Top 7 Italy scholarships for international students (2023-2024)
Angelina
Updated on Nov 21 • 6 minute read
Italy is one of the most exciting destinations to study abroad. This beautiful country boasts more than 100 universities, with some of the best schools for fashion and architecture in the world. And did you know it’s also quite affordable? With Italy's scholarships for international students, you might even be able to study here for free!
Want to know more? Let’s go!
Who can study in Italy with scholarships?
Pretty much anyone! But most of the scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements and/or financial means. So, there’s a bigger chance to get a fully-funded scholarship in Italy if you finished your previous education with excellent grades.
But hey, if that’s not the case you have options. Some universities also offer scholarships that you can apply for after studying there for a year.
For example, you can start your Bachelor program paying a full fee and apply for a scholarship for the second year. Just make sure to give your best when you’re there!
What kinds of Italian scholarships for international students are there?
You’ll come across two main types of financial aid in Italy: government scholarships for foreign students and scholarships sponsored by a specific university. These scholarships also differ in the amount they offer and whether they cover accommodation expenses.
Can I study for free in Italy?
The short answer is yes. However, that means beating a whole lot of competition as the number of spots for fully-funded scholarships in Italy is limited.
If you were granted only a partial scholarship grant, you can still find ways that’d help you cover the rest of your expenses of studying abroad. For example, you can get a work-study job at your institution, find a part-time job in your city, or get a paid internship.
What’s the DSU scholarship in Italy?
DSU ('Diritto allo Studio Universitario' translates as 'Right to University Education') refers to financial aid benefits that are defined annually by the region where a university is located.
Many universities such as Politecnico di Milano, University of Pisa and University of Milano have such a program.
The amount of the scholarship is calculated based on your income bracket (financial situation) and geographic origin.
The benefits of DSU scholarships in Italy include:
- monetary compensation
- catering services
- residence services
How can I prove my financial situation?
For some Italian scholarships, European students are asked to provide an ISEE certificate to declare their financial status. You can simply request it from the INPS website.
However, if your family's income and assets are abroad, you can’t be issued an ISEE. So, instead, you must request its equivalent called ISEE-U Parificato.
“To do this, you can contact the CAF (fiscal assistance centre) affiliated with the university you’re applying to and they’ll issue your certificate.
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Be ready to send documents on incomes, properties and financial assets for each member of your family. These documents must be issued by the competent offices in your country and translated and legalised according to the applicable regulations that differ from country to country.
What are the best scholarships in Italy for international students?
Here we've compiled a list of 7 best of Italy's scholarships. The list incudes Italian government scholarships for foreign students, university-specific scholarships as well as a fully-funded PhD scholarship in Italy.
Here it is:
- Invest your Talent in Italy
- EDISU Piemonte Scholarships
- Bologna University Study Grants
- Bocconi Merit and International Awards
- Politecnico de Milano Merit-Based Scholarships
- Politecnico di Torino International Scholarships
- Scuola Normale Superiore PhD Scholarships
But let's dive into details!
Top 7 scholarships for international students in Italy in 2023-2024
1. Invest Your Talent in Italy: Italian government scholarships for international students
For who?
International Students who want to enrol for a master’s degree or a supervised postgraduate program in Engineering, Advanced Technologies, Architecture, Design, Economics, or Management at a top Italian university.
You can find the complete list of eligible programs here.
How much?
The Italian government scholarship for international students grants € 8 100 (monthly allowance of € 900) as well as it exempts you from paying tuition and enrolment fees.
Requirements
To apply you must have:
- nationality: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, People's Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Tunisia, Turkey and Vietnam
- completed your Bachelor’s degree
- english proficiency of at least B2 level
- an Italian health insurance
How to apply?
Once you’ve submitted your pre-application to one of the universities included in the program, you can start your online application for the grant.
Heads up, you’ll be requested to record a 1-minute application video about yourself and your motivation.
For more information about the Italian government scholarships for foreign students read the FAQ document on the official portal of the Invest Your Talent in Italy program.
2. EDISU Piemonte scholarships
For who?
International students enrolled in a full-time bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, single cycle master’s degree, or PhD courses at one of the Universities of Piedmont such as the Politecnico of Torino and the University of Torino.
How much?
The scholarship amount depends on your type of enrolment and residency.
You can get assistance with your accommodation as well as a monetary award with the maximum of € 5 108 and an exemption from enrolment and tuition fees.
Requirements
EDISU Piemonte Scholarships distinguish between two types of requirements; merit-based and economic.
According to merit requirements, you must be regularly enrolled and earn a certain amount of credits, depending on your program.
Further, your economic situation is evaluated based on ISEE Parificato financial certificate.
How to apply?
You can apply for the EDISU Piemonte scholarship through its online portal.
3. Bologna University study grants for international students
For who?
International students who wish to register for first cycle (bachelors), second cycle (masters) or single cycle degree programmes at the University of Bologna.
How much?
Each study grant is awarded for one academic year and amounts to a total of €11 000 and full tuition fee waivers.
Requirements
To be eligible for this Italian scholarship for international students you need to:
- take SAT or TOLC test if applying for first or single cycle degree programmes, or
- GRE test if registering in a second cycle degree programme, and
- be less than 30 years old.
How to apply?
To apply for the Bologna University study grant for international students, you need to register in Studenti Online portal and submit required documents.
4. Bocconi Merit and International Awards
For who?
Top-performing international students enrolling in any eligible bachelors or master of science program in Bocconi University.
How much?
The scholarship starts at a 50% reduction of the tuition fee and
- up to € 12 000 per year for bachelor’s program and
- up to € 13 000 per year for master’s programs.
Requirements
The scholarships are awarded based on your academic excellence.
How to apply?
To be considered for a scholarship, you simply need to apply to an undergraduate or graduate Program in Bocconi University!
5. Politecnico de Milano merit-based scholarships for international students
For who?
The most talented international candidates admitted to a master of science programme in Politecnico de Milano.
How much?
This Italian scholarship for international students is divided into three levels:
- PLATINUM scholarships: € 10 000 gross per year
- GOLD scholarships: € 5 000 per year
- SILVER scholarships: the total amount of fees for the academic year
Requirements
You’ll be evaluated based on your:
- GPA (grade point average),
- academic achievements,
- your portfolio (if requested),
- and a motivation letter.
How to apply?
To apply for the merit-based scholarships for international students you should fill in an online application via the portal of PoliMi.
6. Politecnico di Torino international scholarships
For who?
Non-Italian students that want to study a bachelor program in the field of engineering and architecture in Politecnico di Torino.
How much?
You’ll be awarded € 8 000 per year for the duration of your studies.
Requirements
To be eligible for this Italian scholarship you need to comply with the following requirements:
- you passed the admission test with a score of 60 or higher;
- you obtained your secondary high school diploma outside Italy;
- you’re enrolling in a Bachelor of Science Degree program at the Politecnico di Torino for the first time.
How to apply?
You can apply for the TOPoliTO scholarship by ticking the box under the “Research and academic scholarships” section of your application on the Apply@polito platform.
7. Scuola Normale Superiore PhD scholarships
For who?
Italian citizens and international students who want to continue their PhD research in Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.
How much?
Scuola Normale Superiore PhD scholarships grant full financial support including tuition and enrolment fees and cover the costs of boarding and accommodation.
Requirements
To be eligible for this Italian scholarship program, you must have a master’s degree or an equivalent qualification. You’ll be evaluated based on your academic assessment and interviews.
How to apply?
To apply for this PhD scholarship in Italy, fill in the online application form in the official portal and refer to this page if you have questions.
Now that you know what kinds of Italian scholarships for international students are out there, you can start applying! Even if you’re not certain, it’s always worth giving it a shot. Trust us, we've been there!
Studying in Italy will open the doors to the competitive Italian job market, providing you with the opportunity to get to know a new culture and learn Italian.
If you’re still doubting whether moving to Italy is the right decision for you, we made a list of pros and cons you should consider.
And if you’re all set to take the leap and study abroad in Italy, you can refer to our relocation guide to make your preparations easier.
Remember that if you’re from a non-EU country, you’ll have to take care of things such as study visa and health insurance. So, the earlier you begin the better.
Now, go get this scholarship in Italy! We know you can!
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