Scholarships for Studying in Italy

Types of funding available

• National government scholarships for foreign students, covering degree, doctoral, specialisation and research study within the Italian public education and research system.
• Regional and local assistance, which in practice often combines a cash contribution with services such as canteen meals or accommodation support.
• University merit grants — institutions including Bologna, Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano, Pavia, Padova and Università Cattolica have run schemes of their own for international students.
• Need-based grants assessed on family circumstances, alongside merit awards assessed on academic results.
• Education loans and family funds, which usually combine with a grant to close the gap — see our loans page.

Who can apply

• International students admitted to or enrolled on a programme at an Italian institution — most schemes want your place confirmed first.
• Merit schemes look at your academic record; need-based schemes look at family financial circumstances.
• Some schemes target specific profiles, for example students from economies classified as low or lower-middle income by the World Bank, or particular degree levels.
• Language requirements follow the programme: English evidence for English-taught degrees, Italian evidence for Italian-taught ones.

How to apply

• Secure admission first where the scheme requires it — most awards are tied to enrolment.
• Check each scheme’s own eligibility page; criteria, documents and value all differ.
• Submit what the scheme asks for: transcripts, income declarations, family documentation and identity papers.
• Apply inside the published call window — many universities run an earlier priority deadline for funding.
• We review your file against the schemes you genuinely qualify for before you submit.

Timelines

Calls usually open ahead of the intake they fund, with university grants often on a separate calendar from admission, and regional disbursement following enrolment. Dates move every cycle, so we work from the current call rather than last year’s calendar.

Next steps

Book a free consultation and we will map Italian funding routes against your offers, budget and intake, then help you file each application on time.