Top Universities for Masters Study in Italy - 2026

If you’re planning to study a Masters in Italy, you will be introduced to the rather extensive higher education system of the country. There are many different kinds of institutions that award Masters degrees in Italy. They are either state (or publicly) funded or privately funded. Many universities also offer courses taught in English so make sure to check what's available on the institution websites.

• State universities are completely autonomous and have full legal capacity.
• Private universities need to be accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education to be able to award valid postgraduate degrees

Qualifications from State-recognised private universities carry the same weight as those awarded by state universities. The only difference is in the way they are funded.

As a postgraduate student you can choose from one of these kinds of institutions to study a Masters degree in Italy:

• Universities (Università) (both state and privately funded) are focused on scientific research and award postgraduate degrees at both Masters and doctoral levels.
• Polytechnics (politecnici) offer the same level of qualifications as universities (università) but only in Engineering and Architecture.
• Institutes for Higher Artistic Education (Istituzioni AFAM — Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale) include Academies of Fine Arts, National Drama Academies, State Music Conservatories and National Dance Academies among other art-related educational institutions.
• Higher schools (Scuole Superiori) are a list of institutions that have special legal status which allows them to specialise solely in postgraduate university studies.
• Universities for foreigners (Università per Stranieri) are universities oriented towards providing foreign students with knowledge of Italian language and culture. There are two of these universities (the oldest in Perugia, founded in 1921, and the other in Siena). Their other responsibility is to administer the two Italian language tests (CILS and CELI).
• Online/distance universities that deliver state-accredited courses by e-learning.

Home to one of the world’s oldest universities: the University of Bologna (founded in 1088), Italy is recognised as one of Europe’s historic centres for higher education. It continues to live up to international standards with a number of universities ranking highly on global ranking tables. This makes Italy an excellent place for international students to study.

The table below lists the 10 best universities in Italy according to global rankings. This information is based on the latest rankings tables, researched and published by Times Higher Education, QS and the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). It is important to note that each ranking system has their own methodology, and different factors affect the final result for a particular university.

For more information have a look at our guide on using international rankings as a postgraduate.

Italy introduced the three-cycle structure of higher education that is followed across Europe (also known as the Bologna process). This system aims to allow easy credit transfer (called ECTS) and a qualification recognition framework within Europe. In Italy, you’ll have the opportunity to attend historic universities, benefit from cutting edge modern research and enjoy the chance to explore one of the most beautiful parts of Europe.

Search for a Masters in Italy

You can browse and compare a list of available Masters degrees in Italy on the FindAMasters website.

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