How fluent do I need to be in the Italian language to study there, and will it impact my career in Italy?

Your Italian fluency requirement depends entirely on your course: you need zero Italian for an English-taught degree, but a B2 level is required for an Italian-taught programme. Even if you study fully in English, your career in Italy will still depend heavily on your Italian, since around 66 percent of the population is not fluent in English. Language, not your degree, will decide how far you go locally.

Language Requirements By Study And Career Stage

Where English Alone Is Genuinely Enough

• Large multinational corporations based in Milan or Rome often run day-to-day operations in English.
• Technical sectors like software engineering and data science frequently use English as their primary working language.
• Outside these exceptions, corporate communication, legal paperwork, and daily business almost always happen in Italian.
• Networking, promotions, and management roles will practically always require professional Italian over the long term.

My Advice

Start building conversational Italian from day one, even if your degree is fully in English, since it will open up part-time work and internships far sooner than waiting until after graduation. Target B1 within your first year if you plan to work locally after your course.