Deep-dive

Studying in Venice

Two complementary state universities: Ca' Foscari (economics, languages, humanities, sciences, dozens of programmes in English) and Iuav (architecture, design, planning, arts and fashion), plus the Academy, the Conservatory and Venice International University. ESU Venezia runs grants, canteens and residences. Housing is expensive; students are exempt from the access fee.

Sections: Schools · Universities · Admissions · Scholarships · Language courses · Degrees & recognition

Universities

Università Ca' Foscari, founded in 1868 as a higher school of commerce, is based in the palace of the same name on the Grand Canal with sites across the historic centre (San Giobbe for economics, Ca' Bembo and Ca' Bernardo for languages and humanities, Santa Marta) and the Via Torino science campus in Mestre. It offers bachelor's and master's degrees in economics and management, languages and cultures (with a rare offer of Asian and Eastern European languages), humanities and cultural heritage, environmental sciences and computer science; dozens of degree programmes are entirely in English and the university has a high share of international students.

Università Iuav di Venezia, born in 1926 as an institute of architecture, is a specialised university: architecture, urban planning, design, fashion, visual arts and theatre, with sites at the Tolentini, the former Santa Marta cotton mill and the Terese. The Academy of Fine Arts at the Incurabili, the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory at Palazzo Pisani, Venice International University on the island of San Servolo (a consortium of foreign universities) and the Scuola Grande di San Marco for the University of Padua's health professions complete the offer.

Student support, housing, districts

ESU Venezia, the Veneto Region's student-support agency, publishes every summer the call for scholarships, places in its residences (in Venice and Mestre) and subsidised canteens, based on ISEE income and merit; international students submit translated and legalised income documents. Places do not cover demand and the search for a room should start early: student areas are Santa Marta and Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, Castello and, for those studying at Via Torino or wanting to spend less, Mestre; many live in Padua or Treviso and commute.

Students enrolled at the old city's universities are exempt from the access fee and are entitled to the Venezia Unica card with reduced vaporetto fares. Both universities have welcome units for international students that handle visa, permit, tax code, residence and housing.

Enrolled university students (city's universities)

City figurePeriod: academic year 2025/26Validsample unknown

Source: MUR – Ufficio di Statistica, Portale dei dati dell'istruzione superiore: dataset «Iscritti», risorsa «Iscritti per ateneo» (02_iscrittixateneo.csv), con anagrafica atenei (metadati, 01_atenei.csv) · Iscritti ai corsi di laurea, laurea magistrale e a ciclo unico dell'ateneo nel suo complesso: comprende anche gli studenti delle sedi decentrate fuori dal comune. Dataset MUR aggiornato l'8 settembre 2026.

23,851students

Public university tuition (year)

City figurePeriod: academic year 2025/26Validsample unknown

Source: Università Ca' Foscari Venezia – Contribuzione studentesca a.a. 2025/26: contribuzione massima e ISEE inferiore a 25.000 euro · Minimo: con ISEE < 25.000 € e requisiti di merito si paga solo la tassa regionale DSU 189 € (+ bollo 16 € solo per immatricolati e reiscritti). Massimo: contribuzione massima 2.394 € per lauree magistrali (2.147 € per lauree) + tassa regionale 189 €. Esclusi i regimi speciali (Digital Management, Ho

€189 – €2,583/ person·year