Study in Italy from Bangladesh
Low public tuition and a scholarship that covers living costs
Italy is one of the most affordable places in Europe for a Bangladeshi student: public university tuition runs €0–4,000 per year, and the regional DSU scholarship can waive tuition entirely while adding accommodation, meals and a stipend. Italy does not require a blocked account — you show evidence that you can support yourself for a year. From the 2026/27 academic year that figure jumped from €6,947.33 to €10,179.85, a rise of about 46%. The main intake is September, applications open the previous winter, and pre-enrolment on the government's Universitaly portal is a mandatory step before the visa.
Italy — Key facts at a glance
| Tuition (per year) | €0–4,000 |
|---|---|
| Living cost (per month) | €450–800 |
| Proof of funds | €10,180 / year |
| Blocked account | Not required |
| IELTS | 5.5–6 |
| Intakes | September, February |
| Part-time work | 20 hours a week |
| Post-study stay | 12 months |
| Long-term residence | after 5 years |
| EU / Schengen | EU member · Schengen |
Official sources — check for yourself
Last reviewed: 14 September 2026- Universitaly — the official pre-enrolment portal
- MUR/MAECI circular 2026/27 — the €10,179.85 means-of-subsistence requirement
- Study in Italy — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Embassy of Italy, Dhaka
- VFS Global — Italy (Bangladesh)
Visa and tuition rules change. We review these figures periodically, but always confirm the current requirement with the official source above before you apply — the final decision always rests with the relevant authority.
Italy — Key facts at a glance
| Tuition (per year) | €0–4,000 |
|---|---|
| Living cost (per month) | €450–800 |
| Proof of funds | €10,180 / year |
| Blocked account | Not required |
| IELTS | 5.5–6 |
| Intakes | September, February |
| Part-time work | 20 hours a week |
| Post-study stay | 12 months |
| Long-term residence | after 5 years |
| EU / Schengen | EU member · Schengen |
Why Italy?
Italy has quietly become the default answer for Bangladeshi students who want a recognised European degree without a five-figure tuition bill. Public universities charge on a sliding scale tied to family income, which means a student from an ordinary Bangladeshi household often lands at the bottom of the scale — sometimes at zero. Add the DSU regional scholarship and the picture changes again: tuition waived, a hall of residence, a meal card and a cash stipend.
The trade-off is process, not money. Italy runs its student intake through a government portal called Universitaly, and pre-enrolment there is a hard prerequisite for the visa appointment — no pre-enrolment, no visa, regardless of how good your offer letter is. Deadlines are earlier than students expect, and DSU applications run on a separate regional calendar from the university's own admission.
English-taught programmes are widespread at Master's level and increasingly common at Bachelor's, so Italian is not a requirement to study. It is, however, close to a requirement to work part-time and to live comfortably outside the big student cities.
What we would tell you honestly
- DSU is competitive and regional. Winning it is not guaranteed, and the amount and rules differ by region — plan your budget as though you will not get it, and treat it as upside if you do.
- Universitaly pre-enrolment is a hard gate. Miss the window and the intake is gone, even with an offer letter in hand.
- From AY 2026/27 two dates govern the file: visa applications for Laurea, Laurea Magistrale and Diploma accademico courses must reach the consulate by 30 November 2026 (31 October 2027 for AY 2027/28), while a Master, PhD, Erasmus or foundation course has no national deadline, and institutions may validate pre-enrolment applications only up to their allocated international places plus a maximum of 20 percent. Universities may set earlier dates of their own, so pre-enrol as early as you can rather than aiming at the deadline.
- Part-time work in Italy is genuinely harder without Italian. Budget on the assumption that work will not cover your living costs in the first year.
- Public university deadlines are early — often eight to ten months before classes start. Students who begin in the summer for a September start have usually already missed it.
Tuition that scales with your income
Public universities set fees using an income-based bracket (ISEE). Students from lower-income households routinely pay the minimum, and many pay nothing at all.
DSU covers more than tuition
The regional right-to-study scholarship is need-based, not merit-only. A successful application can mean free tuition, a place in a hall of residence, a meal card and a stipend paid across the year.
No blocked account
Unlike Germany or Austria, Italy asks for evidence of means — a bank statement and solvency certificate — rather than money frozen in a special account you cannot touch.
A large, established Bangladeshi community
Rome, Milan, Bologna, Padua and Turin all have long-standing Bangladeshi communities, which makes the first few months materially easier.
Schengen access
An Italian residence permit lets you travel across the Schengen area, which matters for internships, conferences and family visits.
Strong fields beyond the obvious
Engineering, architecture, design, economics and medicine are all well regarded, and several Italian universities rank highly in their specialisms.
Monthly living costs
| Accommodation (shared / hostel) | €150–400 |
|---|---|
| Food | €120–220 |
| Transport | €25–45 |
| Other | €60–130 |
| Total per month | €450–800 |
Proof of funds for the visa
€10,179.85, shown as evidence of means for one year (raised from €6,947.33 for 2026/27). No blocked account required.
First-year estimate
Tuition €0–4,000 plus living costs of about €5,400–9,600 a year gives a first-year total of roughly €5,400–13,600.
Figures are approximate and vary by university, city and programme. Public universities assess tuition on family income, so your actual fee may be well below the top of the range.
Who can apply
- Academic
- HSC or equivalent for a Bachelor's; a recognised Bachelor's degree for a Master's. Some programmes set a subject-specific entry test.
- Study gap
- A study gap of two to three years is generally accepted with a documented, honest explanation.
- Age
- No formal upper age limit, though a very large gap needs a stronger justification.
- Finances
- Evidence of €10,179.85 available for the first year, via bank statement and solvency certificate. A close relative may sponsor, and the consulate checks the origin and traceability of the money as well as the amount.
English requirement
Most English-taught programmes ask for IELTS 6.0, with some accepting 5.5. For admission, many universities accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate or an Italian B2 certificate instead, and requirements vary by programme. For the visa, the Embassy of Italy in Dhaka asks for a language certificate unless your university has already verified your language and reported it on your Universitaly pre-enrolment; when it asks, the only English certificate it lists is IELTS at 6.0 or above, no more than two years old. So ask your university whether it will record that before relying on an MOI letter or Duolingo, and if it will not, plan for IELTS.
Accepted alternatives
- MOI certificate (admission; for the visa only if your university reports it on Universitaly)
- Italian B2
- Duolingo or TOEFL (some universities; for the visa only if your university reports it on Universitaly)
Documents you will need
- Valid passport
- Academic transcripts and certificates, translated and legalised
- IELTS or an accepted English-proficiency alternative
- Statement of purpose / motivation letter
- Bank statement and bank solvency certificate
- Universitaly pre-enrolment confirmation
- Declaration of Value (DoV) or equivalent academic recognition
- Accommodation confirmation and health insurance
Intakes
- Autumn — SeptemberThe main intake; applications typically open the previous December
- Spring — FebruarySmaller, fewer programmes
Popular fields
Engineering · Architecture and design · Economics and management · Computer science · Medicine and health sciences
Work and staying on
- During your studies
- Up to 20 hours a week, and the hours may be banked across the 52 weeks — a heavier summer is legal — but never more than 1,040 hours in a year.
- After graduation
- A job-search residence permit after graduation of not less than nine and not more than twelve months. Twelve is the ceiling, not a guarantee, and it is conditional on income and health-insurance requirements.
- Long-term residence
- Not directly. Italian law excludes time held on a study permit from the five-year EU long-term residence route — you must first convert to a work or family permit, and the clock effectively starts there.
- 110–12 months before
Shortlist and check the ISEE picture
Pick programmes taught in English, and check each university's income-based fee brackets and DSU regional rules so you know your real cost rather than the headline one.
- 28–10 months before
Sit IELTS and prepare documents
Book the test early, and start academic document translation and legalisation — this step consistently takes longer than students expect.
- 36–8 months before
Apply to universities and to DSU
University admission and the DSU scholarship are separate applications on separate calendars. Submit both.
- 44–5 months before
Accept the offer and pre-enrol on Universitaly
Pre-enrolment is mandatory and gates the visa. Do it as soon as your offer is confirmed.
- 52–3 months before
Build the visa file
Bank statement, solvency certificate, accommodation, insurance and the Declaration of Value, assembled to embassy standard.
- 61–2 months before
Visa appointment and departure
Submit through VFS in Dhaka, prepare for any interview, then book flights and arrange arrival logistics.
Università di Bologna
BolognaPublic
Computer science · Economics · Automation engineering · International relations
Politecnico di Milano
MilanPublic
Architecture · Product design · Management engineering · Computer science
Sapienza Università di Roma
RomePublic
Medicine and surgery · Engineering · Economics · Physics
Università di Padova
PaduaPublic
Data science · Psychology · Molecular biology · Electronic engineering
Università di Pavia
PaviaPublic
Electronic engineering · World politics · Economics
Do I need a blocked account to study in Italy?+
No. Italy does not use a blocked account. You show that you can support yourself for a year — €10,179.85 from the 2026/27 academic year, up from €6,947.33 — through a bank statement and a bank solvency certificate. A close relative can act as your sponsor. Note that the consulate examines where the money came from, not just that it is there.
Can I apply without knowing Italian?+
Yes. Many Bachelor's and most Master's programmes are taught entirely in English, so IELTS or an accepted alternative is enough to apply. Italian still matters a great deal for part-time work and daily life, so it is worth starting before you arrive.
How does the DSU scholarship actually work?+
DSU is a regional, need-based right-to-study scholarship assessed on family income and assets. If you qualify it can waive tuition and provide a hall place, a meal card and a stipend. It is applied for separately from admission, on the region's own deadline.
What is Universitaly and why does it matter?+
Universitaly is the Italian government's official pre-enrolment portal. Completing pre-enrolment there is a prerequisite for the student visa — without it the embassy will not process your application, whatever your offer letter says.
How long does the visa take?+
Once the file is complete, processing at VFS in Dhaka typically takes several weeks. The realistic constraint is document preparation — translation, legalisation and the Declaration of Value — not the embassy's own turnaround.
Can I work while studying in Italy?+
Yes, up to 20 hours a week during term. Be realistic: without Italian, part-time work is harder to find and will not usually cover your living costs, especially in your first year.
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Read the guideNot sure whether Italy fits your profile?
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