The University of Parma (Università degli Studi di Parma, UniPR) is a public university in Emilia-Romagna with sites in Parma and Piacenza. In 2026/27 it teaches three undergraduate and single-cycle programmes in English — among them six-year Medicine and Surgery in Piacenza, with 50 places for non-EU applicants — plus 12 of its own English-taught master's. Fees depend on family income: everyone pays a $180 (€156) first instalment, and first-year students who submit no income documents pay $2,390–3,270 (€2,106–2,881) a year in total, depending on the field. With a family ISEE up to $30,660 (€27,000), students pay only the first instalment. School leavers with 11 years of schooling can take the university's own Foundation Year.
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| Locations | Parma (including a 77-hectare campus) and Piacenza |
| Size | academic community of 37,000+; 51 bachelor's, 7 single-cycle and 51 master's programmes |
| Taught in English (2026/27) | Global Studies (bachelor's), Dental Hygiene, Medicine and Surgery (Piacenza); 12 UniPR master's plus 3 joint ones — 18 programmes in all |
| International bachelor's window 2026/27 | 24 February–24 April 2026 |
| Fee without ISEE (2026/27, first year) | $2,390–3,270 (€2,106–2,881) including taxes |
| Fee with ISEE up to $30,660 (€27,000) | $180 (€156): regional tax and stamp duty only |
| Foundation Year | $4,540 (€4,000); with the Società Dante Alighieri programme $3,630 (€3,200) |
| Regional grant | ER.GO: up to $8,140 (€7,171.11) a year for off-site students |
Who Parma suits
Parma fits three kinds of applicants: those aiming for English-taught medicine through IMAT who are happy to live in Piacenza; master's students in food science, food law, environmental engineering and intelligent vehicles; and school leavers who need a preparatory year with strong Italian.
| Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| 50 non-EU places in English-taught Medicine — one of Italy's larger quotas | English-taught Medicine is in Piacenza, not Parma |
| No-tax area: ISEE up to $30,660 means just $180 a year | Without income documents, fees exceed those of fixed-fee universities |
| Strong English-taught master's in food and agri-food | Effectively one English-taught bachelor's (Global Studies) |
| In-house Foundation Year with Italian up to B2 | 2026/27 Foundation Year places are already full; intake opens in January |
The most common comparison is the University of Bologna: both are served by the same regional agency, ER.GO, so grant rules and deadlines are identical.
English-taught programmes
Undergraduate and single-cycle (2026/27): Global Studies for Sustainable Local and International Development and Cooperation (bachelor's); Dental Hygiene (health-profession bachelor's, selective; fixed fee for students with non-EU income); Medicine and Surgery (six years, Piacenza, IMAT).
UniPR master's:
- Architecture and materials: Architecture and Sustainable Cities; Functional and Sustainable Materials.
- Food and law: Food Safety and Food Risk Management; Economics and Management of Sustainable Food System; Global Food Law: Sustainability Challenges and Innovation.
- Engineering and data: Communication Engineering; Electronic Engineering for Intelligent Vehicles (MUNER network); Environmental Engineering for Risk Mitigation; Data Science for Management.
- Life sciences: Advanced Molecular Sciences for Health Products.
- Economics and society: International Business and Development; Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs.
Three more English-taught master's are run jointly but administered elsewhere: Advanced Automotive Engineering (with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), Electric Vehicle Engineering (with the University of Bologna) and Food Sciences for Innovation and Authenticity (with the universities of Bolzano and Udine).
Italian-taught programmes need B2 or the university's own test; see Italian language certificates.
How to apply
| Level | How to apply (2026/27 cycle) |
|---|---|
| Open-access bachelor's and single-cycle, Italian or English | international window 24 February–24 April 2026 |
| English-taught master's | calls on apply.unipr.it; a second intake for several programmes ran 4–26 June 2026 |
| English-taught Medicine, health professions, the Business Administration master's | separate calls with an admission test |
- Pre-assessment of documents and language level under the programme's call.
- After a positive outcome, pre-register in the ESSE3 student system and pay the first instalment on time.
- Pre-enrol on Universitaly — required for the visa.
- Type D visa; for 2026/27 consulates accept applications until 30 November 2026.
- After arrival, bring the original foreign documents to the student office.
Bachelor's entry needs 12 years of schooling; recognition documents (Dichiarazione di valore or CIMEA certificates) are covered in our guide to admission documents for Italy.
English-taught Medicine in Piacenza
Medicine and Surgery in English is taught in Piacenza and filled through the national IMAT; Italy's open-semester reform applies only to Italian-taught courses. Ministerial Decree No. 1005 of 6 August 2026 allocated 80 places for Italian, EU and equivalent applicants and 50 for non-EU applicants living abroad for 2026/27. Non-EU candidates compete only within their university's quota.
First-year fees without an ISEE total $3,270 (€2,881): a $3,090 (€2,725) contribution on the medical scale plus $180 (€156) in taxes; with an ISEE up to $30,660 (€27,000) only the $180 remains. The 2026 test was held on 29 September; 2027/28 dates will come in a new decree. Preparation advice is in our guide to English-taught medicine and the IMAT.
Fees in 2026/27
- First instalment, the same for everyone: $180 (€156) — $160 (€140) regional tax plus $18 (€16) stamp duty.
- Personal university contribution, based on field, years enrolled, merit and family ISEE, split into two equal payments due 18 November 2026 and 30 April 2027.
| Field | Maximum without ISEE (first year) | Total with first instalment |
|---|---|---|
| Humanities and social sciences | $2,210 (€1,950) | $2,390 (€2,106) |
| Science, technology and applied programmes | $2,350 (€2,070) | $2,530 (€2,226) |
| Italian-taught Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, health professions | $2,490 (€2,190) | $2,660 (€2,346) |
| Dentistry and English-taught Medicine and Surgery | $3,090 (€2,725) | $3,270 (€2,881) |
| Dental Hygiene (international students with non-EU income) | fixed $5,110 (€4,500) | $5,290 (€4,656) |
With an ISEE up to $30,660 (€27,000) a first-year student falls into the no-tax area and pays only $180. Between $30,660 (€27,000) and $79,490 (€70,000) the contribution rises in proportion to ISEE; above that it is the maximum.
To get an income-based fee as an international student: submit the request on the ER.GO regional agency website by 17:00 on 4 November 2026 (no late requests are accepted), and upload translated, legalised documents on 2025 family income and assets at 31 December 2025 by 31 December 2026. Payments of $680 (€600) or more can be split further; requests run 7 October–16 November 2026. See ISEE parificato explained. The 2026/27 visa rules required proof of at least $11,560 (€10,179.85) a year for living expenses.
ER.GO grant
ER.GO administers grants, residences and fee reductions for students in Parma, Modena and Reggio Emilia, and Bologna through one application.
| ER.GO 2026/27: family ISEE | Yearly grant, off-site student |
|---|---|
| up to $18,930 (€16,666.67) | $8,140 (€7,171.11) |
| $18,930–20,820 (€16,666.68–18,333.34) | $5,290 (€4,661.22) |
| $20,820–23,640 (€18,333.35–20,818.46) | $4,400 (€3,872.40) |
| $23,640–28,390 (€20,818.47–25,000) | $4,070 (€3,585.56) |
Amounts include a share that may be converted into meals. Caps: ISEE $28,390 (€25,000) and ISPE $56,780 (€50,000); eligible students are also refunded the $160 (€140) regional tax. 2026/27 timeline: application 23 June–24 August 2026 (16:00); provisional ranking 20 October; final ranking after appeals 17 November 2026. Non-EU students document income and assets through certificates from the authorities of the country where income arises, legalised by the Italian consulate or apostilled, and translated into Italian; self-declarations are rejected, and ER.GO states that paid intermediaries are unnecessary. ER.GO decides. See scholarships in Italy.
The Foundation Year
Parma's 10–11-month Foundation Year serves international students short of 12 years of schooling or of B2 Italian. It ends with an international Italian certificate exam or the university's Italstudio Università certificate, which Parma accepts for enrolment.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Entry | at least 11 years of schooling, diploma with final-year transcript, English or Italian |
| General programme | $4,540 (€4,000): $680 (€600) + $2,950 (€2,600) + $910 (€800) |
| With the Società Dante Alighieri (PIFY) | $3,630 (€3,200), 20% lower; the first semester can be taken in your home country |
| Not included | travel, visa, housing, meals, health insurance, language exam fees |
| 2026/27 timeline | registration from 12 January 2026; applications by 15 July (early birds) or 15 August (others), and by 30 September for applicants not admitted to Medicine |
| Status | 2026/27 places are full |
School documents must be translated into Italian and legalised by the Italian consulate. For 2027/28, aim to apply in January–February 2027.
Housing
- ER.GO residences, allocated through the grant application.
- Vetrina alloggi, the university's housing listings, and the Welcome Office for private rentals.
Future medical students should look for housing in Piacenza. See student housing in Italy.
Common mistakes
- Waiting until summer for a bachelor's: the 2026/27 international window closed on 24 April.
- Missing the 4 November ISEE request, which locks in the maximum fee for the year.
- Assuming Medicine is taught in Parma — it is in Piacenza.
- Leaving the Foundation Year late: 2026/27 filled long before summer.
- Sending ER.GO a self-declaration of income instead of legalised or apostilled certificates.
FAQ
How much does the University of Parma cost for international students?
In the first year of 2026/27, without income documents, from $2,390 (€2,106) on humanities programmes to $3,270 (€2,881) on English-taught Medicine, including the $180 (€156) first instalment. With a family ISEE up to $30,660 (€27,000), just $180 a year.
Where is English-taught Medicine taught?
In Piacenza, at the University of Parma's site there. For 2026/27 there were 50 places for non-EU applicants living abroad and 80 for Italian, EU and equivalent applicants, with admission through IMAT.
Is there an English-taught bachelor's besides Medicine?
Yes: Global Studies for Sustainable Local and International Development and Cooperation. Dental Hygiene is also taught in English, as a selective health-profession bachelor's.
When is the bachelor's application window?
For 2026/27, international applicants applied from 24 February to 24 April 2026. English-taught Medicine and health-profession degrees publish separate calls with admission tests.
What is Parma's Foundation Year?
A 10–11-month preparatory programme for students with 11 years of schooling or insufficient Italian. The general programme costs $4,540 (€4,000), the Società Dante Alighieri version $3,630 (€3,200); 2026/27 places are full.
What grant can I get?
The ER.GO regional grant: an off-site student with an ISEE up to $18,930 (€16,666.67) receives $8,140 (€7,171.11) a year; the ISEE cap is $28,390 (€25,000). The 2026/27 window ran from 23 June to 24 August 2026.
How can StudyU help?
Programme selection, requirement checks and preparation of pre-assessment, Universitaly, visa and ER.GO documents are provided under an agreement with StudyU. The University of Parma decides on admission, the Italian consulate on the visa and ER.GO on grants and housing.
Sources
- The University in figures
- English-taught programmes 2026/27
- Non-EU admission procedure and windows
- Bachelor's and single-cycle: 2026/27 window
- Fee calculation, deadlines and payments 2026/27
- Annex 3: fees and contributions 2026/27 (PDF)
- Fees and grants for international students
- University of Parma Foundation Year
- ER.GO: 2026/27 call
- MUR Decree No. 1005 of 06.08.2026, IMAT places
Dollar amounts are based on the ECB rate of €1 = $1.1355 on 29 September 2026; sources checked 30 September 2026.
For the rest of Italy's universities and the general rules, see study in Italy. Programme selection and application planning for Parma 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 Genoa: English-Taught Degrees, Admission and Fees for International Students
- University of Messina: English-Taught Degrees, IMAT Medicine 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
