University of Bologna for international students: fees, programs and admission
The oldest university in the Western world by its own account, with 97 English-taught programs and a reduced fee for non-OECD students.
The University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum, UniBo) dates its founding to 1088, a conventionally accepted year, and calls itself the oldest university in the Western world. Today it has five campuses in Emilia-Romagna, 97,235 students and 97 English-taught bachelor's, single-cycle and master's programs. It also ranks #123 in the QS World University Rankings, third in Italy.
It suits applicants who want a large Italian university, strong humanities, law or economics, and low fees: students from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar pay a reduced flat fee of €1,157 a year for a bachelor's.
It suits you less if you need one fixed test, one deadline and guaranteed housing. Every program runs its own selection, non-EU seats are limited, dorm places are scarce, and UniBo does not work with agencies, so you apply yourself.
| Key fact | Details |
|---|---|
Founded | 1088 (conventionally accepted date) |
Campuses | Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, Rimini |
Students | 97,235, including 11,302 international students |
English-taught programs | 15 bachelor's and single-cycle, 82 master's |
QS World University Rankings | #123 in the world, 3rd in Italy |
Reduced flat fee, non-OECD citizens | Bachelor's €1,000 + €157.04; master's €1,200 + €157.04 per year |
Admission | Each program has its own call (bando), test and rounds |
University of Bologna tuition fees
Standard fees depend on family income (ISEE, an Italian income indicator); without ISEE you pay the maximum. For most of our applicants the better option is the reduced flat fee for non-OECD citizens whose family income is earned only abroad. A declaration of income is enough, with no certificates.
| Program level | Standard fee (by ISEE) | Reduced flat fee: non-OECD (PK, IN, NG, EG, SA, UAE, QA) | Reduced flat fee: particularly poor countries (incl. Bangladesh) |
|---|---|---|---|
Bachelor's | €157.04 (ISEE up to €27,000) to €2,040 | €1,000 + €157.04 = €1,157.04 | €500 + €157.04 = €657.04 |
Master's | €157.04 (ISEE up to €27,000) to €2,550 | €1,200 + €157.04 = €1,357.04 | €600 + €157.04 = €757.04 |
Medicine and Surgery (English) | €157.04 to €3,315 | We confirm for your case | We confirm for your case |
Fees for the next academic year are not published yet. The reduced flat fee cannot be combined with the No Tax Area exemption, and ER.GO scholarship winners pay no fees at all. Each selection call also charges an application fee: €20 for CLaBE and International Studies, €50 for the International Management master's.
The last UniBo grant for international students, International Talents, was master's-only: 30 grants of €6,500 a year, with a GRE requirement. No new call has been published. The realistic support is the need-based ER.GO scholarship: up to €7,171.11 a year, see our DSU scholarship page.
What a year at the University of Bologna costs
EUR per year, current fees
- Bachelor's, reduced flat fee (non-OECD)€1,157.04
- Master's, reduced flat fee (non-OECD)€1,357.04
- Bachelor's, income-based (ISEE)€157.04–2,040
- Master's, income-based (ISEE)€157.04–2,550
- Medicine and Surgery (English), ISEE€157.04–3,315
Let's review your case in a free consultation
We will match a country, university and programme to your documents and budget, and explain deadlines and the visa.
or message us
Programs and the degree you receive
UniBo offers 15 English-taught bachelor's and single-cycle programs, mostly in economics and management (6) and political sciences (3), plus pharmacy, sciences, engineering, medicine, statistics and veterinary medicine. At master's level there are 82 programs in English. Examples:
- Business and Economics (CLaBE), Bologna campus, bachelor's.
- International Studies, Forlì campus, bachelor's.
- Medicine and Surgery, six-year single-cycle program in English, with an admission test.
Admission requirements for international students
1
Check your school certificate — Italy requires at least 12 years of schooling for a bachelor's. Most systems in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Egypt have 12 years, but we verify your case. If your country has a compulsory university entrance exam, you need its result too.
2
Read the call (bando) of your program — there is no single UniBo test. CLaBE ranks applicants only by SAT score, with no minimum. International Studies uses CEnT-S (the CISIA test that replaced English TOLC-E) or SAT, depending on the round. Master's programs like International Management review your CV, then interview you in English. The call also states the seats reserved for non-EU applicants.
3
Prove your English — at least B2, which the consulate also checks in all four skills. The IELTS or TOEFL minimum is set by the program.
4
Take the selection through Studenti Online — UniBo's own portal.
5
Pre-enroll on Universitaly — after admission, on the official free portal, for one program only.
Timeline: UniBo has not published dates for the next intake yet. In the last cycle, first bachelor's rounds ran from February to late April or early May, and in CLaBE non-EU seats existed only in that first round. Have your test score and English certificate ready early. UniBo offices close for part of August, and the visa deadline is October 31.
What to know before you apply
UniBo does not work with agencies. The university states it has no recruiters abroad and no agreement with any agency, so you apply yourself. Our role: we assess your chances, prepare your documents, check your application before you send it, and build a plan B at other universities. UniBo staff write only from @unibo.it addresses, and neither UniBo nor ER.GO asks for prepayment for scholarships.
Other honest limits:
- Seats for non-EU students are few. In the current intake: 32 of 190 in CLaBE (first round only), 20 of 180 in International Studies, 30 of 70 in International Management, and 20 non-EU seats against 140 EU seats in Medicine.
- Medicine in English: in the most recent intake admission was by test (IMAT). The format for the next intake has not been announced.
Rankings and accreditation
In the QS World University Rankings, UniBo is #123 in the world and third in Italy. In QS by Subject it is #49 in Arts and Humanities and #73 in Social Sciences and Management. Nine subjects are in the global top 50, including Archaeology (#19), Petroleum Engineering (#24) and Law (#40). UniBo is first in Italy in 16 subjects.
International admission runs through Italy's national Universitaly procedure. For recognition at home, especially for medicine, check your national regulator's rules before you enroll; we help with this during the consultation.
Housing and student life
Housing is the hardest part. ER.GO, the regional student agency, has only 1,842 places in Bologna for about 97,000 UniBo students. Of the free places, 6% go to non-EU first-year students. In the last cycle, ER.GO housing and scholarship applications ran June 23 to August 24; late ones were rejected.
A private single room costs around €585 a month on average; budget roughly €950–1,250 a month in total. For the visa you need a hotel booking, rental contract or assigned dorm place, not a pending dorm application. ER.GO scholarship holders must earn 20 credits (CFU) by November 30 of the next year, or return the money.
Student visa
You need a type D study visa from the Italian consulate in your country of residence. Key requirements:
- Validated pre-enrollment on Universitaly.
- €10,179.85 per academic year plus a return ticket; family funds (relatives up to the fourth degree) count, cash and pending scholarships do not.
- Housing proof, health insurance valid in Italy, fingerprints.
Only the consulate decides; a validated application does not guarantee a visa. After arrival, apply for a residence permit within 8 working days (€116.46 the first year). Details: Italy student visa.
Other options
If UniBo's program or seat count does not fit, compare it with Politecnico di Milano for engineering and architecture, or Bocconi University for business (€17,000 a year). Planning medicine? Read our guide to medicine in Italy first. See also admission through Universitaly and our study in Italy overview.
14 questions to ask before you pay the deposit
Deposits are almost never refundable. Ask these by email before paying — and keep the university's answer on record.
- What to ask about the programme, accreditation and the degree
- What tuition does not include and when a deposit is refunded
- Who files the visa application — you or the university
- Five red flags that mean you should not pay
UniBo's rules differ for every program, and you apply on your own. Book a free consultation: we check your documents against UniBo's requirements for your chosen program, estimate your chances and compare 2–3 alternatives in Italy. Write to us through the contact form, WhatsApp or Telegram.