Top Scholarships in Italy for International Students 2026-27: Amounts, Deadlines and How to Apply

Italy combines well-known universities, affordable education and rich culture. Studying engineering in Milan, philosophy in Bologna or art history in Florence can be possible with the right scholarship, and many of Europe’s most generous programmes are open to Indian students.

This guide covers ten scholarships and schemes with official sources, amounts, deadlines and eligibility, plus how to apply and what to budget for beyond the award.

Also Read: Cost of living in Italy for students: realistic budget guide

Why Italy for International Students?

Italian public universities charge fees that depend on the university and, at many of them, on family income, so the real cost is often lower than in the UK or the USA. Many master’s programmes are taught in English, and the Universitaly portal lists them. Monthly living costs vary a lot by city, so check the cost of living in Italy and best cities in Italy for international students guides before you shortlist. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is often described as the oldest university in the world.

Top 10 Scholarships in Italy 2026-27: At a Glance

Use the table to see which scheme fits your level and when to start preparing. Rupee figures use EUR 1 = about Rs 107.7.

Why the dates matter: the MAECI and IYT calls above closed between March and May, and each opens once a year. Start your documents about six months before the earliest deadline.

How each award is built: stipend, tuition and other benefits

Amounts are shown separately because gross stipends, tuition waivers and total funding are not the same thing.

Also Read: Fully funded scholarships in Italy for Indian students

1. MAECI Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers scholarships to foreign students who live abroad. The 2026/27 call covered master’s degrees (age limit 28), AFAM programmes (28), PhDs (age limit 30) and research projects (age limit 40). Each award was EUR 10,800 for nine months, from 1 November 2026 to 31 July 2027, paid in three instalments of EUR 5,500, EUR 2,300 and EUR 3,000, and the last needs 27 credits (CFU) for master’s and AFAM students. Master’s and AFAM applicants needed B2 in the teaching language, Italian or English, and PhD and research applicants needed no language proof. Awards carry MAECI collective health insurance, but tuition is not covered automatically, because only some universities exempt scholarship holders (MAECI call 2026/27). The call does not list eligible countries. It says selection is by citizenship and points to the studyinitaly.esteri.it portal, and the call text does not mention India, so check the portal for India before you apply.

Deadline pattern: The 2026/27 call closed at 2 p.m. CET on 26 March 2026, so the next call is likely to open in early 2027. That is a pattern, not a confirmed date.

How to prepare: Keep your degree certificates, transcripts, a study plan and a language certificate ready, and register on the portal as soon as the call opens.

2. Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT)

IYT is run by the Italian government with partner universities and companies. For 2026/27 the stipend was EUR 1,200 a month, and the announcement said participating universities also offer additional scholarships (Italian Consulate Kolkata, IYT 2026/27). Politecnico di Torino lists India among the 23 eligible countries for 2026/27, covers English-taught master’s programmes in engineering, advanced technologies, architecture, design, economics and management, and includes a three to four month on-the-job training period at an Italian company (Politecnico di Torino, IYT page).

Deadlines: 11 May 2026 for 2026/27, 24 February 2025 for 2025/26 and 1 March 2024 for 2024/25. The date moves each year, so watch the official IYT portal from January.

Also Read: Erasmus Mundus scholarships: complete guide, benefits and application tips

3. University of Bologna: International Talents @Unibo

The University of Bologna’s current scheme for international master’s students is International Talents @Unibo, which replaced the Unibo Action 1 and 2 names used in older guides. In its latest published edition, 2025/26, it offered 30 scholarships of EUR 6,500 gross each plus a full tuition exemption, for two academic years. Applicants needed a GRE result, an ISEE between EUR 16,000 and 35,000 or an equivalent statement of family finances if the income is abroad, and had to be 30 or under. The 2025/26 deadline was 30 May 2025 (University of Bologna). The official page still shows only the 2025/26 call and no 2026/27 edition, so treat these terms as the last published ones and check Bologna’s site for the next call. Because the GRE is required, book it early; see the GRE exam guide for the format.

4. Politecnico di Milano Merit Scholarships

For 2026/27 Politecnico di Milano offers merit-based scholarships to international candidates admitted to a Master of Science programme taught in English. All awards include a full tuition waiver, and some add a gross living allowance of up to EUR 10,000 a year. Recipients pay only a non-refundable administrative fee of about EUR 170. To be considered you had to apply in the Early Bird window (application fee paid between 1 October and 1 December 2025), submit a valid English certificate by 21 February 2026 and complete a separate scholarship form with no fee (Politecnico di Milano, scholarships). The 2026/27 window has closed. If the same pattern holds, the window for the next intake opens in October, so check Polimi now.

Also Read: Top master’s programs in Italy with high ROI

5. University of Padua International Excellence Scholarship

The University of Padua’s current page lists up to 76 scholarships, with calls to be published in November 2026, which is the next edition (for 2026/27 the number of awards was reported at 69, so use the number in the call you apply under). Each award is an annual stipend of EUR 8,000 gross, paid in two instalments, and an exemption from tuition fees, though you still pay the regional fee and the revenue stamp. It lasts up to two years for a master’s degree. You do not apply separately: you apply to an English-taught degree and are considered automatically, and the award can be withdrawn if you earn fewer than 20 credits (CFU) by 30 November of the next academic year (University of Padua).

6. Ca’ Foscari Honours Scholarships and Pavia Fee Waiver

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice announced Honours Scholarships for 2026/27 for outstanding international students: 8 awards for bachelor’s and 20 for master’s, worth EUR 10,000 a year, for three years at bachelor’s level and two years at master’s level. They are merit based and cover programmes taught in Italian or English. The announcement does not give a deadline, so read the full call on the university site (Italian Consulate New York, Ca’ Foscari announcement).

The University of Pavia lists a Fee Waiver Program for international students that gives a total all-inclusive fee exemption for the first year, applied automatically. The page does not state who qualifies or the deadline, so contact the Welcome Office before you rely on it (University of Pavia, fees and exemptions). Older guides describe a Pavia scheme for developing countries with India quotas, which is not confirmed on the current page.

7. DSU Regional Scholarships

Italian universities and regions run right-to-study (DSU) schemes that support students on income and merit. At the University of Milan for 2026/27, winners get a complete exemption from university fees and one free midday meal from Monday to Saturday, partial winners a 50% exemption, and applications ran from 10 July to 30 September 2026. Students whose family income and assets are abroad are assessed through a separate procedure. First-year students must earn the required credits by 10 August 2027 to keep the award (University of Milan, regional scholarships). The page does not list a cash amount.

In Piedmont, EDISU runs its own call. The 2026/27 call was open from 22 July to 4 September 2026 for students enrolled at a Piedmont university who meet the economic requirements, and the announcement gives no amounts and no general rules for international students, so read the full call (Regione Piemonte, EDISU 2026/27 call). Benefits, income limits and dates are set in each university’s and region’s own call, so read the call for your city.

PhD Scholarships in Italy 2026-27

Italian PhD scholarships are stated in each call. The University of Milan states that from 2026/27 (42nd cycle) the gross annual PhD scholarship is EUR 18,400, which is about EUR 1,533 a month before contributions, and the older EUR 1,195 a month figure for 2025-26 is outdated (University of Milan, PhD scholarships). Other universities set their own figure in the call, so read each one.

Scuola Normale Superiore: Candidates of any citizenship can apply if they hold a master’s degree obtained within five years or will obtain it by 31 October 2026. PhD students pay no registration fees, the School refunds the regional tax, the scholarship includes financial support for accommodation, and students get free meals at the canteen. The page does not state the scholarship amount. For 2026-27 the humanities session closed on 13 April 2026, the sciences on 22 June 2026 and political and social sciences on 3 August 2026 (Scuola Normale Superiore, PhD admission).

Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, University of Trento and Politecnico di Torino: These publish separate calls by programme, each with its own grant and deadline, so check the PhD call for your field. Sant’Anna’s 2026/27 calls include programmes in emerging digital technologies, agrobiosciences and human rights.

Also Read: Top 10 master’s scholarships for Indian students

Scholarships in Italy Specifically Open to Indian Students

Indian students can usually target MAECI and IYT first, then university awards. Politecnico di Torino lists India among the IYT eligible countries for 2026/27, while the MAECI call does not list eligible countries in its text, so confirm India on the studyinitaly.esteri.it portal. Ca’ Foscari’s Honours Scholarships are open to outstanding international students, and Bologna’s International Talents scheme is for international master’s students. Some Erasmus Mundus programmes are coordinated by Italian universities, so see our guide to Erasmus Mundus scholarships. For a longer list focused on India, see fully funded scholarships in Italy for Indian students, and for other European options see DAAD scholarships.

How to Apply for Scholarships in Italy: Step by Step

• Choose your programme and university 6 to 12 months before the deadline. Use the Universitaly database for programmes and pre-enrolment; non-EU applicants who need a type D study visa complete pre-enrolment there.
• Check eligibility and deadlines on each official site. MAECI has age limits, IYT has a country list and Unibo needs a GRE and an ISEE statement. Set a reminder for each deadline.
• Prepare documents 2 to 3 months before the deadline. Attested transcripts, CV, motivation letter, language certificate, passport and recommendation letters.
• Apply online. MAECI through studyinitaly.esteri.it, IYT through its own application platform, and university awards through the admission application or the university portal.
• Follow up. Interview calls, document requests and waiting lists arrive by email, so keep your inbox active.
• Apply for the visa after admission and funding are confirmed. See the next section for the funds and insurance you must show.

Italy Student Visa: Funds and Documents to Plan For

The Italian Foreign Ministry network states that students must show means of subsistence of at least EUR 10,179.85 per year (annui), from the 2026/27 academic year, and the rule is valid for 2026/27 and 2027/28 (Italian Consulate, study visa guidance). That is about Rs 11 lakh per year. The VFS India checklist for the same intakes asks for proof of no less than EUR 10,179.85 with an original six-month bank statement stamped and signed by the branch manager, travel medical insurance that is Schengen compliant and valid for at least one year or the length of the programme if shorter, and it states that bachelor’s and master’s study visa applications for the 2026/27 intake will not be accepted after 30 November 2026 (this cutoff does not apply to PhD, specialisation and some other courses). If your course is taught in English, it asks for a B2-level English certificate from a listed provider (British Institutes, Cambridge, ETS, Pearson or Trinity) or an equivalent medium of instruction declaration from your previous institution, and B2 Italian if the course is taught in Italian (VFS India study visa checklist, 2026). A scholarship letter can help, but check whether your consulate accepts it as proof of funds.

Also Read: Part-time work in Italy for Indian students

Scholarships in Italy Without IELTS

Many Italian universities accept other English proof, which helps students from English-medium Indian institutions. The options usually include a medium of instruction certificate from your Indian university confirming that your degree was taught in English, TOEFL iBT, an internal university test and, for some programmes, the Duolingo English Test. Acceptance and minimum scores differ by programme, so read your programme page. For the visa, the VFS India checklist asks for a B2-level English certificate if the course is taught in English, from a listed provider or an equivalent medium of instruction declaration from your previous institution, so check that your university’s proof also meets the consulate’s wording.

Best Cities in Italy for International Students: Scholarships by City

Living costs differ by city, so compare best cities in Italy for international students and the cost of living in Italy guide before you commit.

Also Read: Top Italian universities with the best career services

Common Mistakes When Applying for Scholarships in Italy

• Relying on outdated amounts – Older guides quote earlier stipends. IYT, for example, is EUR 1,200 a month for 2026/27.
• Missing the annual window – MAECI and IYT calls close between March and May, so waiting for the autumn is too late.
• Ignoring DSU – Regional scholarships can save a large part of your fees, and they have their own deadline.
• Skipping the ISEE or income documents – Unibo and DSU need proof of family income, including for income earned abroad.
• Treating a scholarship as a visa document – Consulates check bank statements for funds, so a scholarship letter alone may not be enough.
• Using one generic motivation letter – Write each letter for the scheme and programme.

What If the Scholarship Does Not Cover Everything?

Many awards cover tuition or part of the living cost, not all of it. Compare the gap with your savings and plan a loan if needed; GradRight connects you with lenders for Italy programmes on the GradRight education loans page. See also student loan to study in Italy and the complete cost of studying in Europe.

Related Articles

• Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy for Indian Students
• Cost of Living in Italy for Students: Realistic Budget Guide
• Top Master’s Programs in Italy with High ROI
• Part-Time Work in Italy for Indian Students
• Student Loan to Study in Italy

Planning to study in Italy? Use GradRight’s university guide to find Italian programmes that match your profile, search GradRight’s scholarships finder, and compare funding for the gap on the GradRight education loans page.