University of Pavia

Key facts

Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.

About the University of Pavia

The University of Pavia describes itself as the oldest university in Lombardy and one of the oldest in Europe. It names two dates: 825, when the emperor Lothair’s capitulary established a school of rhetoric in Pavia, and 1361, when Charles IV founded the Studium Generale.^[1] Famous teachers listed on its history page include Alessandro Volta, Lazzaro Spallanzani and the Nobel laureate Camillo Golgi.^[1]

Today it has two campuses (Pavia and Cremona), 2 faculties, 18 departments and 85 degree courses, with more than 26,000 enrolled students and 21 university colleges.^[1] Its programmes fall into nine areas: Economy, Pharmacy, Law, Engineering, Humanities, Medicine/Sport Sciences/Psychology, Musicology and Cultural Heritage, Sciences, and Political Sciences and Communication.^[5]

Wikipedia calls it a public university and notes that the Collegio Borromeo and Collegio Ghislieri, built in the 16th century, are among its oldest colleges.^[6]

How is the University of Pavia ranked?

In the QS World University Rankings 2027, published on 18 June 2026, the University of Pavia is 395th in the world and 10th in Italy, a rise of 28 places. Italian national press reports it as the tenth Italian university in the list, right behind the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (388th).^[8][2]

For one subject, Wikipedia cites the QS ranking 2026 for Medicine and Surgery: 269th globally and 10th in Italy, and the Censis 2026/27 ranking, which places the medical faculty second in Italy.^[6] Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.

What can you study at the University of Pavia?

The University of Pavia offers bachelor’s, single-cycle and master’s degrees in nine areas, from engineering and law to medicine, humanities and political sciences.^[5] The international admissions FAQ says that its bachelor’s degrees are mostly taught in Italian, except the bachelor’s in Artificial Intelligence, and that there is a wide offer of English-taught master’s programmes.^[4] The application portal advertises 30 programmes taught in English; use its search to see them.^[7]

Programmes are either non-restricted access (no selective test, but possibly an assessment test or interview) or restricted access (limited places and a selective admission test).^[4] Non-EU students also face a limited number of places (the “contingente”) in each programme.^[9]

Beyond degrees, Pavia runs a Foundation Year in Italian for students with fewer than 12 years of schooling or who want to prepare for Italian-taught degrees. It costs €5,000 a year (€4,000 for those exempt from the Italian-language part) in 2026/27, plus a €35 application fee.^[3]

How much does the University of Pavia cost in 2026/27?

Pavia is a public university, so fees depend on family income (ISEE) or, for many non-EU students, on a flat rate. The 2026/27 Fees Regulation sets the rules.^[3]

Non-EU flat rate

International students with non-EU citizenship and a valid residence permit for study, who have not presented income generated abroad or who submit incomplete documents, are placed in one of three flat-rate brackets according to their country of citizenship (updated annually from the World Bank classification) and the course type.^[3]

These are totals per year, paid in four instalments. The first instalments (€146, €176 and €206) equal the regional tax of the bracket plus the €16 stamp duty.^[3] The “humanities area” covers the courses of fee area 1 (such as law, economics, humanities and political sciences) and the “science area” those of fee areas 2 and 3 (such as engineering, sciences and medicine).^[3] Students keep the same bracket for the normal length of the course plus one year and can opt out of the flat rate each year by submitting income and asset documents for an equivalent ISEE.^[3]

ISEE-based fee

Students whose family lives in Italy submit an ISEE; those whose family lives abroad can have an equivalent ISEE calculated from their documents. The all-inclusive fee is zero for an ISEE up to €32,000 (for the normal course length plus one year), and students above €81,000 or without an ISEE are placed in the top bracket.^[3] The regional tax for the right to study is €130, €160 or €190 depending on the ISEE, plus a €16 stamp duty.^[3] The university’s fees page points to the regulation and a tax office for questions; its own last-update note reads 9 May 2025.^[10]

Other costs

The Foundation Year costs €5,000 (€4,000 with the Italian exam exemption) and the Marco Polo/Turandot preparatory programme for Chinese students €6,000.^[3] Enrolment for the Open Semester that gates access to Medicine and Surgery (in Italian) and Dentistry carries a national €250 flat-rate fee, reduced or waived by ISEE.^[3] For rent and living costs, see our Italy guide and the Study in Italy guide.

How do you apply to the University of Pavia?

International applicants use the portal apply.unipv.eu. You can choose up to three programmes, upload your ID and diploma (in English, Spanish or French, or officially translated into Italian), pay the €35 fee and submit.^[7]

• Bachelor’s and single-cycle: you need a secondary diploma after at least 12 years of schooling in total, a qualification earned after at least two years of attendance at the same programme, and the academic eligibility exam if your school system requires one.^[11]
• Master’s: a bachelor’s degree of at least three years. Non-restricted master’s programmes usually require an interview.^[12]
• Restricted-access programmes have their own call for applications with a selective test.^[11]
• Non-EU students living abroad need a type D study visa. Pre-enrolment on the Universitaly portal is the first step of the visa process and has to be completed at the competent Italian consulate or embassy; sending the online request alone does not complete it.^[4]

We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. The portal publishes an application calendar with several windows; for non-EU applicants living abroad, later windows are only open if places remain.^[11] The Welcome Office (welcomeoffice@unipv.it) and the Admission Office (admission@unipv.it) answer questions.^[9]

Which language level do you need?

Italian-taught programmes: international applicants need at least level B2 in Italian, shown by a CILS, CELI, Roma Tre or PLIDA certificate. Without one you sit an Italian test organised by the University of Pavia, usually in July and September.^[4] B2 is the upper-intermediate level of the CEFR, the European scale from A1 to C2.

English-taught programmes: some require an English certificate from the university’s accepted list; students from native English-speaking countries or who studied entirely in English are usually, but not always, exempt. The FAQ advises checking the language requirements of each course.^[4]

The Foundation Year teaches Italian and area studies to prepare for Italian-taught bachelor’s degrees; passing its exams exempts you from the Italian proficiency admission test.^[4]

More about studying in Italy

• Italy: best universities
• Study in Italy: complete guide
• Cost of Studying Abroad
• International Student Scholarships
• University Ranking Methodology

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