Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy for International Students (2027)

Last Updated: August 2026

For thousands of ambitious students around the world, studying in Europe seems like an impossible dream once the real costs start adding up.

Tuition is only the beginning. There is accommodation, food, transport, health insurance, and the everyday expense of building a life in another country.

Many talented students therefore never apply. Not because they lack the qualifications, but because they assume they simply cannot afford an international education.

Italy tells a different story.

The country has built a broad system of financial support around higher education. Regional authorities, universities, AFAM institutions, the Italian Government and other organisations all play a role in supporting students.

Depending on the scholarship and your circumstances, that support may include tuition benefits, accommodation, meals, financial allowances and other forms of assistance. The official Universitaly portal recognises regional scholarships, university funding and government scholarships as part of Italy’s higher-education funding landscape.

And this is where things get interesting.

You do not have to find one magical scholarship that pays for everything. Italy’s system has several different funding routes, and understanding how they fit together is often more useful than simply collecting a list of scholarship names.

A student from Cameroon may approach the system differently from a student from India. Someone applying for a Master’s degree may have different options from a Bachelor’s applicant. A student with an excellent academic record may target university merit awards, while another applicant may benefit more from regional financial support.

This guide brings those routes together.

Whether you are coming from Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East or another part of the world, the goal is the same: understand what is available, identify what fits your situation and apply with your eyes open.

Quick Answer: Are There Fully Funded Scholarships in Italy for International Students?

Yes.

International students have access to several forms of scholarship and financial support in Italy.

The main routes include:

Regional right-to-study scholarships
University scholarships
Italian Government scholarships through MAECI
Special programmes such as Invest Your Talent in Italy
Other university, departmental and external awards

But there is an important distinction.

“Fully funded” does not describe one standard scholarship package in Italy.

One award might combine tuition exemption, accommodation and financial support. Another may provide a substantial stipend but leave certain fees or living costs outside the award.

That is why we will look at what each opportunity actually provides instead of simply attaching the words fully funded to every scholarship.

Italy’s Scholarship System at a Glance

Funding route	Who it is mainly for	What the support may involve	What to check first
Regional right-to-study	Eligible students at participating institutions	Scholarships, accommodation, meals and other benefits	Region, income and academic requirements
University scholarships	Students applying to or enrolled at specific institutions	Tuition waivers, grants and other benefits	University and programme rules
MAECI	Eligible international applicants	Government scholarship support	Country, study level and annual call
Special programmes	Students meeting programme-specific conditions	Scholarships, training or other support	Participating countries and fields
Department/programme awards	Students in selected academic areas	Varies	Faculty or programme requirements
Other external scholarships	Applicants meeting a sponsor’s criteria	Varies	Sponsor’s eligibility and deadline

The table gives you the big picture.

Now let’s look at how the system actually works.

Regional Scholarships: The Part International Students Should Not Ignore

If you have searched for scholarships in Italy before, you have probably come across the term DSU.

It appears everywhere.

There is, however, a common misunderstanding.

DSU is not one single national scholarship.

The term comes from Diritto allo Studio Universitario, meaning the right to university education. Regional authorities administer these student-support schemes, so the name, application process, benefits and deadlines depend on where you study.

That distinction matters.

A student heading to a university in Lazio will deal with a different regional authority from someone studying in Sicily, Veneto, Tuscany or Emilia-Romagna.

The underlying idea is similar: support students who meet the relevant financial and academic requirements.

The administration is regional.

What Can Regional Scholarships Provide?

This is one reason Italy stands out to international students.

Regional support is not necessarily limited to a reduction in tuition.

Depending on the region and the individual student’s circumstances, the package may include:

Scholarship payments
Accommodation
Meals or subsidised meals
Support for international mobility
Tuition-related benefits
Other student services

The current Lazio 2026/27 right-to-study call, for example, provides scholarships, housing, international mobility grants, graduation awards and access to discounted meals. It is open to students enrolled or intending to enrol at universities, AFAM institutions and other eligible higher-education institutions in Lazio. (Lazio Disco)

That is a much broader package than the phrase “tuition scholarship” suggests.

Who Can Benefit From Regional Funding?

Regional scholarships are especially worth investigating if your family’s financial situation is a major concern.

That does not mean academic performance is irrelevant. Regional calls generally combine financial and academic requirements, and students must continue meeting the conditions attached to their award.

International students are part of this system too.

The exact rules depend on the region, the institution and the student’s circumstances. For that reason, once you choose a university, one of your first tasks should be identifying the regional body responsible for right-to-study support there.

Do this before you start making financial assumptions about your study plans.

What About Universities and AFAM Institutions?

This is an important point that is often missing from international scholarship articles.

Italy’s higher-education system is broader than traditional public universities.

AFAM institutions — institutions specialising in higher artistic, musical and dance education — are also part of the higher-education landscape.

Regional calls may therefore cover students attending eligible AFAM institutions alongside university students.

The current Lazio call is a good illustration. Its definition of eligible institutions includes universities and academies of art, music and dance, as well as other higher-education institutions with legally valid qualifications. (Lazio Disco)

There is another detail worth knowing.

Regional support is not necessarily restricted to state universities. Depending on the regional rules, eligible legally recognised non-state institutions can also be included. Lazio’s published documentation, for example, covers students at state universities, non-state universities and AFAM institutions. (Lazio Disco)

So don’t automatically dismiss a private institution because its tuition looks higher at first glance.

First find out what financial support its students can access.

The Financial Documents Matter

For international students, this is often the part that requires the most preparation.

Imagine that your parents live outside Italy.

Their income is earned in your home country. Property is registered there. Your family’s financial circumstances are documented according to the system in that country.

The Italian scholarship authority still needs a way to assess your economic situation.

That is why international applicants may need additional financial documentation and, where required, an ISEE Parificato or equivalent assessment.

The precise documents vary, so don’t download a random checklist from a scholarship blog and assume it applies to you.

Start with the authority responsible for your university.

Then check exactly what it requests from international students.

Some documents may need translation, certification or legalisation. Those steps take time.

Scholar Avenues Pro Insight

If you are planning to study in Italy in 2027, financial-document preparation should not begin when the scholarship deadline is only a few days away.

Find the previous call.

Read the section for international students.

Write down the documents you would need.

Then start working on anything that is likely to take time.

The new call may change some requirements, but you will already understand the process.

Regional Scholarship or University Scholarship?

At this point, you may be wondering which one deserves your attention.

The answer depends on your profile.

A student with exceptional grades may be an excellent candidate for a university merit award.

Another student may have a good academic record but face significant financial limitations. For that applicant, regional right-to-study support could be much more important.

Neither route should automatically replace the other.

Look at both.

Which Funding Route Should You Explore First?

Your situation	Start with	Why
Your family’s finances are the biggest challenge	Regional scholarship	Economic circumstances are central to the assessment
You have an outstanding academic record	University merit awards	Many are designed around academic excellence
You are applying for a Master’s or PhD	MAECI + university funding	Several postgraduate routes may be available
You want to study at an AFAM institution	Regional + institution-specific funding	Eligible AFAM institutions are part of the higher-education system
You mainly need tuition relief	University exemptions + regional benefits	These can reduce the largest academic expense
Your family lives outside Italy	Regional funding	Foreign financial documentation may be required

Think of this as your starting map, not a guarantee of eligibility.

The Italian Government MAECI Scholarship

The second major route is the MAECI Scholarship, offered by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

This is a national government programme for eligible foreign students and Italian citizens living abroad. The purpose extends beyond simply funding individual students; the programme is also part of Italy’s international cultural, scientific and technological cooperation. (Ministero degli Affari Esteri)

The important word here is eligible.

MAECI does not mean that every international student who wants to study in Italy automatically qualifies.

The annual call specifies the countries and territories covered, the eligible study programmes, age requirements, language conditions and other rules.

For the 2026/27 academic year, applications were submitted through the official Study in Italy portal, and the deadline was 26 March 2026. (Ministero degli Affari Esteri)

For a 2027 application, the new call should be treated as the final authority.

What Does MAECI Support?

The current 2026/27 call provides a useful example.

For the main nine-month scholarship categories, the total award is €10,800, divided into three instalments:

€5,500
€2,300
€3,000

The final instalment is tied to satisfactory academic progress under the conditions of the call. (Ministero degli Affari Esteri)

MAECI also provides health and accident insurance under the terms of the programme.

But there is a catch worth knowing before you call it “fully funded.”

MAECI is not automatically a promise that every university expense disappears.

Tuition treatment depends on the institution’s rules, and the scholarship has its own conditions and incompatibilities. The 2026/27 call, for example, states that the MAECI scholarship is incompatible with another scholarship from the Italian Government or an Italian public institution, including regional right-to-education scholarships. (Ministero degli Affari Esteri)

That is exactly why applicants need to read the actual call.

Who Should Look at MAECI?

MAECI deserves serious attention if you are:

From a country included in the current eligible-country list.
Applying for an eligible programme.
Within the applicable age limit.
Able to meet the academic requirements.
Able to satisfy the relevant language requirements.

The eligible study categories can also change.

So don’t rely on an article from 2024 or a social-media post saying, “MAECI is only for Master’s and PhD students.”

The annual call decides.

University Scholarships: Look Beyond the Regional System

Regional scholarships are important, but they are not the only route.

Italian universities also offer their own scholarships, tuition exemptions and merit-based awards. Some are aimed specifically at international students, while others are connected to particular degree programmes or departments.

The University of Padua, for example, offers its International Excellence Scholarship to high-achieving international students. For 2026/27, the programme provided up to 69 scholarships, with a gross annual allowance of €8,000 and a tuition-fee exemption for eligible recipients. (unipd.it)

This is quite different from a regional scholarship.

The emphasis here is academic excellence rather than primarily financial need.

And Padua is only an example. Other Italian universities have their own funding schemes, so once you have chosen a programme, go directly to the university’s website and search beyond the general admission page.

Look for international scholarships, tuition exemptions, financial aid, merit awards and department-specific opportunities.

Invest Your Talent in Italy

Students interested in fields such as engineering, advanced technologies, architecture, design, economics and management should also look at Invest Your Talent in Italy.

The programme supports international students pursuing selected Master’s and postgraduate courses at participating Italian institutions. It combines academic study with an internship at an Italian company or professional association. (esteri.it)

The programme is particularly interesting because it connects education with professional experience.

For the 2026/27 call, the scholarship lasted nine months and provided €10,800. The programme also required recipients to complete the relevant internship. (investyourtalent.esteri.it)

There is one thing international students need to watch carefully: country eligibility is restricted.

The current participating-country list includes countries such as Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Peru, Türkiye and Vietnam, among others. (investyourtalentapplication.esteri.it)

So if you are interested, check the list for the year you are applying.

Italy Scholarship Options Compared

Opportunity	Main focus	Typical support	Important consideration
Regional scholarships	Financial need + academic conditions	Grant, meals, accommodation and other benefits depending on region	Rules differ by region
MAECI	International academic cooperation	Government scholarship support	Country and programme eligibility
University merit scholarships	Academic excellence	Grants and/or tuition exemption	Highly competitive
Invest Your Talent in Italy	Postgraduate study + professional development	€10,800 in the 2026/27 call	Participating countries and programmes
Department/programme awards	Specific academic fields	Varies	Often limited to particular programmes

The important point is not to choose one category and ignore the others.

Build a shortlist based on your own profile.

Can You Study in Italy Without IELTS?

This is one of the most searched questions among international applicants.

The short answer is:

Sometimes.

But the more useful answer is that you should not begin with the question, “Which Italian scholarship does not require IELTS?”

Start with:

“What does my university and programme accept as proof of English proficiency?”

You can also explore our guide to studying abroad without IELTS for a broader look at countries and universities that may accept alternative proof of English proficiency.

There is a difference.

A scholarship may have one language requirement while the university has another. And even within the same university, requirements may differ between programmes.

For example, the 2026/27 MAECI call sets language requirements for applicants to English-taught programmes and allows specific alternatives in certain circumstances, including documentation that a previous Bachelor’s degree was entirely taught in English. (esteri.it)

That does not mean every Italian university accepts an English-medium degree instead of IELTS.

You have to check the programme.

What to Check Before Paying for an English Test

Your situation	What to check
Your previous degree was taught in English	Whether the university accepts proof of English-medium instruction
The programme lists IELTS as one option among several	Check the other accepted tests or forms of evidence
The scholarship has its own language requirement	Read the scholarship call separately
The programme is taught in Italian	Check the required Italian language level instead
Different websites give conflicting information	Follow the current official university requirement

Scholar Avenues Pro Insight

Don’t spend money on IELTS simply because you saw it mentioned on a scholarship website.

Find the programme first.

Open the university’s official admission requirements and look specifically for the language section. If your previous education was in English, check whether the institution accepts that as evidence.

If the wording isn’t clear, contact admissions.

That five-minute check could save you the cost of an unnecessary test.

Preparing and Applying for Italian Scholarships

What Documents Should You Prepare?

Once you’ve identified the scholarships that fit your profile, the next challenge is documentation.

Some documents are straightforward.

Others take time.

A typical international student may need a combination of:

Passport
Degree certificate or current academic qualification
Academic transcripts
CV
Motivation letter
Recommendation letters, where required
Proof of language proficiency
Financial documents
Proof of admission or application, depending on the scholarship
Additional documents requested by the university or scholarship authority

The exact list changes from one opportunity to another.

For regional scholarships, financial documentation deserves particular attention. International students may need documents proving family income, assets and household composition from their country of residence, followed by the relevant translation or certification process.

So don’t prepare documents blindly.

Start with the current call.

A Simple 2027 Scholarship Preparation Plan

You don’t need a complicated system.

Once you’ve selected your universities, create a simple spreadsheet with the scholarship name, deadline, eligibility requirements, documents and application link.

Then work backwards from the deadline.

When	What to do
8–12 months before	Choose universities and programmes
6–9 months before	Research scholarships and regional funding
4–6 months before	Start financial documents and academic paperwork
2–4 months before	Prepare CV, motivation letter and other application materials
Before the deadline	Check every document against the official checklist
After submission	Save confirmation emails and monitor the official portal

The dates above are a planning framework rather than fixed Italian scholarship deadlines.

That distinction matters because there is no single Italy scholarship deadline.

MAECI may close months before a regional scholarship application. A university scholarship may have a completely different deadline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying for every scholarship you find

More applications do not automatically mean better chances.

If you don’t meet the eligibility requirements, you’re simply spending time on an application that was never a realistic option.

Start with scholarships that actually fit your profile.

Confusing a tuition waiver with full funding

A university may waive your tuition but provide no accommodation or living allowance.

That is valuable, but it is different from a scholarship that also covers living expenses.

Read the funding details.

Waiting until admission to research funding

Some scholarships have application windows that do not perfectly match the university admission timeline.

Research both at the same time.

Using outdated information

This is particularly dangerous with scholarship amounts and deadlines.

A figure published for 2025 may no longer apply in 2027.

The same applies to eligibility rules.

Always check the current call.

Assuming IELTS is always necessary

It isn’t.

But the opposite assumption is just as dangerous.

Don’t assume IELTS is unnecessary either.

Check the programme.

How to Choose the Right Italian Scholarship

At this point, you may have several options in front of you.

Here’s a simple way to narrow them down.

If financial need is your biggest concern, start with the regional right-to-study system.

If your academic profile is exceptionally strong, investigate university merit scholarships.

If you’re applying for an eligible postgraduate programme and your country qualifies, add MAECI to your list.

If you’re interested in engineering, technology, architecture, design, economics or management and your country is eligible, investigate Invest Your Talent in Italy.

And if you’re attending an AFAM institution, check both regional and institution-specific opportunities.

You don’t need to choose only one category at the research stage.

Final Comparison: Which Route Deserves Your Attention?

If you are…	Look closely at…	Main reason
A student with significant financial need	Regional scholarships	Financial circumstances are central to the process
A high-achieving applicant	University merit scholarships	Academic performance is important
An eligible international postgraduate applicant	MAECI	Government scholarship route
Interested in engineering, technology, design or management	Invest Your Talent in Italy	Combines study with professional training
Studying at an AFAM institution	Regional + institutional funding	AFAM students are part of the eligible higher-education landscape
Mainly looking for lower tuition	Fee exemptions + regional benefits	Reduces the cost of attendance

Frequently Asked Questions

Can international students get fully funded scholarships in Italy?

Yes. Italy offers several scholarship and financial-support routes for international students. The amount and type of support depend on the specific programme.

Is DSU available to international students?

Yes, international students can access eligible regional right-to-study programmes, provided they satisfy the relevant conditions. The rules differ between regions.

Can I study in Italy without IELTS?

In some cases, yes. Some programmes accept alternative proof of English proficiency, but the requirement belongs to the specific university and programme. Check the official admission page before applying.

Does MAECI cover all study expenses?

Not necessarily. The scholarship provides substantial financial support, but tuition arrangements and other costs depend on the programme, institution and terms of the annual call.

Are private universities eligible for scholarships?

Some are. Legally recognised non-state institutions can participate in certain scholarship and funding systems, while individual university scholarships depend on the institution.

Can Bachelor’s students receive scholarships in Italy?

Yes. Regional funding and some university scholarships are available to Bachelor’s students, although individual programmes have their own eligibility requirements.

Can I apply for several scholarships?

You may apply for several opportunities where their rules permit it. However, some awards are incompatible with other scholarships, so check the relevant terms before accepting multiple forms of funding.

Final Thoughts

Studying in Italy does not have to begin with the question, “How can I afford this?”

A better starting point is:

“What funding routes exist for someone in my situation?”

That small change in thinking can lead you somewhere very different.

There is the regional right-to-study system. There are university scholarships and tuition exemptions. MAECI provides another route for eligible international applicants, while programmes such as Invest Your Talent in Italy offer opportunities for students in selected fields and countries.

The trick is understanding how they differ.

Don’t rely on a scholarship list from two years ago. Don’t assume that “fully funded” means every expense is paid. And don’t pay for IELTS simply because somebody on the internet said it is mandatory.

Find the university.

Find the programme.

Read the official requirements.

Then build your funding strategy around them.

For international students from Africa, Asia, South America and elsewhere, Italy offers more than one door into higher education. Your job is to find the doors you are actually eligible to open.