Studying abroad is a rewarding adventure for many students. Italy ranks among the most attractive destinations for international students because of its high-quality education, historical sites, cultural heritage, and scenic landscapes.
In this article, we look at the best scholarships in Italy, along with stories of scholarship recipients.
Top Scholarships in Italy for International Students
| Scholarship Name | Scholarship Type | Eligible Degrees | Scholarship Value |
|---|
| Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students | Government Scholarship | Master’s, AFAM, Ph.D., research projects, Italian language and culture courses, and eligible renewals | €10,800 for most 9-month scholarships; €3,600 for 3-month Italian language and culture courses; tuition exemptions depend on the university |
| Invest Your Talent in Italy | Government Scholarship | Master’s and eligible postgraduate courses | €9,000, tuition fee exemption, Italian language course, and in-company training |
| Padua International Excellence Scholarship | University of Padua | Bachelor’s, Master’s | Tuition fee waiver and €8,000 gross per academic year |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships | European Union Scholarship | Master’s | Tuition fee coverage and a €1,400 monthly allowance, with support for travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs |
| Tuition Fee Waivers | Sapienza University of Rome | Bachelor’s, Master’s | Full exemptions or fee reductions for eligible students |
| Politecnico International Scholarships | Polytechnic University of Turin | Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. | Varies by project; available opportunities may include regional aid, external scholarship-loans, and past international scholarship projects |
| Ph.D. Scholarships | Scuola Normale Superiore | Ph.D. | Scholarship, accommodation support, free meals, registration-fee exemption, and research funding |
| International Student Scholarships | Luiss University | Bachelor’s, Master’s, single-cycle Master’s | Full or partial tuition-fee exemptions |
| UniTo for Students at Risk | University of Turin | Bachelor’s, Master’s | €11,000 gross in the latest official call found |
| UNIPI Merit Scholarship | University of Pisa | Bachelor’s, Master’s | €6,500 gross plus full fee exemption in the first year, then €8,000 gross plus 50% fee exemption in eligible later years |
| Policy Leader Fellowship | European University Institute | Fellowship | Basic grant of €2,500 per month, with possible adjustments and allowances |
| Merit Scholarships at University of Verona | University of Verona | Master’s | 15 scholarships and 48 reduced student contributions |
| Merit-Based Scholarships | Polytechnic University of Milan | Master’s | Full tuition-fee waiver; some awards include a gross allowance of up to €10,000 per year |
| Ca’ Foscari Merit-Based Scholarships | Ca’ Foscari University of Venice | Bachelor’s, Master’s | €10,000 per year; awardees are not exempt from tuition fees |
1. Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €10,800 for most 9-month scholarships and €3,600 for 3-month Italian language and culture courses; tuition exemptions depend on the chosen institution
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s, AFAM, Ph.D., research projects, Italian language and culture courses, and eligible renewals
The Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students are offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to support international students and Italian citizens living abroad. The program is designed to promote international cooperation in cultural, scientific, and technological fields, the Italian language and culture, and Italy’s higher education system.
The scholarships are available for eligible students who enroll in approved study or research programs at Italian institutions. For most Master’s, AFAM, Ph.D., research, and authorized renewal programs, the scholarship amount is €10,800 for a 9-month period, paid in installments. Italian language and culture courses are funded for 3 months with a scholarship of €3,600. Tuition-fee exemptions are not automatic: some universities exempt MAECI scholarship holders, while others may still require tuition or regional fees. Applicants should check both the MAECI call and the chosen university’s fee rules before applying.
2. Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarships
The Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarship, promoted by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation together with Uni-Italia, supports selected international students enrolling in English-taught Master’s and postgraduate programs in fields such as engineering, advanced technologies, architecture, design, economics, and management. The program includes a 9-month scholarship worth €1,000 per month, totaling €9,000, along with a tuition-fee exemption, an Italian language course, and in-company training.
Eligible countries can change by call. Recent official information lists countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, China, South Korea, Tunisia, Turkey, and Vietnam. Applicants should always confirm country eligibility on the official call before applying.
3. Padua International Excellence Scholarship (University of Padua)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition fee waiver and €8,000 scholarship gross amount per academic year
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
Being one of the top universities in Italy, the University of Padua has emphasized the growth of its international student body. Through the Padua International Excellence Scholarship, the university offers up to 68 scholarships to highly talented prospective students who wish to pursue English-taught bachelor’s or master’s degree programs.
Because many students apply for this award, the competition is strong. Students with outstanding academic records are selected for the scholarship. The award can last up to three years for bachelor’s and single-cycle degree students and up to two years for master’s degree students, provided that recipients meet the academic progress requirements. Scholarship holders receive a tuition-fee waiver but must still pay the regional tax and stamp duty.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition fee coverage and a €1,400 monthly allowance, with support for travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
- Meet the Erasmus Mundus Scholars (Italy): Explore scholarship journeys including Kaf from Bangladesh and Pedro from Brazil
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Program is one of the most prestigious scholarship opportunities in Europe, allowing students to pursue joint Master’s degrees across multiple countries, including Italy. Italian universities such as the University of Bologna, Sapienza University of Rome, and the University of Padua participate in Erasmus Mundus consortia. Erasmus Mundus scholarships cover participation costs and provide a monthly allowance of €1,400, with support for travel, visa, installation, and subsistence costs for programs that generally last 12, 18, or 24 months.
5. Tuition Fee Waivers (Sapienza University of Rome)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full exemptions or fee reductions for eligible students
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
At Sapienza University of Rome, a wide array of tuition fee waivers and reductions is available to support eligible students. Full exemptions are available for certain first-year bachelor’s and master’s students with an ISEE income of up to €24,000 who meet the required conditions. Students with certified disabilities, civil invalidity of 66% or more, or certified specific learning disabilities may pay only the stamp duty. Other fee reductions or fixed-contribution categories may apply to LazioDisco grant holders, high-achieving students, care leavers, athletes with national or international merit, families with multiple enrolled members, and parents with young children.
We have many stories of recipients who have received Tuition Fee Waivers at Sapienza University of Rome. Check out the story of Nadim Ahmed from Bangladesh, who was awarded a full merit-based tuition waiver for a Master’s at Sapienza University of Rome.
6. Politecnico International Scholarships (Polytechnic University of Turin)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Varies by project
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
Are you a student in the fields of engineering and architecture? Politecnico di Torino may be an ideal destination. The institution lists several financial-aid opportunities for international students, but availability, eligibility, and scholarship value vary by academic year and by project.
Examples include regional financial aid, external opportunities, and scholarship projects connected to specific countries or programs. COLFUTURO scholarship-loans, for instance, are designed for Colombian students and may support graduate studies in engineering and architecture at the Master of Science, second-level specializing master’s, and Ph.D. levels. TOPoliTO and other named projects have appeared among past Politecnico di Torino opportunities, so applicants should check the current financial-aid page before applying.
7. Ph.D. Scholarships (Scuola Normale Superiore)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Scholarship, accommodation support, free meals, registration-fee exemption, and research funding
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.
Scuola Normale Superiore is one of Italy’s most prestigious institutions. Its Ph.D. programs are open to both Italian and international applicants, and admission is based on academic evaluation and interviews. Applicants generally need to hold a relevant master’s degree or an equivalent qualification by the required deadline.
All admitted doctoral students receive a scholarship that supports their doctoral studies. The official Ph.D. admissions information states that admitted students receive a scholarship, accommodation support, free meals, exemption from registration fees, a refunded regional tax, and additional research funding.
8. International Student Scholarships (Luiss University)
Luiss University’s International Student Scholarships support prospective first-year students applying to eligible bachelor’s, master’s, and single-cycle master’s programs. Depending on the call, scholarships may provide full or partial tuition-fee exemptions. Applicants should check the current Luiss call for specific eligibility rules, deadlines, and whether the award excludes state or regional taxes.
9. UniTo for Students at Risk (University of Turin)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €11,000 gross in the latest official call found
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
The UniTo for Students at Risk Scholarship is open to eligible international students with refugee status or related protection documentation, according to the most recent official information found. The latest official call found awarded 10 annual scholarships worth €11,000 gross for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Applicants should check the current University of Turin call for eligible status documents, application steps, deadlines, and whether the award may be combined with other support. Scholarship values and conditions may change by academic year.
10. UNIPI Merit Scholarship (University of Pisa)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: €6,500 gross plus full fee exemption in the first year, then €8,000 gross plus 50% fee exemption in eligible later years
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s
The UNIPI Merit Scholarship at the University of Pisa supports eligible international students applying for bachelor’s and master’s programs. According to the most recently published information included in this article, the award provided €6,500 gross plus a full fee exemption in the first year, followed by €8,000 gross plus a 50% fee exemption in eligible later years. Applicants should check the current University of Pisa scholarship page before applying, as scholarship allocations and renewal conditions may change by academic year.
11. Policy Leader Fellowship (European University Institute)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Basic grant of €2,500 per month, with possible adjustments and allowances
- Eligible Degree/s: Fellowship
The Policy Leader Fellowship offered by the European University Institute is a residential fellowship for policy professionals who want to develop policy ideas and practical solutions. It is not a master’s or Ph.D. scholarship. Fellows spend five or ten months at the EUI School of Transnational Governance in Florence, Italy, and must reside in the Florence area during the fellowship.
The basic grant is €2,500 per month. The amount may be reduced if fellows receive other funding or salaries, and eligible family allowances may be added. The EUI may also reimburse incoming and outgoing travel expenses up to the stated limit and assists non-EU fellows with visa and residence procedures.
12. Merit Scholarships at University of Verona
The Merit Scholarships at the University of Verona support eligible international students applying for international Master’s degree programs. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the university announced 15 scholarships and 48 reduced student contributions for international students who meet the stated eligibility requirements. These awards are intended to help cover part of students’ living expenses or reduce student contributions, rather than automatically covering bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs across the university.
13. Merit-Based Scholarships (Polytechnic University of Milan)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full tuition-fee waiver and, for some awards, a gross allowance of up to €10,000 per year
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s
Politecnico di Milano offers merit-based scholarships to talented international candidates admitted to Master of Science programs. These scholarships include a full tuition-fee waiver, and some awards also include a gross allowance of up to €10,000 per year. Scholarship recipients must still pay the administrative fee required by the university.
For recent admission cycles, eligible candidates needed to apply early to an English-taught Master of Science program and complete the required scholarship application steps by the stated deadlines. Since deadlines and eligibility conditions change each year, students should review the current Politecnico di Milano scholarship instructions before applying.
14. Ca’ Foscari Merit-Based Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value for Bachelor’s, Master’s: €10,000 per year, renewable for up to three years for bachelor’s students and up to two years for master’s students
- Meet the Ca’ Foscari Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Dhisa from Indonesia
The Ca’ Foscari Merit-Based Scholarships support high-achieving international students pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Venice. For the 2026/2027 academic year, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice announced renewable yearly scholarships worth €10,000 per year: 8 bachelor’s scholarships renewable for up to three years and 20 master’s scholarships renewable for up to two years.
These scholarships can help students cover study and living costs, but awardees are not exempt from paying tuition fees. Applicants should check the current Ca’ Foscari call for selection criteria, renewal conditions, and deadlines.
FAQs: Applying for Scholarships in Italy
Can International Students Get a Full Scholarship in Italy?
Yes. International students can receive full scholarships or major funding packages in Italy through government, university, and European scholarship programs. However, coverage varies by scholarship. For example, Italian Government Scholarships provide a grant amount and may include tuition-fee exemptions depending on the university, while some university scholarships provide full tuition-fee waivers and additional allowances. Applicants should check each official call to confirm tuition coverage, living allowance, taxes, and renewal rules.
How Can International Students Study for Free in Italy?
International students can reduce or fully cover study costs in Italy by applying for government scholarships, university merit scholarships, regional financial aid, tuition-fee waivers, and European scholarships such as Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters. Students who do not receive a full scholarship can still combine partial scholarships, fee reductions, and approved part-time work where permitted. Since eligibility, work rules, and award coverage vary, applicants should review the official scholarship call and university fee page before planning their budget.
We hope this article on Italy scholarships for international students was helpful. If you are interested, check out the Study in Italy and Available Programs for International Students!
