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STUDYING IN ITALY

Reader question: Where can I take an English-speaking degree in Italy?

Many Italian universities offer degree programmes in English across a wide array of disciplines, allowing more students to take advantage of the perks of studying here.

Published: 17 November 2023 11:08 CET
Reader question: Where can I take an English-speaking degree in Italy?
Italy is home to some of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities. Photo by Davide Cantelli on Unsplash

Studying, and particularly studying in a new country, is no small feat. Throw studying in another language to the mix and things become even harder.

If you dream of studying in Italy, the good news is that there are a whole host of options when it comes to English-taught degrees at public universities.

This may come as a surprise considering Italy is known for not being a particularly anglophone country (it regularly ranks among the countries in Europe with the lowest levels of proficiency in English).

Italy’s universities also offer a relatively low cost of tuition, which has an upper limit of €3,000, while living expenses are also generally cheaper than in other western countries such as the US, Canada and the UK.

READ ALSO: What studying in Italy is really like and what you should expect

What’s more, the price of the course does not increase drastically for overseas students, unlike in Britain for example where fees can almost double.

That’s not to say there aren’t issues. According to the latest Times Higher Education ranking, only 26 of the country’s universities were in the top 500 for 2024. The country attracted 80,000 foreign students in 2020, which is lower than its western European counterparts.

Nevertheless, Italy does provide a more affordable option for those who don’t want to be lumbered with copious amounts of student debt.

Below we’ve listed just some of your best 2024 options.

  • University of Bologna

It should come as no surprise that this academic landmark tops the list. Founded in 1088, it’s known as the oldest university in the world.

Famous alumni include poet Petrarch and filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini. It’s highly regarded across the globe and is Italy’s highest-ranking university, currently placed at 155 on The Times’ list.

At present Bologna has a whopping 89 courses taught in English, with the majority of those being in the Engineering and Architecture, Economics and Management and Sciences departments. 

For more information, see here.

  • La Sapienza of Rome

The Eternal City isn’t just about The Colosseum and The Vatican you know. Its principal university is pretty big news amongst academics and it’s currently number 181 on the Times’ list, third only to Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa.

 A lot of masters courses ranging from data science to economics are taught in English here as are bachelor’s degrees such as classics and global humanities. 

Find more details here.

  • Politecnico di Milano

Strictly speaking, as the name suggests, this was founded as a polytechnic and not a university back in 1863. However, it’s since become known as one of the country’s leading science-technology universities, which is perfect for aspiring engineers and industrial designers.

There are not any English-only courses at Bachelor level, but at Masters level too, with only three of the 46 courses available held only in Italian.

For more information, click on the link here.

  • University of Padua

As the second-oldest university in the country (founded in 1222), it would be odd to not include the University of Padua on this list.

With teaching alumni including Galileo Galilei, it’s well-known throughout the globe. Padua city itself is full of international students, despite its much smaller size compared to the other three cities mentioned above.

READ ALSO: Five things to know before you apply for an Italian student visa

There are only seven Bachelor’s degrees on offer here, but it makes up for that shortfall in its Master’s programmes of which there are 48. Its human rights and multi-level governance course is often said to be one of the best.

For more information, click on the link here

  • Tor Vergata University of Rome

Another Rome entry, Tor Vergata, is well-regarded for its computer science subjects. The university lies just outside of central Rome meaning the cost of living is that bit cheaper for those on a budget. The university has 21 English-taught courses ranging from mechatronics engineering to business administration. 

For more information, see here

Special mentions

There are also a host of private universities in Italy that shouldn’t be ignored. They tend to be a lot more expensive than their public counterparts, but the majority of them have English courses available.

Università Bocconi in Milan is perhaps the most esteemed of the bunch, with LUISS University in Rome coming in at a close second. Both these institutions excel in law, economics, politics and finance.

Humanitas University in Milan offers the only medicine and surgery course in Italy taught in English. The university currently ranks at number 251 on the Times’ list.

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ITALY EXPLAINED

EXPLAINED: When and how much should I tip in Italy?

If a waiter tells you service isn't included, does this mean you should tip? What about the 'servizio' charge? And how much is expected? We look at a common source of confusion at Italian restaurants.

Published: 17 January 2024 12:12 CET
EXPLAINED: When and how much should I tip in Italy?

Question: “We’ve been to a few restaurants in Italy where the waiters say to us “service is not included”. We always feel uncomfortable, like the waiter is running a side scam. If ‘servizio’ is not listed on the bill, are they telling the truth? If so, what percentage should we tip?”

This is a common scenario reported by visitors to Italy. And, as you might suspect, this is not a statement that many Italians eating at restaurants in Italy are likely to hear.

Whether or not this qualifies as a scam, it is at least an attempt to extract more money out of foreign customers assumed to be from a country with a tipping culture (and, more than likely, assumed not to know much about Italy.)

In discussions on Tripadvisor forums, users were scathing of the practice, with one traveller from the UK saying: “A waiter that tells you by the way, service is not included, is definitely trying it on. He would not have got a single cent out of me after that trick.”

READ ALSO: What to do if you’re overcharged at a restaurant in Italy

As regular visitors know, tipping is not required or expected in Italy. Still, restaurant staff in popular destinations will be aware of the generous amounts left as standard by some overseas visitors – and might try to encourage this.

Italian restaurant bills often already include small service charges, normally of a couple of euros per head, which will be listed as servizio on the bill.

(You might also see a ‘coperto’ or cover charge, which is not specifically a service charge, and goes to the restaurant rather than the server.)

If there is no ‘servizio’ charge on the bill, then it’s technically true that service is not included. But still, you’re under no obligation to tip.

READ ALSO: How to spot the Italian restaurants to avoid

Italian wait staff aren’t reliant on tips to get by like they are in many parts of the US. As is the case elsewhere in Europe, they are paid a standard wage and tips are viewed as an added, and optional, extra.

So, while tipping is always appreciated, it’s entirely at the customer’s discretion (beyond ‘servizio’ charges on the bill).

Tipping is, after all, not standard practice among Italians, who may tell you they rarely leave a tip, or only do so if service was exceptional.

READ ALSO: Are English speakers more likely to be targeted by scams in Italy?

If you prefer to tip anyway, remember there’s no need to pay 10 or even 20 percent extra.

Italian-style tipping involves rounding up to the nearest five or ten euros if the service was good – a couple of euros is fine.

Either way, it’s worth noting that any restaurant where staff request tips from foreign customers is likely to be somewhat unscrupulous in other ways, too – and is probably best avoided in future.

Unfortunately, scams are regularly reported at restaurants in Italy’s tourism hotspots, just as in many other countries, and overcharging has also become more common. Read more about what to do if you’re overcharged here.

Do you have a question about Italy that you’d like to see answered on The Local? Get in touch by email here.

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