University of Palermo 2026/2027: One of Italy’s Cheapest Universities for International Students

By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026

Note: This is not a scholarship — it’s a low-cost university. We include the University of Palermo here because it’s one of the most affordable ways to study in Italy, and pairs well with a need-based grant like Lazio DiSCo (in Lazio) or Sicily’s own ERSU support.

The University of Palermo (Università degli Studi di Palermo, “UniPa”) is a large, historic public university in Sicily, founded in 1806. It offers a broad range of bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes — including a growing list taught in English — in a Mediterranean city known for low living costs, culture and food. For international students on a budget, it’s one of the most cost-effective routes into a European degree.

Why Palermo is so affordable

As a public university, UniPa’s tuition is already low, but two features make it especially cheap for international students:

• Income-based tuition: non-EU students with family resident abroad can pay tuition adjusted to their family’s economic situation (via an ISEE Parificato). Lower declared income means lower fees.
• Near-zero first-year master’s fees for many: under longstanding university rules, extra-EU students enrolling in the first year of a second-cycle (master’s) degree have often been treated in the lowest income band, paying mainly registration fees rather than full tuition. Confirm the current rule for your programme and year.

Combined with Palermo’s low cost of living compared with Milan or Rome, total annual costs can be remarkably modest.

Programmes and language

UniPa offers bachelor’s (3 years / 180 credits) and master’s (2 years / 120 credits) degrees, plus single-cycle and PhD programmes. A number are taught in English — including subjects like Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Business Administration, Management Engineering and Nursing — while many others are in Italian and require an Italian proficiency test. Always check your specific course’s language of instruction and requirements.

Financial support: ERSU and other aid

Beyond low tuition, UniPa works with ERSU (Sicily’s regional right-to-study body) to offer need- and merit-based help: tuition-fee waivers, accommodation, free canteen meals and living grants, awarded competitively on the basis of family income and academic merit. UniPa has also offered dedicated scholarships for students from war-affected countries. These are separate applications from admission.

How to apply: step by step

1. Choose your programme. Pick a bachelor’s or master’s course and confirm its language and admission requirements.
2. Pre-enrol on Universitaly. Non-EU applicants abroad start the pre-enrolment process via the Universitaly platform and the Italian embassy/consulate.
3. Register on the UniPa portal. Create an account on the UniPa student portal and start the enrolment application before the deadline (recent calls for 2026/2027 have closed around 20 July 2026).
4. Prepare your documents. Include your qualifications, and — to access income-based tuition — the ISEE Parificato financial documents.
5. Sit any required tests. Take the Italian language proficiency test if your course is in Italian, or provide English proof for English-taught courses.
6. Apply for ERSU aid. If you want a waiver, accommodation or a living grant, submit the separate ERSU application.
7. Get your visa. After admission, apply for your Italian study visa at the embassy/consulate, then complete final enrolment in Palermo.

Frequently asked questions

Is the University of Palermo free?

Not entirely, but it’s very cheap. Tuition is income-based for non-EU students, and many first-year master’s students pay mainly registration fees rather than full tuition. Living costs in Palermo are also low.

Are there programmes in English?

Yes — UniPa offers a number of bachelor’s and master’s programmes in English, alongside many Italian-taught courses.

Can I get a scholarship at Palermo?

Yes — through ERSU (regional right-to-study) you can apply for fee waivers, accommodation, meals and living grants based on income and merit. These are separate from admission.

Verify details on the official site: unipa.it international students. Tuition rules, deadlines and language requirements change yearly, so always confirm before applying.

Explore more options on our Scholarships hub, including the Lazio DiSCo Scholarship (Italy), DAAD (Germany) and Chevening (UK).

Olami

Olami is the founder and lead writer at AbroadPilot. He started the site after going through the visa process himself — a German student visa in 2019 and a Canadian work permit in 2023 — and learning first-hand how confusing official immigration language can be, how often rules change, and how easy it is to lose money to bad advice. He spent three years as an international education and travel consultant, helping people source and verify the information that landed their visas and planned their trips. Every guide on AbroadPilot is built from official sources — embassy pages, government immigration portals, and .gov fee schedules — and reviewed as requirements change. AbroadPilot does not sell visas or applications; it is a free resource to help readers apply with confidence.