Indian students increasingly choose Italy for studies

Leverage Edu data indicates a significant rise in Indian students applying to Italian universities for the 2026-27 academic year, with applications increasing fivefold compared to the previous year.

In mid-2025, applications to the rest of Europe surpassed those to the UK for the first time, driven primarily by Italy, Germany, Ireland, and France.

Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO of Leverage Edu, noted that Italian public university tuition fees range from €500 to €4,500 annually, much lower than in the UK or the US.

The Italian government's Invest Your Talent in Italy program provides selected Indian master's students with €10,800 annually and an internship with an Italian company, with additional scholarships in design and architecture for the 2026-27 intake.

The number of English-taught programs in Italy increased by about 30% between 2019 and 2024, reaching around 1,250, making Italy Europe's fifth-largest provider of such programs.

Italian universities have seen international enrollments grow by about 10% annually since 2022, the second-fastest rate in Europe after Spain, with India now among the top five countries sending students to Italy.

Indian students show strong interest in engineering, architecture and design, management, and data science and AI programs, with Milan, Turin, Bologna, Rome, and Padua being the most sought-after cities.

Graduates can stay in Italy for up to 12 months to seek employment and transition to a work permit with a job offer, supported by the India-Italy Migration and Mobility Agreement signed in November 2023.