Why Indian students are choosing Italy for higher education but leaving after graduation

Italy attracts Indian students with affordable degrees but struggles to retain graduates (Representative image)

Walk through the corridors of public universities in Milan, Bologna, or Rome today and you’ll increasingly hear Indian languages alongside Italian. Italy, once a peripheral choice for Indian students heading overseas, is now firmly on the map as a European study destination. Studyportals data published in 2024 places India among the top five source countries for international students in Italy, alongside Romania, Albania, China, and Iran — each sending more than 5,000 students to Italian universities — underscoring how quickly India’s presence has grown on Italian campuses.Media reports citing Government of India data show that 6,017 Indian students were studying in Italy on study visas in 2024, up from 5,196 in 2023. Before the pandemic, 4,791 Indian students were enrolled in Italian institutions in 2019, a number that declined during Covid-19 to 3,211 in 2020 and 3,008 in 2021, before recovering strongly in the post-pandemic years.This growth aligns with Italy’s broader internationalisation push. Italian government statistics released in 2024 show that the country hosted around 110,000 international students, a 14% increase compared with 2019, with international enrolments rising by close to 10% per year since 2022.Cost, visas, and value for moneyAffordability remains one of Italy’s strongest selling points, particularly for Indian families sensitive to rising education costs elsewhere.According to Italian Ministry of University and Research guidelines, tuition fees at public universities typically range between €500 and €4,500 per year for bachelor’s and master’s programmes, depending on the institution, programme, and household income assessment.Visa and financial requirements are also relatively modest. Under rules administered by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, a long-term national study visa (Type D) costs approximately €50, while proof-of-funds requirements are set at around €6,080 per year, a threshold published by Italian authorities and referenced in national student visa guidance.Living costs vary by city, but estimates published by Study.eu, a European higher education information portal, suggest students typically need €900–€1,300 per month to cover accommodation, food, transport, and basic expenses.English-taught programmes change the equationAnother major driver of Indian interest has been Italy’s rapid expansion of degree programmes taught entirely in English.A 2024 joint report by Studyportals and the British Council shows that Italy is now the fifth-largest provider of English-taught programmes in Europe, offering around 1,250 English-language degree programmes in 2024, representing growth of roughly 30% since 2019.Of Italy’s approximately 90 universities, around 60 institutions now offer full degree programmes taught in English, according to national programme data compiled by Studyportals. Leading examples include the University of Bologna, which offers close to 100 English-taught programmes across AI, economics, genomics, and engineering, and Politecnico di Milano, which specialises in English-taught degrees in engineering, design, and applied sciences.Rankings and reputation are improvingItaly’s academic visibility has also improved. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, Politecnico di Milano entered the global top 100 for the first time, ranking 98th worldwide. Sapienza University of Rome (128th) and the University of Bologna (138th) were also ranked within the global top 200.Overall, 15 Italian universities appeared in the global top 500, and 43 Italian institutions were ranked in total, placing Italy second in Europe after Germany for the number of ranked universities.Retaining graduates: Italy’s weak spotDespite growing international enrolments, Italy continues to struggle with graduate retention — particularly among foreign students.According to European Union labour force statistics, Italy has one of the lowest proportions of university-educated foreign residents of working age in the EU, at 11.7%, compared with an EU average of 28%.This challenge is amplified by Italy’s demographics. Data from ISTAT, Italy’s national statistics agency, shows that around 25% of the population is aged 65 or older, placing Italy among the world’s most “super-aged” societies.Economic factors play a decisive role. The Mercer Total Remuneration Survey 2024 ranks Italy among the lowest EU countries for graduate compensation. Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore has also reported that Italy performs near the bottom of the EU when it comes to retaining foreign graduates.The wage gap was highlighted publicly by Fabio Panetta, Governor of the Bank of Italy, during an official address at the University of Messina in January 2026. Drawing on Bank of Italy labour market analysis, Panetta described the situation as a crisis, noting that a young graduate in Germany earns on average 80% more than an Italian peer, while the gap with France is approximately 30%.Work rights and post-study hurdlesUnder Italy’s Consolidated Immigration Act (Testo Unico sull’Immigrazione) and related regulations, international graduates are permitted to remain in the country for up to 12 months on a temporary residence permit to search for employment or start a business.However, converting this status into a work permit requires a formal job offer and is subject to Italy’s annual decreto flussi quota system, which caps the number of non-EU workers employers can hire each year.Long-term settlement is even more demanding. To apply for permanent residence, international graduates must demonstrate five years of continuous legal residence, proof of stable income of at least €7,002 per year, certified housing, and A2-level Italian language proficiency, as stipulated by Italian immigration law.A familiar outcome for Indian studentsThe result is a pattern increasingly visible among Indian graduates. Italy is becoming a popular entry point into European higher education — offering affordable degrees, English-taught programmes, and improving global rankings. But limited job opportunities, low graduate wages, and complex immigration pathways mean many Indian students leave after graduation.Italy, in short, is succeeding in attracting Indian students. The far harder task now is ensuring that those it educates can also see a future there.