Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy for International Students 2024-2025 : Study in Italy Fully FundedFebruary 15, 2024 by Digital Vaults Editorial Team
Join our Telegram Channel to Get the Latest International Scholarship Alerts and Tips.
Here are the different Italy scholarships you can apply for:
#1.Italy Government Scholarships
The Italian government offers scholarships to overseas students wishing to pursue higher education in Italy. Any international student enrolling for a Master’s degree or a Doctorate program in Advanced Technologies, Design, Engineering, Management, Architecture, Economics or Language and Culture at a top Italian university can avail of this scholarship.
Students are given a monthly allowance of EUR 900 (approximately USD 940) and are exempted from paying enrolment and tuition fees. The scholarship duration can be three, six, or nine, depending on your study level.
As for eligibility, applicants for the Master’s scholarship must not be above 28 years of age. Meanwhile, the age limit for the Doctorate scholarship is 40 years old. Students from non-English speaking countries should also submit CEFR scores or an English language certificate to comply with the language requirements.
#2.EDISU Piemonte Scholarships
The EDISU Piemonte Scholarships are for international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, Single Cycle Degree, or a doctorate course at any Piedmont university, such as the University of Torino and the Politecnico of Torino.
The total scholarship amount varies depending on your enrolment type and residency. Accommodation assistance is also given along with a monetary award of up to EUR 5,108 (approx. USD 5,310) and an exemption from paying tuition and enrolment fees.
There are two requirements when applying for an EDISU Piemonte scholarship: economic and merit-based. The merit requirements require you to be regularly enrolled and earn a certain number of credits, which can vary according to your program. As for the economic requirements, your economic situation will be assessed based on ISEE Parificato financial certificate.
You can visit its online portal to register for the EDISU Piemonte scholarship.
#3.University of Milan Scholarships
The University of Milan is a partially selective institution. It has a 52% acceptance rate and charges EUR 30 for admission applications. The university has been recognized worldwide for granting different valuable scholarships to their local and international students for undergraduate and Master’s degree programs.
You can apply for either of the available scholarships offered by the University of Milan:
- Excellence Scholarships
- Need and Merit-Based Scholarships
- Regional Scholarships
Those who can successfully avail of the scholarship are given EUR 6,000 (approx. USD 6,230) and an exemption from tuition fees and other additional allowances.
To apply for a University of Milan scholarship, you must submit one of the language test scores such as PTE, TOEFL, DELTA, TOEIC, IELTS, CAE/CPE, FCE, ESOL, Trinity College London and Oxford University.
#4.Bocconi Merit and International Awards
The Bocconi Merit and International Awards scholarship are open for top-performing overseas applicants who plan to enrol in any eligible Bachelor’s degree or Master of science program at the University of Bocconi.
The scholarship amount begins at a 50% reduction of your tuition fee and up to EUR 12,000 (approx. USD 12,450) every year for students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree and up to EUR 13,000 (approx. USD 13,490) per year for students pursuing a Master’s degree.
The scholarship is given depending on the academic excellence of the applicant. You can apply by visiting the Bocconi University website and applying to an undergraduate or graduate program.
#5.University of Florence Scholarships
With an acceptance rate of 44%, the University of Florence opens its doors to international students and offers scholarship programs to help them complete their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Florence University offers different scholarships, including Italy Government Scholarships, IYT Scholarships, DSU Toscana Scholarships and many more. These scholarships provide academic and financial sponsorship to students until they have completed their degrees.
The accepted language tests at Florence University for their scholarships are TOEFL, iBT and IELTS. However, the university charges EUR 20 as an admission application fee for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
#6.Politecnico de Milano Scholarships for International Students
The Polytechnic University of Milan, or the Politecnico de Milano, is the largest technical university in Italy. Top-performing and talented international students are offered a scholarship into the master of science program at the university.
This scholarship has three levels:
- PLATINUM scholarships: students are given EUR 10,000 (approx. USD 10,370) every year
- GOLD scholarships: students are given EUR 5,000 (approx. USD 5,180) every year
- SILVER scholarships: students are given the total amount of fees they need for the academic year
To be qualified for the scholarship, you will be assessed based on your:
- GPA (grade point average)
- Your portfolio
- Academic achievements
- Motivation letter
You can apply for the scholarship by filling in an online application form found at the portal of PoliMi.
#7.University of Padua Scholarships
The University of Padua offers a wide range of partially and fully funded scholarships to local and international students planning to pursue their undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. It has an acceptance rate of 49%.
Their scholarships include:
- Padua International Excellence Scholarships
- Income-based Scholarship
- Departmental Scholarships
- Regione Veneto Scholarships
Those chosen for any of these scholarships are granted monetary rewards, a discount on tuition fees, and living costs.
In terms of English language proficiency requirements, Padua University accepts TOEFL / ESOL / IELTS / PTE / Oxford University / Trinity College London scores. The university also charges an admission application fee of EUR 30 (approx. USD 30).
#8.Politecnico di Torino International Scholarships
International students who want to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in architecture and engineering can apply for scholarships at Politecnico di Torino or the Polytechnic University of Turin.
Students are given EUR 8,000 (approx. USD 8,300) every year for the duration of their studies.
To be qualified for this scholarship, you need to comply with the following:
- A score of 60 or higher on the admission test
- Obtain a secondary high school diploma from an institution outside of Italy
- Enrolling in a Bachelor of Science Degree at the university for the first time
You can apply for the Politecnico di Torino international scholarship by filling out an application form on the PoliTo platform and ticking the box under “Research and Academic Scholarships.”
#9.University of Pisa Scholarships
Overseas students can pursue their undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees at Pisa University and be partially or fully sponsored by the scholarships they offer. They have the lowest acceptance rates, falling between 20% to 30%. However, they do not charge any fees for admission applications.
The scholarships Pisa University offers include the following:
- UNIPI Merit Scholarships
- MAECI Scholarships
- DSU Scholarships
- Invest Your Talent (IYT) Scholarships
Their financial coverage includes fee waivers, free Italian Language courses, tuition grants, in-company training, and more.
Although they do not charge admission fees, applicants eligible for the University of Pisa are expected to pay EUR 356 (approx. USD 370) as the first tuition instalment at the time of enrolment.
#10.Bologna University Study Grants for international students
Any international student registering for Bachelor’s, Master’s or single-cycle degree programs at Bologna University can apply for their study grants.
Each grant covers one academic year and has a total of EUR 11,000 (approx. USD 11,430) and an exemption from paying the full tuition fee.
International students must comply with the following requirements to qualify:
- Bachelor’s or single-cycle degree program applicants must take the SAT or TOLC test
- Master’s degree program applicants must take the GRE test
- Applicant must be less than 30 years of age
You can apply for the grant by registering in the Student Online portal and submitting the required documents.
Funding Package
These are some of the benefits given to those who have Italy scholarships:
- High scholarship rewards and Conference participation passes
- Full scholarship students have travel grants
- Monthly paid stipend
- In-company training programs
- Tuition fee exemption for up to 50%, 75% and 100%
- Medical insurance
- Free Italian language course program
- Room, dorm and Board funds
English Language Requirements
International students applying for English-taught programs at Italian universities must comply with the English Language proficiency requirements. Students from non-speaking countries should submit scores from any of the following language tests:
- IELTS
- TOEIC
- CAE
- FCE
- ESOL
- TOEFL
- CEFR
- CPE
- PTE
- DELTA
- Oxford University English language test
- Trinity College London English language test
Popular Academic Course Programs Offered
Italian universities offer scholarships for the following subjects for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees:
- Sociology
- Economic Analysis and Policy
- Political Communication
- Humanities
- Mathematics
- Law
- Chemistry
- Medical sciences
- System biology
- Oncology
- Psychology
- Social work
- Earth sciences
- Historical studies
- Computer science
- Philosophy
- Management
- Agriculture
- Life sciences
- Neuroscience
- Physics
- Surgical sciences
FAQs
Can I study in Italy for free?
Yes, however, fully-funded scholarships in Italy have limited slots, so the competition is tough. Suppose you could only avail of a partially funded scholarship. In that case, there are still other ways to cover the rest of your expenses, such as getting a work-study job at your chosen institution, a part-time job in the city, or a paid internship.
What kinds of Italian scholarships for overseas students are available?
Two types of financial aid in Italy are given to international students: scholarships sponsored by a specific university and government-sponsored scholarships. The different types of scholarships also often offer different amounts and do not always cover accommodation costs.
Who is allowed to study in Italy with scholarships?
Almost anyone can study in Italy on a scholarship. However, most scholarships are based on your financial means or academic achievements. So, you’re more likely to receive a fully funded Italian scholarship if you have a stellar academic record.
Other options, such as scholarships, are offered after you have studied in Italy for a year. You can pay the full fee in the first year of your undergraduate or postgraduate program and apply for the scholarship the following year.
What is a DSU scholarship?
The DSU scholarship means ‘Diritto allo Studio Universitario’ or ‘Right to University Education.’ This refers to financial aid benefits given annually by the specific region a university is found in. Universities like Politecnico di Milano, University of Milano and University of Pisa offer this program.
The amount is calculated based on your geographic origin and income bracket. Besides monetary compensation, the DSU scholarship also provides catering and residence services.
How do I prove my financial situation?
Some Italian scholarships ask European students to present an ISEE certificate to prove their financial status. You can obtain your certificate by requesting it from the INPS website.
However, an ISEE can’t be issued to those whose family income and assets are outside of Europe. Instead, you can request its equivalent, which is the ISEE-U Parificato. You can do this by contacting the CAF affiliated with your chosen university, and they’ll issue the certificate for you.
You must be prepared to submit various documents, such as each family member’s properties, income and financial assets. The documents must also be issued by the respective offices in your home country and translated and legalized according to the regulations that can vary from country to country.
