The University of Genoa (Università degli Studi di Genova, UniGe) is Liguria's main public university, with about 36,000 students — more than 3,000 of them international — five schools and 22 departments; some programmes are taught on its campuses in Savona, Imperia and La Spezia. Its strength for international applicants is the master's level: in 2026/27, 19 master's programmes are taught entirely in English, most of them in engineering fields such as robotics, energy, computer science and yacht design. There are two English-taught bachelor's degrees. Fees depend on family income; without income documents the university contribution is the maximum, $3,430–3,750 (€3,025–3,300) a year, plus stamp duty and regional tax. Visa applicants must complete UniGeApply pre-selection in winter: for 2026/27 the window ran from 26 November 2025 to 20 March 2026.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1481 |
| Size | about 36,000 students, 3,000+ international; 5 schools, 22 departments, 15 libraries |
| Locations | Genoa; Savona (since 1992), Imperia (since 1992/93), La Spezia (since 2001/02) |
| Taught in English (2026/27) | 2 bachelor's, 19 master's fully in English, 3 more with an English track |
| Pre-selection for visa applicants | UniGeApply, 26.11.2025–20.03.2026, earlier for some programmes |
| University fee without ISEE (2026/27) | $3,430 (€3,025) humanities and social sciences; $3,750 (€3,300) medical, scientific and technical |
| With an ISEE parificato | income-scaled, from a $150 (€136) first instalment |
| Regional grant | ALiSEO: up to $8,140 (€7,172) a year, part withheld for housing and meals |
Who UniGe suits
Genoa works well for engineering and computing students looking for an English-taught master's at a public university: it has 19 of them, against 17 at Tor Vergata and 16 at Siena. Bachelor's applicants have fewer options, and anyone unwilling to document family income pays the top rate.
| Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| 19 English-taught master's, including robotics, energy, computer science and maritime logistics | Only two English-taught bachelor's degrees, one of them in Imperia |
| No Italian needed for English-taught degrees | Without an ISEE parificato the fee is the maximum, up to $3,750 |
| Double degrees and Erasmus Mundus programmes in robotics, engineering and yacht design | The visa-applicant window closes in March, some programmes in February |
| ALiSEO grants include housing and meals | First-year bachelor's winners get services first; cash only if funds remain |
For northern engineering alternatives, compare Genoa with the Politecnico di Milano and the University of Pisa.
English-taught programmes in 2026/27
Bachelor's: Computer Engineering (Imperia); Maritime Science and Technology (Genoa).
Master's taught fully in English:
| Area | Programmes |
|---|---|
| Computing and electronics | Computer Science; Computer Engineering (double degree, Erasmus Mundus); Robotics Engineering (double degree); Electronic Engineering; Internet and Multimedia Engineering |
| Energy and environment | Energy Engineering (Savona, double degree); Electrical Engineering for Energy Transition; Environmental Engineering; Engineering for Natural Risk Management (Savona); Management for Energy and Environmental Transition (MEET) |
| Transport, security, sea | Safe Transport and Logistics Engineering; Engineering Technology for Strategy and Security; Yacht Design (La Spezia, Erasmus Mundus) |
| Materials, chemistry, biotech | Advanced Materials Science and Technology; Sustainable Polymer and Process Chemistry; Medical-Pharmaceutical Biotechnology; Bioengineering |
| Economics and architecture | Economics and Data Science; Architectural Composition |
Three further master's offer at least one English track: Digital Humanities — Interactive Systems and Digital Media (Genoa and Savona), Building Engineering and International Relations.
Medicine at Genoa is Italian-taught only, with entry through the national open "filter semester". For English-taught medicine, see IMAT and English-taught medicine in Italy.
Admission: UniGeApply, Universitaly, visa
Everyone with a non-Italian qualification starts with UniGeApply pre-selection. Visa applicants have their own earlier session.
| 2026/27 session | Who | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | non-EU applicants who need a visa | 26 November 2025–20 March 2026 |
| Early closures in the fall session | Medical-Pharmaceutical Biotechnology / Maritime Science and Technology / Computer Engineering (bachelor's) | 13 February / 18 February / 8 March 2026 |
| Spring | Italian and EU citizens, non-EU residents already legally in Italy | from 9 April 2026: master's until 28 August, bachelor's and single-cycle until 25 September |
Steps for a visa applicant:
- Register for UniGe online services and obtain UniGePass credentials.
- Apply in UniGeApply during the fall session with your diploma or degree, transcript and language certificate.
- Once approved, pre-enrol on Universitaly and choose your consulate.
- Complete UniGe pre-enrolment — available only after approval on both UniGeApply and Universitaly.
- Apply for the type D study visa; for 2026/27 consulates accept applications until 30 November 2026.
- After arrival, upload the final documents to confirm enrolment.
Italian is not required for English-taught degrees; for Italian-taught ones the university verifies your certificate, and passing an Italian-language admission test counts as proof. Bachelor's entry requires 12 years of schooling. See our guides to documents for admission to Italy, the Italian student visa and Italian language certificates.
Fees in 2026/27
The total is stamp duty plus regional tax plus a university contribution, paid in three instalments.
| Instalment | What it covers | Deadline for new students |
|---|---|---|
| First | $150 (€136): $18 (€16) stamp duty and the $140 (€120) minimum regional tax | bachelor's and single-cycle by 5 October 2026; open-access master's by 30 November 2026 |
| Second | half of the university contribution plus any regional tax balance | by 10 December 2026 |
| Third | second half of the contribution | by 23 June 2027 |
A first-year student's contribution depends on the ISEE (family income and assets indicator) and the programme class:
| Family ISEE | Humanities and social sciences | Medical, scientific and technical |
|---|---|---|
| up to $34,070 (€30,000) | at most $1,070 (€940) | at most $1,160 (€1,020) |
| up to $73,810 (€65,000) | at most $3,000 (€2,640) | at most $3,310 (€2,915) |
| above $113,550 (€100,000) or no ISEE | $3,430 (€3,025) | $3,750 (€3,300) |
International students with families abroad reduce the fee only through an ISEE-U parificato, prepared free of charge by a tax assistance centre (CAF) affiliated with the university on the basis of income and asset certificates from the authorities of the country where the income arises, translated into Italian by Italian diplomatic missions. 2026/27 deadlines: 31 October 2026 without penalty; until 30 November with a $110 (€100) surcharge; until 15 June 2027 with $230 (€200). ALiSEO grant applicants need not send the ISEE separately; the agency forwards it after the final ranking. See ISEE parificato explained.
ALiSEO grant applicants pay only the $18 (€16) stamp duty at enrolment; if the grant is not awarded or is renounced, the balance becomes due. Visa applicants for 2026/27 must show the consulate at least $11,560 (€10,179.85) per year of living costs.
ALiSEO grant
ALiSEO, Liguria's right-to-study agency, runs grants, residences and canteens for Genoa students. 2026/27 amounts for off-site students applying for ALiSEO housing:
| Family ISEE | Gross grant | Withheld for meals and housing | Net cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| up to $21,450 (€18,893) | $8,140 (€7,172) | $1,320 (€1,165) and $2,950 (€2,600) | $3,870 (€3,407) |
| $21,450–32,180 (€18,893.01–28,339) | $6,030 (€5,307) | same as the row above | $1,750 (€1,542) |
Eligibility caps: ISEE $32,180 (€28,339) and ISPE $69,960 (€61,608). Students with an ISEE up to $16,090 (€14,169.50) get 15% more and women in STEM 20% more (not cumulative).
Funding order matters: continuing students are funded first, then first-year master's students; first-year bachelor's and single-cycle students receive services (housing and meals) first and cash only if funds remain. First-year non-EU students have their own ranking, in ascending ISEE order. Key 2026/27 dates: application from 15 June to 31 July 2026 (noon); ISEEUP 2026 certificate from an ALiSEO-affiliated tax centre uploaded by 19 October 2026. ALiSEO decides. See scholarships in Italy.
Housing
- ALiSEO residences for grant winners, paid from the grant.
- Paid places in ALiSEO residences — for example, for students who stay on after graduating; the monthly rate and conditions are in the ALiSEO call.
- Private rentals — check first where your programme is taught: Savona, Imperia or La Spezia rather than Genoa for several degrees.
ALiSEO pays the off-site rate to students who request one of its residence places; if none is free, a proper rental contract is needed for the rent contribution. Students who turn down the place and do not claim the contribution receive the lower commuter amount. See student housing in Italy.
Planning for 2027/28
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| October–November 2026 | Shortlist programmes, check the teaching site, book IELTS or TOEFL |
| From late November 2026 | Apply in UniGeApply as soon as the fall session opens; by January for early-closing programmes |
| Right after approval | Universitaly pre-enrolment and visa appointment |
| June–July 2027 | ALiSEO application; income certificates for the ISEEUP |
| Autumn 2027 | ISEE-U parificato without penalty if you are not applying to ALiSEO (31 October in the 2026/27 cycle) |
Common mistakes
- Waiting for the spring session, which is not open to visa applicants living abroad.
- Missing an early closure: three English-taught programmes closed in February and early March.
- Ignoring the location: Computer Engineering (bachelor's) is in Imperia, Yacht Design in La Spezia, Energy Engineering in Savona.
- Skipping the ISEE-U parificato, which leaves you on the maximum fee.
- Expecting ALiSEO cash in the first bachelor's year, when housing and meals come first.
FAQ
How much does the University of Genoa cost for international students?
Without family income documents, in 2026/27 the fee is $3,430 (€3,025) a year for humanities and social sciences and $3,750 (€3,300) for medical, scientific and technical programmes. With an ISEE-U parificato up to $34,070 (€30,000) it falls to at most $1,070–1,160 (€940–1,020).
Which programmes are taught in English?
Two bachelor's — Computer Engineering in Imperia and Maritime Science and Technology in Genoa — and 19 master's, including Robotics Engineering, Computer Science, Energy Engineering, Economics and Data Science and Yacht Design.
When should visa applicants apply?
In the UniGeApply fall session. For 2026/27 it ran from 26 November 2025 to 20 March 2026, with three programmes closing earlier: 13 February, 18 February and 8 March.
Do I need Italian?
Not for English-taught programmes. Italian-taught degrees require a verified certificate, or a pass in an admission test held in Italian.
Does Genoa offer Medicine in English?
No. Medicine and Dentistry at Genoa are taught in Italian, with entry through the national open semester. Other public universities run English-taught medicine through IMAT.
Can first-year students get a grant?
Yes, from ALiSEO. An off-site student with an ISEE up to $21,450 (€18,893) can receive an $8,140 (€7,172) grant, from which housing and meals are deducted; first-year bachelor's students receive services first and cash if funds remain.
How can StudyU help?
Programme and campus selection, the UniGeApply application and documents for Universitaly, the visa and ALiSEO are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The university decides on admission, the Italian consulate on the visa and ALiSEO on grants and housing.
Sources
- UniGeApply: international admissions and 2026/27 dates
- UniGe degree catalogue 2026/27
- How fees are calculated
- ISEE-U parificato for international students
- About UniGe
- ALiSEO 2026/27 call in English (PDF)
- ALiSEO grant amounts
Exchange rate used: €1 = $1.1355 (ECB, 29 September 2026). All sources opened and checked on 30 September 2026.
The Italian system, other universities and general timelines are on study in Italy. Programme selection and application planning for Genoa are provided under an agreement with StudyU; start with an application.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- University of Messina: English-Taught Degrees, IMAT Medicine and Fees
- University of Parma: Admission, English-Taught Degrees, Medicine in Piacenza and Fees
- Studying in Italy for international applicants
- Documents for University Admission in Italy (2026–2027): Checklist, Apostille, CIMEA and Declaration of Value
- Italian Language Certificates CILS, CELI and PLIDA: Which One You Need for University and When to Sit It
- ISEE Parificato for International Students: Home-Country Documents, CAF, Timing and Tuition
