Italy is becoming an increasingly popular study destination for Indian students. The country hosts over 109,000 international students and stands out for its affordable public university tuition – with fees typically between EUR 900-4,000 per year – alongside numerous scholarship opportunities that can reduce costs further or eliminate them entirely.
Indian students can apply for multiple scholarships in Italy, including the MAECI government scholarship and DSU regional grants, which cover tuition fees and provide stipends for living expenses. Many Indian applicants miss out on these simply because they do not know where to look or how early to apply.
Major Scholarships Available to Indian Students in Italy 2026
| Scholarship | Offered By | What It Covers | Value (approx.) | Indian Students Eligible? |
| MAECI Scholarship (Italian Government Scholarship for Foreign Students) | Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) | Tuition fees + monthly living stipend + health insurance (basic coverage) | EUR 900/month stipend + tuition waiver | Yes – Indian students specifically eligible |
| DSU Regional Scholarships (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) | Regional authorities (DSU) of each Italian region | Tuition reduction or waiver + monthly cash grant + free or subsidised accommodation + free canteen meals | Varies by region; typically EUR 3,000-6,000/year total value | Yes – open to all international students based on income and merit |
| Invest Your Talent in Italy | Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with Italian universities and ICE Agency | Program-specific financial support waivers + monthly living stipend | Varies by program; stipend component approximately EUR 6,000/year in some programs | Yes – eligible countries list changes; verify current eligible countries at esteri.it |
| University-specific scholarships | Individual Italian universities (University of Bologna, Bocconi, Politecnico, etc.) | Tuition reduction, waiver, or merit award; some include accommodation support | EUR 2,000-15,000/year depending on university and program | Yes – most are open to international students |
| Erasmus+ (study mobility component) | European Commission | Travel grant + living stipend during mobility period | EUR 150-600/month depending on destination country | Yes, if enrolled at an Erasmus+ partner institution in India with an agreement with an Italian university |
| Italian Cultural Institute Scholarships | Italian Cultural Institutes (IIC) in India (Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata) | Language courses, short programs, and some academic placements | Varies by program; often covers course fees only | Yes – specifically for Indian students; contact your nearest IIC |
Scholarship availability, eligibility, and deadlines change each academic year. Verify all current details at the official scholarship provider website before applying.
1. MAECI Scholarship (Italian Government Scholarship) – Most Comprehensive for Indian Students
The MAECI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) scholarship is offered every year by the Italian government to international students, including Indians, to pursue master or doctoral degrees at top Italian universities. It is one of the most generous and comprehensive scholarships available to Indian students in Italy.
| MAECI Scholarship Detail | Information |
| Monthly stipend | EUR 900 per month (approximately Rs 80,000-82,000 per month at current rates) |
| Tuition fees | Covered by the scholarship (waiver or direct payment depending on university) |
| Health insurance | Basic health coverage included |
| Duration | Typically 1 academic year (renewable depending on program) |
| Eligible programs | Master degree (Laurea Magistrale), single-cycle Master degree, PhD, specialisation courses, Italian language courses |
| Eligible candidates | Indian citizens; home country with bilateral cultural exchange agreement with Italy; specific academic qualifications; age limits (typically under 35 for postgraduate; under 40 for PhD – verify current limits at maeci.it) |
| Academic requirement | Relevant undergraduate degree with good academic standing; some programs require language proficiency (Italian or English depending on program) |
| Application process | Apply through the MAECI scholarship portal (borsestudio.esteri.it) during the annual application window (typically opens March-May each year) |
| Deadline | Varies annually; typically May-June for the following academic year |
| Selection criteria | Academic merit, home country eligibility, study plan, language skills |
The MAECI scholarship is fully funded in the sense that it covers tuition and provides a stipend that, combined with Italy’s low cost of living in many cities (particularly Bologna, Padua, and smaller cities), allows students to live comfortably on the scholarship alone. Source: GradRight original article; Careers360; MAECI official.
2. DSU Regional Scholarships (Diritto allo Studio Universitario)
The DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario – Right to University Education) is a system of regional grants provided by Italian regional authorities to support students – including international students – in accessing and completing higher education. It is not a single national scholarship but a network of regional bodies, each with its own criteria and amounts.
DSU grants are means-tested (based on family income) and merit-tested. Students who qualify receive a combination of: a monthly cash grant, free or reduced-cost canteen meals, free or subsidised university accommodation (where available), and a partial or full tuition waiver.
| DSU Regional Bodies | Region / Universities Covered | How to Apply |
| DSU Toscana | Tuscany (University of Florence, University of Siena, Scuola Normale Superiore) | Apply at dsutoscana.it |
| Er.Go (Emilia-Romagna) | Emilia-Romagna region (University of Bologna, University of Parma, University of Modena) | Apply at er-go.it – one of Italy’s most generous DSU systems |
| DiSCo (Lazio) | Lazio region (Sapienza University Rome, Roma Tre, Tor Vergata) | Apply at disco.lazio.it |
| EDiSU (Lombardy – Pavia) | University of Pavia in Lombardy | Apply at edisu.pv.it |
| ADiSU Ateneo (Veneto) | University of Padua in Veneto | Apply at unipd.it (ADISU section) |
| Other regions | Check the DSU website for your specific Italian university’s regional body | Search [your city DSU] or check university international office |
For Indian students specifically: ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente) – the Italian financial assessment – applies differently for international students. Students from developing countries (including India) typically qualify for DSU consideration under the international student income assessment system. Your income documents will need to be submitted through the Italian Consulate in India as part of the application.
Also Read: Best Cities in Italy for International Students
3. Invest Your Talent in Italy
Invest Your Talent in Italy is a programme managed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with selected Italian universities and the ICE Agency (Italy’s trade promotion agency). It targets students from specific priority countries – verify current eligible countries as India has been included in past cycles.
The programme aims to promote the internationalisation of the Italian academic system as a centre of excellence. It offers selected students in specific fields a combination of financial support waivers for the program and a monthly living stipend. The programme focuses on STEM, economics, and design-oriented programs.
| Detail | Information |
| Who runs it | Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs + ICE Agency + partner Italian universities |
| What it covers | Program-specific financial waivers (reduced or waived tuition) + monthly living stipend (amount varies by program and cycle) |
| Focus fields | STEM, Engineering, Economics, Architecture, Design, Food Science, Agribusiness – fields aligned with Italian industry strengths |
| Eligible countries | Varies by cycle; India has been eligible in past cycles – verify current list at esteri.it or uni-italy.it |
| Application process | Through your selected Italian university in partnership with the programme; check individual university websites for availability |
| Website | esteri.it (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and uni-italy.it |
4. Italian University-Specific Scholarships
Individual Italian universities offer their own merit-based and need-based scholarships for international students. These are separate from MAECI and DSU and can often be combined with regional DSU grants. Some notable examples:
| University | Scholarship | Coverage | Apply At |
| University of Bologna | ER.GO scholarship (regional) + university merit awards | Tuition waiver + stipend (ER.GO); merit award (university) | er-go.it and unibo.eu/en/international |
| Politecnico di Milano | Politecnico Excellence scholarship; international student merit awards | Up to full tuition waiver for top-ranked applicants | polimi.it/en/international |
| Bocconi University | Bocconi International Awards; need-based grants | Partial tuition reduction to full scholarship for need + merit combined | unibocconi.eu/internationalfinancialaid |
| University of Padua | ADISU scholarship (regional) + university merit awards | Tuition reduction + accommodation support | unipd.eu (ADISU section) |
| University of Florence | DSU Toscana + university merit awards | Tuition waiver + monthly grant | dsutoscana.it and unifi.it/en |
University scholarships are often underutilised by Indian students because they require navigating individual university portals rather than a single central application. GradRight’s university search platform helps you discover which programs come with university-specific scholarships, tuition waivers, or merit-based funding.
5. Erasmus+ (Study Mobility for Indian Students)
Erasmus+ is the EU’s education, training, youth, and sport programme. While traditionally associated with mobility within Europe, the Erasmus+ International Credit Mobility component supports exchanges between EU universities and partner institutions globally – including Indian universities that have Erasmus+ agreements with Italian institutions.
If your Indian university has an Erasmus+ agreement with an Italian partner institution (check with your international relations office), you may be eligible to spend a semester or year at the Italian partner under Erasmus+ funding, which covers a travel grant and monthly stipend.
How to Apply for Scholarships in Italy: Key Tips for Indian Students
Italy offers some of the most generous scholarship opportunities in Europe. But finding them is not always easy. University websites can be confusing, deadlines vary, and many Indian students miss out simply because they do not know where to look or how early to apply.
| Tip | Why It Matters |
| Apply for MAECI as early as possible | MAECI opens applications March-May; the window closes quickly and competition is significant from all eligible countries globally |
| Register at your Italian university before DSU application | DSU grants require active enrollment or admission at the Italian institution. Confirm admission first, then apply for DSU immediately upon enrollment |
| Submit ISEE documentation through Indian Consulate early | The ISEE international process requires income documentation certified through the Italian Consulate in India. This takes time – start early |
| Apply to multiple scholarships simultaneously | MAECI, DSU, and university scholarships can sometimes be combined. Apply to all you are eligible for and let the awards sort out later |
| Watch for program-specific deadlines (not just general ones) | Some Italian universities have program-specific scholarship deadlines that differ from the general application deadline |
| Use GradRight SelectRight to identify scholarship-linked programs | GradRight’s platform helps you identify which specific programs come with scholarship, tuition waiver, or merit-based funding attached – saving research time |
GradRight SelectRight helps you find Italian university programs that come with scholarship opportunities, tuition waivers, or merit funding. Free, personalised. Find Italy Programs with Scholarships on GradRight
What Scholarships Can Mean for Your Italy Study Budget
To understand the impact of scholarships on total study cost:
| Scenario | Annual Cost Without Scholarship | Annual Cost With Scholarship |
| Bologna (University of Bologna + Er.Go DSU) | EUR 28,000-32,000 (tuition EUR 3,000 + living EUR 25,000-29,000) | EUR 12,000-18,000 after DSU tuition waiver + cash grant + subsidised accommodation and meals |
| Rome (Sapienza + MAECI scholarship) | EUR 30,000-35,000 | EUR 6,000-12,000 personal expenses only; MAECI covers tuition and EUR 900/month stipend (~EUR 10,800/year) |
| Milan (Politecnico + Excellence scholarship) | EUR 38,000-45,000 (higher tuition) | Varies; top applicants can receive full tuition waiver; DSU also available |
| Florence (University of Florence + DSU Toscana) | EUR 27,000-33,000 | EUR 10,000-18,000 depending on DSU grant level |
These are estimates. Actual scholarship amounts, tuition, and living costs vary by year and individual circumstances. Verify current figures with the university and scholarship provider.
Also Read: Best Cities in Italy for International Students
Not sure which Italy scholarship you qualify for? GradRight experts can help you navigate MAECI, DSU, and university-specific funding options. Get Italy Scholarship Guidance from GradRight
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