Italy Scholarships for International Students 2027

Studying in Italy is generally cheaper than in many other European countries. However, there are still costs to consider, such as rent, food, and visas. The tuition fees at Padua are set at €2,790 for non-EU students for the 2026/27 academic year. As such, most scholarships will focus on living costs. There are three types of scholarships available in Italy: National Scholarships, Merit-Based Scholarships from universities, and Regional Scholarships for housing and food.

In the next four weeks, there are two deadlines that are very close. The first round of the Padua Scholarship closes on 15th November 2026. The early application period for the Politecnico di Milano Scholarship closes on 1st December 2026. There are several national scholarships that have not been published for the 2027/28 academic year, such as the Italian Government (MAECI) Scholarships. November 2026 has been used to check the deadlines. Deadlines will change each year, so it is important to check the official website.

What Do They Usually Cover?

No Tuition Fees or Reduced Tuition Fees: Padua, Politecnico di Milano, and Bocconi all offer this.

Annual Stipend: Padua offers €8,000 gross with no student fees. Politecnico di Milano waives full tuition fees, and some scholarships offer up to €10,000.

Housing and Food: Regional DSU Scholarships can provide free housing and free meals from the canteen.

Visa, Insurance, and Travel Costs: These are normally not covered by university scholarships, so be sure to check each scholarship. MAECI Scholarships have included health insurance in recent years.

Many scholarships in Italy will be partially funded, and most will only be available for master’s students.

Scholarship Deadlines

Padua – International Excellence Scholarship: The first round of admissions closes on 15th November 2026 for most courses. The scholarship was published in November 2026. Check the official website.

Politecnico di Milano – Merit-Based Scholarships: Admissions and tuition fees by 1st December 2026. Scholarship application by 15th December 2026 at 12:00 (Italian time). English certificate by 4th March 2027.

Bocconi – Graduate Merit Awards: Round 1 has closed. Round 2 closes on 26th January 2027. Round 3 closes on 11th March 2027. Round 4 closes on 29th April 2027. All deadlines are at 3 p.m. (Italian time).

Ca’ Foscari – Honours Scholarships: Published in late fall 2026 for the 2027/28 academic year.

Italian Government (MAECI) Scholarships: Not published. The last deadline was 26th March 2026.

Invest Your Talent in Italy: Not published. The last deadline was 11th May 2026.

Bologna – International Talents @Unibo: Not published. Deadlines change every year.

Turin – Talents 4 UniTo: Not published. One portal states 29th January 2027.

Regional DSU Scholarships: Not published. The 2026/27 deadlines were between July and September 2026.

Open or Soon to Be Open

1. Padua – International Excellence Scholarship

Scholarship for bachelor’s and master’s degrees with English-taught courses. There is no separate scholarship application.

Deadline: The first-round application for 2027/28 opened on 15th September 2026. Most courses close on 15th November 2026. Padua states that the scholarships will be published in November 2026. Some master’s courses with limited places have different deadlines, so be sure to check the course page.

What It Covers: Up to 76 scholarships covering €8,000 gross per year with no student fees. The scholarships will be available for up to two years (for a master’s degree) and three years (for a bachelor’s degree). The money will be paid in two instalments of €4,000.

Requirements: You must not be Italian (unless you hold dual citizenship), must have a foreign qualification, and must not be living in Italy at the time of application. Scholarships are mainly awarded to those applying in the first round. If you earn fewer than 20 credits by 30th November in the following academic year, you will lose the scholarship.

2. Politecnico di Milano – Merit-Based Scholarships

Scholarship for Master of Science programmes with English-taught courses starting in the first semester.

Deadline: Only available to international students who applied during the Early Bird period. Tuition fees must be paid between 1st October and 1st December 2026. The second application closes on 15th December 2026 at 12:00. A valid English certificate must be submitted by 4th March 2027. Apply via the Politecnico di Milano Online Services.

What It Covers: Reduced fees to just an administration fee of around €170. All scholarships include a full tuition fee waiver. Some offer an annual stipend of up to €10,000. There are 64 scholarships available in four categories, including 10 Platinum scholarships worth €10,000 and 18 Gold scholarships worth €8,000 for the Milan campuses. (Check the official call.)

Requirements: Based on previous education, documents, and the scholarship application. The most important factors will be grades and academic achievements. Not available for Italian-taught courses or second-semester entry.

3. Bocconi – Graduate Merit Awards

Scholarship for Master of Science/MA programmes for the first year.

Deadline: Round 1 was from 1st–29th October 2026. Round 2 closes on 26th January 2027. Round 3 closes on 11th March 2027. Round 4 closes on 29th April 2027. All deadlines are at 3 p.m. (Italian time).

What It Covers: Varies depending on the scholarship. The university decides the benefits. Check the current regulations to find out what it covers.

Requirements: No separate application is required. Selection is based on your application. Most scholarships are likely to be awarded in the first few rounds. There is an application fee of €100. You must include a result from the GMAT, GRE, or Bocconi test, along with your grades and English dossier.

4. Ca’ Foscari University of Venice – Honours Scholarships

Scholarship for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. It can be renewed each year.

Deadline: The full call will be published in late fall. Contact the university for more information.

What It Covers: Eight scholarships for bachelor’s students worth €10,000 per year for three years. Twenty scholarships for master’s students worth €10,000 per year for two years.

Requirements: You must have a CGPA of 85% or above. You must include a motivational video, reference letters, and a language certificate.

Not Published – Plan for Next Year

5. Italian Government (MAECI) Scholarships

Scholarship for foreign citizens. Available from bachelor’s degrees to research programmes.

Deadline: The 2026/27 deadline was 2 p.m. (CET) on 26th March 2026. The 2027/28 dates have not been published. A new call is expected in early 2027 on the Study in Italy portal.

What It Covers: Recently awarded €10,800 per year with no tuition fees. The amount can vary.

Requirements: You can only apply for one country. Your application will be reviewed by the Italian Embassy/Consulate for that country. Eligible countries and age limits vary each year.

6. Invest Your Talent in Italy

Scholarship for master’s students with an internship. Available for selected countries.

Deadline: 2026/27 applications were open between 20th April and 11th May 2026. The next call is expected in Spring 2027.

What It Covers: €10,800 annual scholarship. Internship with Italian companies.

Requirements: Cannot be combined with any other Italian Government or public scholarships, including DSU Scholarships. Seventeen countries were eligible according to the Politecnico di Milano page, including India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Vietnam. Ca’ Foscari required applications in the first two rounds.

7. Bologna – International Talents @Unibo

Scholarship for master’s students. A separate application is required.

Deadline: The 2025/26 deadline was 30th May 2025 at 12:00 (CEST). The 2026/27 master’s deadline was 30th April 2026, according to one website. No 2027/28 deadline has been confirmed, so keep an eye on the Bologna Scholarships page from January 2027.

What It Covers: Gross stipend and tuition fees waived. Benefits vary between calls, so check the official call.

Requirements: You must be aged 30 or under. Many websites still show the old names of Unibo Action 1 and 2.

8. Turin – Talents 4 UniTo

Scholarship for master’s programmes with English-taught courses and no limited places.

Deadline: The 2026/27 deadline has passed. The next one is 29th January 2027, according to one portal. This has not been confirmed by the university.

What It Covers: Forty scholarships for two years worth a total of €20,000 gross in 2026/27.

Requirements: Separate applications are required for admission and the scholarship.

9. Regional DSU Scholarships

Need-based scholarships for housing, food, and cash. They are run by regional agencies such as ER.GO, DiSCo Lazio, EDISU, and DSU Toscana.

Deadline: The 2026/27 scholarships opened between 10th June and 22nd July 2026. They closed between 21st July and 30th September 2026. The 2027/28 deadlines should follow the same pattern. Start preparing your documents in Spring 2027.

What It Covers: In 2026/27, DiSCo Lazio offered up to €7,556.78 with two meals per day. ER.GO offered up to €8,246.78 to students with the lowest income. The maximum ISEE was €28,339.88.

Requirements: Non-EU students must have an ISEE Parificato. This must be created using documents from your home country. Start in May/June, as documents take time to legalise and translate.

How to Find the Right Scholarship for You

Profile: Padua, Politecnico di Milano, and Bocconi all use academic merit, so grades will be the most important factor. Ca’ Foscari requires a CGPA of 85% or above.

Country: MAECI and ‘Invest Your Talent in Italy’ have country lists. These change every year. Padua does not allow Italian citizens or those living in Italy.

Course: Most merit scholarships require you to be enrolled in an English-taught master’s course. Padua and Ca’ Foscari also offer funding for bachelor’s degrees.

Combining Scholarships: ‘Invest Your Talent in Italy’ cannot be combined with DSU Scholarships.

3 Common Mistakes That Can Ruin a Good Application

1. Thinking You Need to Complete a Separate Application

Padua and Bocconi do not require this. Politecnico di Milano does. Be sure to check each scholarship.

2. Applying Late

Bocconi states that most scholarships are awarded in the first few rounds. Padua mainly awards scholarships to those applying in the first round.

3. Thinking Guide Websites Are Up to Date

Many websites still list Unibo Action 1 and 2. Always check the university page.

Conclusion

The nearest deadline is the first round of scholarships at Padua, which closes on 15th November 2026. The Politecnico di Milano early application closes on 1st December 2026, with the scholarship application closing on 15th December. The next Bocconi round closes on 26th January 2027. Start working on your transcripts, English test, and references. Email two professors today to ask for references by 20th November.