study in Bologna
The world's oldest university, in a red-brick city organised around students for nine centuries — and the most affordable of Italy's major student cities.
Bologna has been a university city since 1088, and it still is in a way few places are: the student population shapes the food, the housing, the politics and the nightlife, and the medieval porticoes mean you can cross the city in the rain without an umbrella.
The University of Bologna is very large and very broad, with a strong international presence and a growing set of English-taught programmes. Emilia-Romagna, the surrounding region, is Italy's engineering and food-production heartland — automotive, packaging machinery and agri-food.
It is also affordable by Italian standards, and the regional right-to-study body is among the better-funded in the country.
One very large historic university, dominant across the city and the region.
Università di Bologna
Founded 1088, the oldest university in continuous operation; engineering, medicine, law, economics, agriculture and the humanities.Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Nearby in Modena; engineering — particularly automotive — medicine and economics.Bologna is the most affordable of Italy's major student cities. Combined with income-banded public tuition and Emilia-Romagna's regional grants, the total cost of a degree here can be remarkably low for a well-prepared applicant.
Against the other cities we cover in Italy, Bologna is one of the cheaper. That is our reading of this country’s own spread, not a published index.
Beyond income-banded tuition, Emilia-Romagna awards regional right-to-study grants (DSU).
The practical texture of the place — what a week actually looks like.
Climate
Continental like Milan — cold foggy winters, hot humid summers. Less mild than the south.
Getting around
Buses and a compact centre most students walk or cycle. The porticoes make walking practical in any weather.
Housing
More affordable than Milan or Rome, though student demand is high. Regional DSU housing is the cheapest route — apply on time.
Working
Up to 20 hours a week (1,040 hours a year). Italian is normally required; the student economy provides most of the openings.
Language
A growing number of English-taught programmes, particularly at master's level. The city itself runs in Italian.
Student culture
The most concentrated in Italy. Cheap food, cheap events and a social structure that assumes you are a student.
Emilia-Romagna's right-to-study body awards regional right-to-study grants (DSU) on income and merit — covering tuition, a housing place and a meal allowance for students who qualify.
Emilia-Romagna is generally regarded as one of Italy's better-funded regions for these grants, which makes Bologna one of the strongest total-cost propositions in Europe for a student whose family income is genuinely low and correctly documented. The mechanism is the same everywhere: file the ISEE parificato through an authorised CAF, then apply to the regional body before its deadline. Both need translated and legalised documents from Nepal — start months ahead.
Bologna is one of 3 cities we cover in Italy. Tap any pin to compare — the city you pick moves your total cost more than almost any other choice you make.