Italian universities report enrollment shifts and regional expansion

Higher education institutions in Italy are reporting shifts in student enrollment and regional accessibility. In Sondrio, Mayor Marco Scaramellini is expanding local university offerings to mitigate the rising costs of student housing and commuting. Following the success of a computer engineering course from the Politecnico and a nursing program from the University of Milano-Bicocca, local authorities are negotiating with other Lombardy universities to introduce new degree programs and master's courses.

Simultaneously, the University of Turin has released preliminary data for the 2026-2027 academic year showing an upward trend in enrollments. Undergraduate enrollments rose by 6.6%, from 3,701 to 3,947 students, while single-cycle master's programs saw a 25.8% increase. Rector Cristina Prandi noted that while these figures require further verification, they indicate a positive trend in the university's ability to meet the needs of the evolving labor market and reinforce Turin's identity as a university city.