Italian Universities and Internationalization

TopUniversities.com takes a look at the current movement of students into and out of Italy, and how these trends relate to wider patterns at European and global level.

There has never been a more exciting time to be a student in higher education. In Europe, the entire landscape of undergraduate and graduate degrees is undergoing a change with the Bologna Declaration, the likes of which have never been seen before.

More and more students are choosing to leave their home country for their studies, with an estimated three million students worldwide currently pursuing degree-level study internationally. Conservative estimated place the market for international education as now being worth more than US$30 billion to the global economy.

Italian students and international students pursuing their studies in Italy have been increasing for a number of years. Alberto Rossi, currently completing a master's degree in Economics at Tilburg University in the Netherlands, is typical of many Italians studying abroad. 

"I completed my bachelor's degree in International Economics and Management at Bocconi University in Milan and chose to study at Tilburg because of the rank of its economics department, considered one of the best in Europe as far as research output is concerned."

More about studying in Italy >

Who studies abroad in Italy?

Students wishing to travel to gain exposure to the best academic brains Europe and the world has to offer are now commonplace and this is often the primary reason for students wishing to seek study opportunities abroad rather than stay at home.

However, compared with many other European countries, Italy has comparatively few international students studying in its universities and colleges.

According to official sources, a little over 32,000 international students are currently studying in Italy, 30% of whom come from Greece and a further 12% from Albania. Additionally, significant numbers from Croatia, Germany, France, Cameroon and Israel study in Italian universities every year.

Conversely, Italian students are among the most mobile in Europe and beyond. With a population of more than 1.8 million students currently enrolled in tertiary education, close to 3% of Italian students spend a period of study time abroad comparing favorably with France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Where do Italians go, and why?

In 2004, more than 7,800 Italians studied in Germany, 7,200 in Austria, 6,000 in the UK and 3,300 in the US. According to The Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities, Italian students make up the highest number of international students in the country's universities.

Alessia Campolmi from Florence, currently studying a Masters in Economics at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) in Barcelona is just one Italian studying in Spain.

Alessia wanted to study abroad because the programs were more challenging, she says. "The master's degree at UPF was the most interesting I could find in Europe, with good professors and located in a fantastic city. The best aspect of studying abroad has been the contact with people from many different backgrounds and countries."

One of the biggest reflections of this global trend is the wide variety of study destinations candidates are willing to consider, particularly for graduate degrees. This generally applies regardless of subject choice, mode of delivery, length of study, cost of programme or teaching style.

A recent survey by QS Research, based on a sample of 1,566 potential postgraduate masters and research candidates, carried out in association with the QS World Grad School Tour, has for the first time revealed how diverse student choice is when looking to pursue a graduate qualification abroad.

The survey confirmed two countries as clear favorites: 75% of respondents indicated that they would choose to study in the US, followed by 65% selecting the UK. The third choice, Canada, achieved 35%.

The ten preferred destinations for graduate study

Outside the top ten, Italy, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, India, Ireland, Japan and Denmark all received interest worthy of note among the candidates attending the 2004 QS World Grad School Tour.

The top ten countries teach the majority of their graduate programs that attract interest from international students in English, confirming the increasing trend of institutions, worldwide, not to teach programs in the national language. For example, South Korea offers more than 300 master's and research degrees in English for international students.

The opportunities for Italian students to study abroad are certainly more available and varied than they have ever been before. But finding out information that is both impartial and thorough can often be a difficult task.

The internet provides a source of good information, but the chance to meet admissions staff and academics from international universities is something that all prospective students should seek. 

Remember, it may be an expensive process applying for and reading a graduate degree at one of the world's leading universities, and it pays to have as complete a picture as possible before you make your final decision.

• A student's guide to life at the Universita di Bologna >
• From the blog: Italy versus Spain >