Universities in Italy are popular choices for students all over the world, as the country holds some of the greatest institutions in every field of study, and offers a high level of higher study opportunities. For this reason, there are approximately 32,000 international students in the country. Although Italy can be a dream destination, the costs of living and education can be considerably high to manage.
But, there are some places and tips you can follow to change that. There has been an influx of international students to Italy, particularly international students from India and Nigeria because they were able to study in Italy for free. Italy offers numerous opportunities to not only study without paying a dime but also to earn extra money in the process. Let’s look at some tips to study in Italy for free.
How to Study in Italy for Free
1. Get Your Application Together and Submit Them Early!
To qualify to study in Italy for free with decent scholarships, your previous academic background should be flawless and filled with great results. To achieve that, studying hard with clear concepts on your target fields from day one is essential. The academic results and submitted applications are the first elements that represent you to the judging authority.
Having a well-organized application for the scholarship is very important, and preparing your application early is the key to making it easier. This remains a performance evaluation tool that tells you your current progress rate. Modify and upgrade your pre-made application, and you’ll get an enriched application by the end of your semester.
2. Apply for Financial Aid in Italian Universities
Having the best scholarships in Italy at your disposal is the key to studying free in the country, and even earning more money. Many top-notch Italian universities offer full scholarships and tuition fee waivers within their scholarships. Make sure to enlist your target universities and find the most appropriate scholarships.
After choosing the perfect matches and appropriate universities to study at, you can look at their listed requirements and fulfill each. When you’ve met all the requirements, apply for the scholarships to get a free education in Italy as an international student.
A mix of great background results and a shiny application will help you stand out among numerous other applicants and allow you to grab that dream scholarship. This gives you an easy way to study in Italy for free, cut down on expenses, and even earn great amounts of money while studying.
3. Apply to Affordable Universities in Italy
Universities in Italy can charge up to 4,000 euros on average, which is a big amount to manage for many students, especially those who are coming from abroad. However, applying to affordable universities in Italy in the first place makes it much easier to cut down the total costs of studying and fill them up with scholarships.
There are many public universities and some private colleges in Italy that offer great value for money because their tuition fees are much lower than the average fees. List potential cheap institutions as per your study fields, and then choose the best one that offers both quality and inexpensive tuition. With a good scholarship in Italy, your education expenses can be easily cut down.
Tuition-free Options for Bachelor’s Studies in Italy
At the University of Bologna, Bocconi University, and the University of Padova, international students can get a free bachelor’s degree by getting the following scholarships:
1. Unibo Action Scholarships (University of Bologna)
University of Bologna (Unibo) is considered the oldest university in the West and is also one of the finest and highest-ranked ones. The Unibo Action Scholarship for international students is one of the best financial aid you can get in the country, and this award option is also available for diploma holders and offers full scholarships along with up to 11,000 euros worth of study grants.
2. Bocconi4Access to Education – 100% Full Tuition Waivers (Bocconi University)
Another great scholarship opportunity so international students can get a free education in Italy is given by a university known as the Harvard of Italy, the Bocconi University. It’s a top-ranked private university in Italy and produces high research scopes as well, remember that the 100% Full Tuition Waiver is given to a few selected bachelor’s and law students.
3. Padua International Excellence Scholarship (University of Padua)
The University of Padua is also among the top 10 best Italian universities, which offers great scholarship opportunities as well. Padua International Excellence Scholarship is available for international students studying for English-taught bachelor’s degrees.
It offers a full free studentship and 8,000 euros worth of scholarships per academic year. Recipients of this scholarship program only have to pay the regional tax and revenue stamp (Marca da bollo).
For bachelor and single-degree candidates, the scholarship is available for a three-year duration. Students enrolled in the university don’t need any application, as they’re automatically picked as recipients based on their past positions and results. The scholarship is paid in 2 settlements each year.
Tuition-free Options for Master’s Studies in Italy
Italian universities offer many scholarships that allow master’s students to study for free in Italy. International students can get a free master’s degree in Italy at the Polytechnic University of Milan, Bocconi University, and the University of Padua by getting these awards.
1. Merit-based Scholarships (Polytechnic University of Milan)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: full tuition fee waiver, up to €10,000 annual stipend
Considered the best university for engineering in Italy, the Polytechnic University of Milan (Polimi) offers the best scholarship opportunities for master’s (MSc) students, so that students can receive the best quality education without spending a dime. This Politecnico de Milano Merit-based Scholarship is given to international students and is categorized into three sectors, all of which offer a full tuition fee waiver.
The Platinum level scholarship offers 10,000 euros per year, the Gold scholarship gives 5,000 euros and the Silver scholarship offers only the tuition fee. The selection is based on previous education results. Students only have to pay the 200 euro administrative fee, which is easily cut down from the scholarship.
2. Bocconi Graduate Merit Awards
Just like undergraduates, Bocconi University also offers similar yet even better opportunities for master’s students. The Bocconi Graduate Merit Awards are awarded to international students pursuing a master’s degree at the university. Similar to the previous one, this merit award has a 2-year duration only if the awardee achieves 50 or more credits after one year.
But the amount of tuition fee waiver is 14,000 euros per year. Students get accommodation facilities within the campus as usual, and no application is required for eligibility. Students are automatically selected.
3. Padua International Excellence Scholarship (University of Padua)
The University of Padua also provides similar scholarships for master’s programs so that international students can study in Italy for free. Just like the undergraduate one, the Padua International Excellence Scholarship is available for 2 years duration for students pursuing a master’s degree at the university.
International students studying English courses are eligible. It offers 8,000 euros worth of scholarship value and a full fee waiver and doesn’t need any application either.
Tuition-free Options for Ph.D. Studies in Italy
1. Ph.D. Scholarship (Scuola Normale Superiore de Pisa)
The Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa has the highest-rated per capita performance parameter in Italy according to ARWU 2018. For enhanced research opportunities, it offers Scuola Normale Superiore Ph.D. Scholarship. This scholarship is open for both Italian and international students currently completing doctoral studies.
This is a fully-funded scholarship, and only 68 awards are provided to progress in the thesis. Getting this scholarship will allow Ph.D. students to study in Italy for free.
2. EDISU Piemento Scholarships (Polytechnic University of Turin)
Another great scholarship opportunity is given by the Polytechnic University of Turin, one of the best engineering universities in the world. The EDISU Piemonte Scholarships and Accommodation Services are given to international students, within and out of the EU, studying Ph.D. at the university.
Besides a full tuition fee waiver, the scholarship also offers up to 5,200 euros worth. In addition to these, accommodation services are provided to the awardee. Stateless students, internationally protected ones, and students coming from selected poor countries and below the levels of family income can show a certificate issued from the Italian Diplomatic Mission on their home countries can get even more opportunities and priorities.
FAQs: Studying in Italy as an International Student
Is It Cheap for International Students to Study in Italy?
Yes, it is cheap for international students to study in Italy, but the prices can rack up quickly if you are not paying attention to details. Depending on location, the living expenses may skyrocket, so make sure to rent your accommodation in a city that is not so popular.
Since your monthly rent will take the biggest chunk out of your expenses, avoid the key cities in Italy that people flock to, and try to get accommodation that is near to your university but relatively cheap to live in.
If you are looking for world-class but affordable higher education in Italy, carefully explore the above scholarships which could guarantee you free studies. Italy is one of the best countries to study and with the above scholarships, you do not have to break the bank to pursue your dream career.
We hope this article on how to study in Italy for free was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Italy and Available Programs for International Students pages for more articles and information on studies in Europe.
