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Imagine earning a globally recognised degree while receiving financial support instead of carrying high tuition costs. In 2025, Italy saw record growth in Indian student enrolment, driven largely by affordable public education, income-linked tuition structures, and generous scholarship opportunities. While tuition costs continue to rise in destinations such as the UK and the USA, Italy remains one of the few major study destinations where public higher education is designed to stay broadly accessible.

For eligible students whose family income falls within scholarship thresholds, financial support can go beyond tuition reductions and may also contribute toward living expenses through regional funding schemes.

By the end of this guide, you will understand which scholarships to target, what they typically cover, and how to improve your chances of studying in Italy during the 2026–2027 academic year.

Before applying for scholarships in Italy for Indian students, it is important to understand the costs you would need to cover without financial support. The total cost of studying in Italy depends on whether you enroll in a public or private university, while living expenses differ based on the city you choose to live in.

1. Public University Tuition

€900 to €4,000 per year (₹96,228 to ₹4,27,680)

Public universities in Italy follow the ISEE-U income-based assessment system, meaning tuition fees are determined according to family income. Students from lower-income backgrounds generally pay fees closer to the minimum range. Additionally, most need-based scholarships are available only for public universities.

2. Private University Tuition

€6,000 to €25,000+ per year (₹6,41,520 to ₹26,73,000+)

Private universities typically have fixed tuition fees that do not depend on family income. Scholarship opportunities at these institutions are mainly merit-based, requiring strong academic performance such as a high GPA or competitive test scores. These scholarships are generally more limited and competitive than those offered by public universities.

3. Living Expenses

€700 to €1,200 per month (₹74,844 to ₹1,28,304)

Accommodation represents the largest share of living costs. Cities such as Milan and Rome usually fall on the higher end of the expense range.

Without financial aid, students attending a public university should plan for an estimated annual budget of around €8,200 to €15,000 per year (₹8,76,744 to ₹16,03,800). Scholarships in Italy for Indian students can help lower tuition costs and may also provide partial support for living expenses, but the final amount of assistance depends on meeting eligibility requirements and submitting the necessary documentation.

Italy offers two main scholarship pathways: income-based regional funding and merit-based university or government awards. For most Indian students, income-based scholarships are the more accessible option rather than merit-only opportunities. In many cases, family income plays a more significant role than academic scores.

Scholarships in Italy for Indian students are generally grouped into four categories, each with its own eligibility criteria and documentation process.

These scholarship opportunities are available across Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and PhD programs. However, the majority of English-taught scholarship options are concentrated at the Master’s degree level.

When exploring scholarships in Italy for Indian students, three government-supported funding options stand out. Each scholarship serves a different profile of student based on academic achievement, career focus, or financial background.

Scholarship Best For Total Coverage Deadline
MAECI Academic Excellence €900/mo (₹81,000) + Fee Waiver May 2026
Invest Your Talent in Italy Engineers & Business €1,000/mo (₹90,000) + Fee Waiver Feb 24, 2026
Regional DSU Low Family Income €7,200/yr (₹6.5 Lakhs) + Fee Waiver July – Sept 2026

MAECI Scholarship (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

The MAECI scholarship is Italy’s flagship government-funded program for international students. It is highly competitive and primarily awarded based on academic performance and merit.

Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT)

This scholarship program is designed to connect academic learning with professional experience by integrating a Master’s degree with a mandatory internship component in Italy.

Regional DSU Scholarships (The “Zero-Fee” Path)

Regional DSU scholarships are administered by local authorities across different regions of Italy (for example, agencies such as LazioDiSCo in Rome and EDISU in Turin). These are among the most popular scholarship options for Indian students because they are primarily based on financial need rather than academic ranking.

Many universities in Italy also offer institution-specific merit scholarships to attract outstanding international students. These awards operate independently from government-funded programs and are typically granted based on entrance exam performance, academic records, or overall applicant strength.

University Scholarship Name Amount (Annual) Eligibility & Criteria
Bologna Unibo Action 1 & 2 €11,059 (₹9.9 Lakhs) SAT (Undergrad) or GRE (Postgrad) scores.
Padua International Excellence €8,000 (₹7.2 Lakhs) 62 available; auto-considered for English-taught degrees.
PoliMi Platinum Merit €10,000 (₹9.0 Lakhs) Early Bird MSc applicants; exceptional GPA/Portfolio.
PoliMi Gold Merit €8,000 (₹7.2 Lakhs) High academic record; automatic consideration.
Milan (Unimi) Excellence Grant €8,000 (₹7.2 Lakhs) Based on academic CV; apply by May 31, 2026.

Unibo Action 1 & 2 (University of Bologna)
This is one of Italy’s most prestigious merit scholarship programs, where the selection process focuses entirely on measurable academic performance through standardised international tests rather than extracurricular profiles or subjective evaluation.

The University of Bologna offers either:

Padua International Excellence (University of Padua)

The University of Padua offers scholarships to highly talented international students enrolling in degree programs taught entirely in English. The scholarship combines tuition support with direct financial assistance.

Duration:

Up to 2 years for Master’s programs
Up to 3 years for Bachelor’s and Single-Cycle degrees

Politecnico di Milano Merit Awards

These scholarships are targeted specifically at Master of Science (MSc) students and are particularly competitive in technical disciplines including engineering, architecture, and design.

University of Milan (Unimi) Excellence Grant

This scholarship supports internationalisation by rewarding applicants with strong academic backgrounds and high-quality academic records.

Eligibility & Documents

To improve your chances for the 2026–2027 intake, prepare these essentials before starting applications. Italian application processes are documentation-heavy and timelines are strictly enforced.

GPA Requirements
Minimum 65%–70% aggregate (First Class) in your most recent qualification
Highly competitive merit scholarships generally prefer 75%+ aggregate
Language Requirements
IELTS score between 6.0–6.5, or
Medium of Instruction (MOI) Certificate where accepted
Official language scores may act as a deciding factor in close merit rankings
Financial Documents (For DSU Scholarships)

For income-based regional scholarships, Indian applicants usually need:

Family Income Certificate
Family Property Certificate
Documents apostilled by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)
Certified Italian translations as required by the university or region
Selection: Mandatory online application via the "Online Services" portal, typically during the first admission call (Oct–Dec 2025).
Eligibility: Foreign Bachelor's degree holders; Indian students are highly competitive with a 70%+ aggregate GPA.

University of Milan (Unimi) Excellence Grant

A broad incentive program designed to boost the university's international mobility by rewarding students with the most impressive academic profiles.

Eligibility & Documents

To maximise your chances for the 2026–2027 intake, ensure you meet these baseline requirements before beginning your application. Italian bureaucracy is strict regarding document formats and deadlines.

The application process for scholarships in Italy follows a structured sequence that should be completed in order: university admission, pre-enrolment, document legalisation, scholarship application, and finally the student visa process. Following the steps correctly can help avoid delays and documentation issues.

Step 1: Shortlist Universities Carefully

Select 2–3 public universities that offer your preferred program in English. Public universities are especially important if you plan to apply for income-based Regional DSU scholarships. Focus on universities where your academic profile is realistically competitive rather than relying only on ambitious choices.

Step 2: Complete Required Tests (If Applicable)

If you intend to apply for merit-based scholarships, such as Unibo Action scholarships, complete the required standardised tests well before deadlines.

SAT for Bachelor’s applicants
GRE for Master’s applicants

Ensure official test scores are sent directly through the authorised testing agency.

Step 3: Secure Your Admission Letter

Once you receive your admission offer, keep the admission letter safely stored.

This document is required for:

Scholarship applications
Pre-enrolment procedures
Student visa processing
Step 4: Register on Universitaly

Create an account on Universitaly.it and complete the pre-enrolment process.

Typically, you will need to upload:

Admission letter
Passport copy

This step officially records your study application with the Italian authorities and is required before proceeding with your visa application.

Step 5: Obtain DOV or CIMEA (If Required)

Review your university’s requirements carefully.

Depending on the institution, you may need either:

Declaration of Value (DOV) issued through the Italian Consulate, or
CIMEA Statement of Comparability

Apply early, as processing timelines may take several weeks.

Step 6: Collect Financial Certificates

For students applying under Regional DSU scholarships, prepare the required financial documentation from India.

Common requirements include:

Family Income Certificate
Property Certificate

These documents are used to determine your financial eligibility.

Step 7: Complete the Legalisation Process

Italian authorities require document authentication in a specific sequence.

Your documents generally must complete:

State-level verification
MEA Apostille
Official Italian translation

Every stage is mandatory. Missing any part of this chain may result in rejection of scholarship eligibility.

Step 8: Register on the Regional Scholarship Portal

Once the scholarship portal for your selected region becomes active, create your account immediately.

Early registration helps avoid last-minute submission issues.

Step 9: Upload Documents for ISEE-U Calculation

Submit all translated and Apostilled financial documents.

The regional authority will review the submission and calculate your ISEE-U value, which determines your scholarship eligibility and support amount.

Step 10: Monitor Ranking Lists

Track both provisional and final ranking lists after submission.

If you notice:

Incorrect financial assessment
Missing documents
Administrative errors

use the correction period provided by the authority.

Step 11: Apply for Your Type D Study Visa

After receiving Universitaly approval, begin your student visa application through VFS Global.

Typical documents include:

Admission letter
Financial proof
Passport documents
Scholarship confirmation (if available)

Receiving scholarship approval can strengthen your visa application profile.

Step 12: Apply for Permesso di Soggiorno

Within 8 days of arriving in Italy, apply for your Permesso di Soggiorno (Residence Permit).

This step is mandatory and is generally required before scholarship disbursements can begin.

By completing each stage in sequence, students can move from admission to scholarship approval and finally to legal residence in Italy without unnecessary delays.

In Italy, scholarship deadlines are enforced very strictly. Application portals close automatically once the deadline passes, and late submissions are generally not accepted. Indian students planning to apply for scholarships in Italy should organise their admission, documentation, and scholarship timeline carefully to avoid missing key dates.

Merit-based and government-funded scholarships usually close earlier in the cycle. Regional income-based scholarships (DSU) typically open later, but applicants should prepare all required financial and legalised documents well in advance.
Date Deadline For Priority
Feb 24, 2026 Invest Your Talent (IYT) Critical (Merit)
March 31, 2026 PoliMi Merit Awards High (Merit)
April 30, 2026 Unibo Action 1 & 2 (GRE/SAT) High (Merit)
May 16, 2026 MAECI (Government Grant) Critical (Merit)
July – Sept 2026 Regional DSU Scholarships Critical (Need)

Note: Make sure to get your admission, test scores, and MEA Apostille papers ready well before these dates. You need to act quickly to get merit scholarships, and DSU funding depends a lot on getting your financial documents in on time. If you miss a deadline, you usually have to wait another year.

When applying for scholarships in Italy, Indian students should choose the funding route that best matches their academic profile and financial situation.

For students who meet the income criteria, Regional DSU scholarships are often the strongest option because they can reduce tuition fees and support living expenses. Since these are need-based, financial eligibility is usually more important than academic scores.

Students with strong academic records can target government scholarships like MAECI and Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT), but these require early preparation and timely applications.

University merit scholarships are another good opportunity, especially because some universities automatically consider students during admission.

Start preparing documents early—especially Income Certificates, Property Certificates, MEA Apostille, translations, and admission records. Many students miss scholarships due to paperwork delays rather than eligibility issues.

If you need help with shortlisting universities, IELTS preparation, or choosing the right scholarship path, connect with Neethu’s and plan your 2026–2027 intake with a clear strategy.