Italy Guide
University of Messina
The University of Messina (Università degli Studi di Messina), founded in 1548, is a storied state university in Messina, the strait city in north-eastern Sicily. It offers a wide range of programmes in medicine, law and marine sciences.
3 min read Updated: 20.07.2026
| Italian name | Università degli Studi di Messina |
|---|---|
| City | Messina |
| Region | Sicily |
| Founded | 1548 |
| Type | State university |
| Students (approx.) | ~23,000 |
| Official site | unime.it |
Overview
With around 23,000 students, Messina teaches in medicine and surgery, law, economics, veterinary science, the sciences and the humanities. It is known for its storied history and its regional importance.
With its sites on the strait, the university is active in marine and environmental research too.
The city of Messina and student life
In Sicily, Messina sits on the shore of the strait, the closest point to the Italian mainland. The cost of living is affordable; its ferry connection to Calabria and the mainland is a practical advantage.
Faculties and signature programmes
The fields Turkish students often turn to:
- Medicine and surgery, pharmacy
- Law and economics
- Veterinary science
- Marine and environmental sciences
- The humanities
The university’s English-taught master’s programmes open the door to apply without an Italian precondition.
Language of instruction and language conditions
Most programmes are in Italian; there is a limited number of English-taught ones. Italian-taught programmes want a B2 language certificate (CILS/CELI) or the university exam, English-taught ones IELTS/TOEFL.
Application for Turkish students
The application begins with the programme choice and the Universitaly pre-enrolment. A CIMEA or a Dichiarazione di Valore is needed for the degree recognition. The apostilled, sworn-Italian-translated form of your diploma and transcript must stand ready at this stage.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Fees are tiered by the ISEE value showing the family’s income and assets; low-income students can be largely exempted. The regional grant agency ERSU Messina (Sicily DSU) provides housing, food and cash support; the application wants the sworn translation of your income documents and an ISEE Parificato. For detail see our scholarships section.
Which documents should you have sworn-translated for the University of Messina?
Applying to the University of Messina (or to a programme in the same city), most documents issued in Turkey need a sworn Italian translation. The most-translated documents in master’s, doctoral and bachelor’s applications:
- The diploma (bachelor’s/master’s) and, where applicable, the provisional graduation certificate,
- The transcript and the diploma supplement,
- The course contents (where a recognition/compatibility assessment is needed),
- The income and financial documents (for the DSU grant and the ISEE Parificato),
- The statement of intent, CV and references (in Italian or English, by the programme’s language).
The order generally runs: the document is apostilled first, then sworn-translated into Italian from the apostilled version, and where needed the degree recognition (a CIMEA report or the consulate Dichiarazione di Valore) is obtained. For detail see our apostille guide, CIMEA recognition, Dichiarazione di Valore and Universitaly application pages. For document-level detail, the diploma-transcript translation and university application translation pages help.
We prepare the sworn Italian translation of your diploma, transcript and financial documents end to end, apostille tracking included. For an exact price, take a free quote, and for the scholarship channels in Italy, see our scholarships section.
Frequently asked questions
Which fields is Messina strong in?
Medicine, law, veterinary science and marine sciences stand out; its position on the Strait of Messina lends context to the marine and environmental programmes.
How is the cost of living in Messina?
Set in Sicily, Messina is more affordable than the northern big cities; the regional grant and the fee exemptions lower the cost further.
Which documents are translated in the application?
The diploma, transcript, diploma supplement and financial documents are sworn-translated into Italian; the process is completed with the apostille and CIMEA/DoV.
Programme lists, fee amounts, language conditions, quotas and application dates can change with every academic year. Verify from the official sources before applying: University of Messina official site, Universitaly and the Italian Embassy / Consulate General.