By Zekeria Madadi | September 30, 2026 | 0 Comments

Best Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy for International Students

Italy is one of the most attractive study destinations in Europe for international students looking for scholarships. Funding is available through the Italian Government, universities, and regional right-to-study organizations.

However, the term “fully funded” should be used carefully. Some Italian scholarships provide tuition exemption plus a living allowance, while regional scholarships may also provide meals and accommodation. Others are generous merit scholarships but may not cover every personal expense.

This guide covers some of the strongest scholarship options for international students based on the latest available 2026/2027 information.

Quick Details

Detail	Information
Study Destination	Italy
Eligible Applicants	International students
Study Levels	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD and research, depending on scholarship
Funding	Tuition waivers, stipends, meals, accommodation or other support
Academic Year	2026/2027
Application Method	Online
Deadlines	Different for each scholarship

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1. Italian Government MAECI Scholarships

The Italian Government Scholarship is one of the main national scholarship opportunities for international students who want to study in Italy.

It is offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and is available to applicants from eligible countries and territories.

Eligible Study Options

The 2026/2027 call covered:

Master’s degree programmes
Higher Education in Arts, Music and Dance programmes
PhD programmes
Research projects
Advanced Italian language and culture courses

Standard bachelor’s degrees are generally not included in this scholarship.

Scholarship Benefits

Depending on the programme and official call, recipients can receive:

Financial grant
Health and accident insurance
Possible tuition-fee exemption under applicable university rules

Applicants should not assume that every university fee or personal expense is automatically covered.

Application

Applications are submitted through the Study in Italy platform.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, the application deadline was 26 March 2026 at 2:00 PM Italian time. The current round is therefore closed.

2. Padua International Excellence Scholarship

The University of Padua offers a major merit-based scholarship programme for talented international students admitted to degree programmes taught in English.

For 2026/2027, the university offered up to 69 Padua International Excellence Scholarships.

Scholarship Benefits

Selected students receive:

€8,000 gross per academic year
Tuition-fee waiver

The scholarship can support eligible students for the normal duration specified by the programme, subject to academic progress and scholarship conditions.

Who Can Apply?

The programme targets highly qualified international applicants admitted to eligible English-taught degree programmes.

Selection is highly competitive and focuses on academic excellence.

3. Talents 4 UniTo Scholarship

The University of Turin offers Talents 4 UniTo scholarships to international students entering eligible English-taught postgraduate degree programmes.

For 2026/2027, the university offered 40 two-year scholarships.

Scholarship Benefits

Each scholarship has a total gross value of:

€20,000 over two years

The programme is intended for international students beginning eligible postgraduate studies at the University of Turin.

Main Requirements

Applicants generally need to:

Hold a qualification obtained outside the Italian education system
Meet admission requirements for the selected postgraduate programme
Apply to an eligible English-taught programme
Satisfy the conditions stated in the annual call

For 2026/2027, the application period closed on 29 January 2026.

4. Politecnico di Milano Merit-Based Scholarships

Politecnico di Milano provides merit-based scholarships for talented international students admitted to eligible English-taught Master of Science programmes.

These scholarships are particularly relevant to students interested in areas such as engineering, architecture and design.

Scholarship Benefits

The merit scholarships include:

Full tuition-fee waiver
Some awards provide an additional gross allowance of up to €10,000 per year

Scholarship recipients still have to pay a non-refundable administrative fee of approximately €170.

Selection

Scholarship selection considers factors such as:

Previous academic performance
Academic achievements
Compatibility of previous education with the selected programme
Submitted application documents
Portfolio, where required

For 2026/2027, applicants had to apply during the university’s specified early application period and satisfy the scholarship requirements, including the English-language requirement.

5. DSU Toscana Scholarship

The DSU Toscana Scholarship is different from many traditional merit scholarships. It is a regional financial-support programme based primarily on economic and academic eligibility.

It can be especially valuable because successful students may receive several forms of support rather than only a cash scholarship.

Scholarship Benefits

Depending on the student’s circumstances and eligibility, support can include:

Tuition-fee exemption
Monetary grant
Free meals
Free university accommodation for eligible scholarship winners living away from home, subject to the programme’s rules and availability

Students who cannot receive university accommodation may be treated according to the housing and financial provisions established in the annual call.

Participating Universities

DSU Toscana support is relevant to students studying at eligible higher education institutions in Tuscany, including universities such as:

University of Pisa
University of Florence
University of Siena

International students can apply, but they must provide the required financial and family documentation under the rules for applicants whose families live outside Italy.

For 2026/2027, the application deadline was 7 September 2026 at 1:00 PM.

6. Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship

Invest Your Talent in Italy combines postgraduate education with professional experience.

The programme supports selected international students studying eligible Master’s degree or postgraduate programmes at participating Italian institutions and includes a compulsory internship.

Scholarship Benefits

For 2026/2027, the scholarship covered a nine-month study period beginning on 1 October 2026.

The programme provides financial support in scheduled payments and includes university-fee exemption under its rules.

The programme also connects scholarship recipients with an internship related to their academic studies.

Important Eligibility Limitation

This scholarship is not open to every nationality.

For 2026/2027, eligible applicants had to be citizens and residents of designated participating countries, including countries such as Bangladesh, India, Iran, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Vietnam, Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, China and several others.

Afghanistan was not included in the 2026/2027 participating-country list.

Application Requirements

Applicants may need documents such as:

Bachelor’s degree academic transcript
English-language certificate at B2 level
CV
Passport
Short self-presentation video
Italian-language certificate or commitment to study Italian

For 2026/2027, applications were accepted from 20 April to 11 May 2026.

7. University of Milan Excellence Scholarships

The University of Milan also uses Excellence Scholarships to attract high-performing international students admitted to Master’s programmes.

The programme has historically combined substantial cash scholarships with tuition-fee exemptions.

Scholarship consideration is linked to admission to an eligible Master’s programme, so international applicants should apply for admission early and carefully check the scholarship rules for their intake.

The exact number, value and conditions should always be checked for the relevant academic year because the scholarship package can change between calls.

Are Italian Scholarships Really Fully Funded?

Not every scholarship described as “fully funded” online covers the same expenses.

A scholarship may provide:

Full tuition waiver
Annual or monthly living allowance
Accommodation
Meals
Health insurance
Other university services

A university merit scholarship offering €8,000 plus tuition exemption, for example, is different from a regional scholarship that may combine cash assistance with meals and accommodation.

Applicants should therefore check the actual benefits instead of relying only on the phrase “fully funded.”

Which Scholarships Are Available for Bachelor’s Students?

Bachelor’s students have fewer national scholarship options than Master’s students, but opportunities still exist.

The Padua International Excellence Scholarship can cover eligible degree programmes taught in English, while regional right-to-study schemes such as DSU Toscana can support eligible undergraduate students.

Students should also check individual universities because scholarship availability varies significantly by institution and programme.

Which Scholarships Are Available for Master’s Students?

Master’s students have some of the widest scholarship choices in Italy.

Major opportunities include:

Italian Government MAECI Scholarships
Padua International Excellence Scholarship
Talents 4 UniTo
Politecnico di Milano Merit-Based Scholarships
DSU regional scholarships
Invest Your Talent in Italy
University-specific excellence scholarships

Eligibility differs significantly, especially regarding nationality, academic background, financial status and language requirements.

Which Scholarships Are Available for PhD Students?

The Italian Government MAECI programme includes eligible PhD study.

Italian universities also advertise their own funded PhD positions. These should normally be searched separately from general international-student scholarships because PhD funding is often connected to a specific doctoral call, department or research project.

Common Documents Required

Requirements vary, but international applicants should prepare important documents early. These may include:

Passport
Degree certificate
Academic transcripts
CV
Language certificate
Motivation letter
Financial documents
Family-income documents
Admission documents
Research proposal for certain PhD or research opportunities

Documents issued outside Italy may also require translation, legalization or other verification depending on the university and application process.

How to Apply for Scholarships in Italy

Start by choosing the degree programme and university rather than submitting random scholarship applications.

Check whether the scholarship requires a separate application. Some scholarships automatically consider eligible admission applicants, while others have a completely separate scholarship portal.

Prepare academic and financial documents well in advance, particularly for regional scholarships. International students can face additional requirements when proving family income, assets and household composition.

Finally, apply before the official deadline and keep copies of all submitted documents.

Important Advice for International Students

Do not assume that admission to an Italian university automatically gives you a scholarship.

Admission and scholarship selection are often separate processes. You may be academically eligible for a degree but not selected for funding.

Also check scholarship renewal conditions. Many multi-year awards require students to earn a minimum number of university credits or meet other academic requirements to continue receiving funding.

Final Summary

Italy offers several strong funding routes for international students. The opportunities range from Italian Government scholarships and university excellence awards to regional need-based support that can include tuition exemption, accommodation, meals and financial assistance.

The most suitable opportunity depends on your study level, nationality, academic performance, financial situation and chosen university.

Because many 2026/2027 calls are already closed as of September 2026, students preparing for the next intake should use the current calls as a guide and wait for the official 2027/2028 announcements before relying on the same deadlines, scholarship amounts or eligibility rules.

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