Number of Turkish students in Italy quadruples in 5 years

In April 2025, a classroom at Rome’s Luiss Guido Carli University—Italy’s third-best institution for business and management—hosted a striking demographic snapshot: 13 students studying economics, five of them from Türkiye.

According to Oksijen daily from Türkiye, this small group reflects a much larger trend. Data from five prominent Italian universities show that the number of Turkish students has surged from 866 in the 2019–20 academic year to 3,387 in 2024–25, nearly quadrupling in five years.

To put the scale in context, the number of Turkish students at these five universities now nearly matches the entire student population of Galatasaray University in Türkiye, which was 3,880 in the 2023–24 academic year.

University	Country	2019–2020	2024–2025
Politecnico di Torino	Italy	373	1,790
University of Padua	Italy	87	608
University of Bologna	Italy	155	635
Bocconi University	Italy	207	272
University of Milan	Italy	44	82
Technical University of Munich	Germany	436	737
Technical University of Berlin	Germany	334	543
RWTH Aachen	Germany	511	1,022
Ludwig Maximilian University	Germany	204	291
Leiden University	Netherlands	57	108
Paul Valery University	France	41	57
University of Lille	France	19	53
TOTAL		2,468	6,198

Bursary system fuels interest

So, why are Italian universities becoming so popular with students from Türkiye?

One key factor is the country’s extensive, regionally managed bursary system. Italy is divided into 20 regions, and each determines its own bursary conditions and amounts. These grants consider family income and property assets and can cover both tuition fees and living expenses.

Public university tuition in Italy ranges from €400 to €4,000 ($455–$4,550), while private institutions charge between €10,000 and €30,000 per year. Bursary recipients often receive additional financial support of €5,000–€8,000 annually.

100% increase in demand

Neslihan Cebi, founder of Firenze Education Consultancy, a company that helps Turkish students apply to Italian universities, says demand has doubled in five years.

“Last year, around 650 students enrolled in Italian universities through our agency. Rising tuition fees at private universities in Türkiye, combined with Italy’s affordable, high-quality education and job prospects, make it an attractive destination,” she explains.

“Proximity to Türkiye and the increasing availability of English-language programs also play a big role.”

Architecture, design, and engineering most popular

According to Cebi, university admissions criteria vary widely. Some institutions require entrance exams and interviews, while others accept students based solely on their application portfolio. The most sought-after programs include architecture, design, engineering, economics and business.

Education consultants in Türkiye often assist with everything from applications and accommodation to visas and residence permits. Their services can cost up to ₺50,000.

Case study: A student’s perspective

Emre Yazlar, a second-year student studying economics and business at Bocconi University in Milan—one of Italy’s top private universities—says financial reasoning led him to Italy.

“Compared to private universities in Türkiye, studying here is more cost-effective. University lasts three years instead of four, which already gives us a head start,” he says.

“My annual tuition is €15,000, and accommodation is around €13,000. Including living expenses, the total comes to approximately €33,000 per year.”

However, Emre receives full tuition exemption and a €6,000 bursary, reducing his out-of-pocket expenses to about €12,000 annually. “That’s roughly half the cost of studying at a private university in Türkiye,” he adds.

Trend expands beyond Italy

Italy isn’t the only European country seeing a surge in students from Türkiye. Similar growth patterns are observed in Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

A survey of seven universities in those three countries revealed a student population increase from 1,602 in 2020 to 2,811 in 2025.

Including 12 Italian universities in the count, the total number of Turkish students enrolled across these European institutions has reached 6,198.

A changing classroom

Back at Luiss Guido Carli in Rome, the presence of five Turkish students in a single 13-person class reflects more than just statistics—it signifies a transformation in the landscape of international education.

All five students benefit from both tuition waivers and need-based bursaries, each receiving at least €5,000 per year.

For many, Italy offers not just education, but a global future at an attainable cost.