Study in Italy, A to Z
A question and answer guide for students in Bangladesh, from the first decision to your residence permit card. Free, and sourced from the official rules.
Choose your program
Each one is a complete guide for that level, so you only need to read one of the three.
Bachelor's in Italy
For students finishing HSC or A levels. Three years, and the narrowest choice of English taught courses.
Master's in Italy
For students with a bachelor’s degree, or in their final year. The widest choice of English taught courses, and the most scholarships.
PhD in Italy
For students with a master’s degree. Paid positions, won through a public competition.
Then read this, whichever one you chose
The visa rules are the same for every non EU student, so they are in one place rather than repeated three times.
The Italian rules are the same for every non EU student. Where this guide describes documents, the embassy and VFS, it describes the process from Bangladesh. If you are applying from another country, the Italian half still applies; check your own embassy for the rest.
If you are reading this in late 2026
The visa deadline for starting in 2026/27 is 30 November 2026. To meet it you already need an admission, a validated Universitaly pre enrolment and your documents in hand. If you are starting from nothing today, you are almost certainly planning for 2027/28 instead, where the visa deadline is 31 October 2027. Read the guide with that year in mind.
Not sure which one fits?
| Bachelor's | Master's | PhD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian name | Laurea (triennale) | Laurea Magistrale | Dottorato di ricerca |
| Length | 3 years, 180 credits (Medicine 6 years) | 2 years, 120 credits | Usually 3 years |
| You need | 12 years of school | An official bachelor's that allows master's study in your country | A master's degree |
| How you are selected | University application, sometimes an entrance test | University application based on your degree and subjects | Public competition: CV, research proposal, interview |
| Main funding | DSU regional scholarship, fee reductions | DSU, MAECI, Invest Your Talent, university scholarships | Funded positions, at least €16,243 gross a year |
| Visa deadline for 2026/27 | 30 November 2026 | 30 November 2026 | No fixed date, but before activities start |
| Usual start | September or October | September or October | 1 November |
Sources: MUR circular, University of Pisa.
What changed in 2026 (this applies to everyone)
- More money to show. €10,179.85 per year of study for the visa, not the old figure of about €6,900.
- Earlier deadlines. Bachelor's and master's visa applications close on 30 November 2026 for 2026/27 and on 31 October 2027 for 2027/28.
- A cap on places. Universities can validate Universitaly pre enrolments only up to their places for non EU students plus 20%.
- Stricter English proof in Dhaka. IELTS 6 or above, unless your university has already verified your English on Universitaly.
- New document route in Bangladesh. MOFA e Apostille through MyGov instead of embassy legalisation.
- Fingerprints are taken for national (D type) visas too, since 11 January 2025.
Living costs by city
| City | Average monthly rent, single room |
|---|---|
| Milan | €704 |
| Florence | €627 |
| Rome | €615 |
| Bologna | €585 |
| Bergamo | €504 |
| Padova | €494.50 |
| Turin | €479 |
| Brescia | €478 |
| Verona | €473 |
| Venice | €456 |
| Trento | €444 |
Source: Immobiliare.it Insights, reported by AGI on 12 August 2026. Asking rents; bills usually extra.
Rent is the biggest monthly cost wherever you study. Rents fell 6.2% across Italy compared with 2025, but Rome rose 7% (AGI). These are city averages: a room near the centre costs more, and a bed in a shared double room costs less.
Timeline for bachelor's and master's applicants
| Step | Recommended window |
|---|---|
| Shortlist courses, take IELTS | October 2026 to January 2027 |
| Apostille papers on MyGov | November 2026 to January 2027 |
| Apply to universities | November 2026 to April 2027 |
| Scholarships: MAECI, Invest Your Talent | Mid January to May 2027 |
| CIMEA or Declaration of Value (about 3 months) | February to May 2027 |
| Universitaly pre enrolment | April to July 2027 |
| Visa file at VFS | June to October 2027 |
| DSU scholarship and housing | July to September 2027 |
| Arrive, residence permit kit within 8 working days | September to October 2027 |
| Visa deadline (national rules) | 31 October 2027 |
These windows are a recommended plan, not official dates. Only the 31 October 2027 visa deadline comes from the national rules, and your university may set an earlier one. PhD applicants follow a different calendar, explained in the PhD guide.
Sources
Nearly every answer links to its official source: the ministry circular, an embassy page, a university's own rules.
A handful of figures, mainly scholarship deadlines and amounts, come from news sites and scholarship aggregators because I could not find them on an official page. Those are marked where they appear. Treat them as a guide to roughly when things happen in the year, not as the rule. The full list is in Sources and official links.
This page explains official rules in plain language. I am not an immigration adviser and I do not give visa advice. For that, always use official government sources. Rules change: confirm with your university, the embassy and VFS before you act.
Stuck on your own case?
The guide answers the common questions. If yours is not here, book a session and we will work through it together.