not resident in Italy. Other categories and specific reduced-country contributions exist; the minimum advertised fee is not every student's bill.
Check the exact programme, household-residence category, mandatory charges and waiver exclusions. These figures are a labelled historical reference, not confirmed 2027–2028 fees. The university profile links the current fee page and explains how to track future award notices.
Politecnico di Milano
For a standard 46–74 ECTS study plan, Polimi publishes an annual amount from €157.04 up to €3,943.04 according to economic and study-plan conditions. Its 2026–2027 page states a first enrolment instalment of €880.04, with possible reduction through the stated ISEE process, and a later second instalment based on the relevant assessment.
Reserved non-EU master's students admitted with a foreign first degree who do not receive a qualifying scholarship are charged the maximum according to the study-plan percentage under the published rule. Merit scholarships can provide a full tuition waiver and some include an allowance, while DSU follows a separate economic and merit process.
- Published standard annual range: €157.04 to €3,943.04
- 2026–2027 first instalment stated as €880.04 before an applicable reduction
- Foreign-income students may need Equalised ISEEU
- Check merit and DSU applications separately
University of Bologna
Bologna describes its fee as a fixed €157.04 instalment plus a variable contribution based on the degree programme and the family's economic situation. The maximum varies by programme. Applicants who do not submit the required ISEE or foreign-income documents can be charged the full programme amount.
For 2026–2027, the university listed the first instalment by 24 September 2026, followed by possible instalments on 18 December 2026 and 15 March 2027. A degree can set a different first deadline. ER.GO scholarship and accommodation applications use their own calendar.
- Fixed component: €157.04
- Variable amount: programme and economic assessment
- Foreign-income documents affect reductions
- ER.GO and university fee deadlines must both be tracked
Compare the net annual cost
For each university, start with the maximum amount applicable to your category. Subtract only a confirmed waiver or award, then add mandatory charges, housing, food, transport, insurance, residence-permit costs, travel and study materials. Keep the first-year arrival budget separate from the later annual budget.
A lower tuition figure can be outweighed by a higher housing cost, while a large scholarship can arrive after deposits are due. Compare the timing of cash as well as the annual total.
A university comparison worksheet
Record one answer and one official URL for every field. A blank answer is a research task, not permission to assume zero.
- Degree and teaching language
- Admission and application fee
- Maximum tuition for your category
- Economic-document deadline
- Mandatory regional and administrative charges
- Merit scholarship
- Regional DSU route
- Estimated monthly housing
- First payment date and scholarship payment date
Avoid misleading fee comparisons
Do not compare one university's minimum subsidised figure with another university's maximum standard fee. Use the same applicant profile and study load. Distinguish a tuition waiver from a cash scholarship and label every figure with its academic year.
Before paying, reopen the official fee notice from the university account or degree page. A third-party article cannot calculate your final bill.