Universitas Quaderni 04/2026
International Students in Italy
Data and Trends from the Post-War Period to the Present
Edited by: Chiara Finocchietti, Andreina Ghirlanda, Elisa Petrucci and Giacinta Ratto Vaquer
Preface by: Luca Lantero
This volume provides a systematic and diachronic analysis of international student mobility to Italy, tracing its evolution from the 1950s to the 2024/25 academic year. By integrating national and international statistical sources and adopting a methodology attentive to data comparability, the study examines the phenomenon across multiple analytical dimensions — including gender composition, territorial distribution, geographical origin, participation in Higher Artistic, Musical and Dance Education (AFAM) and postgraduate programmes, as well as inbound and outbound mobility. Beyond presenting quantitative trends, the volume interprets these dynamics within broader historical, geopolitical, and policy contexts, offering a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and institutional stakeholders concerned with the international positioning of the Italian higher education system.
