Italy is one of Europe’s most underrated study destinations for international students. offering world-class education, affordable tuition, rich cultural experience, and a growing number of English-medium programs at its best universities.
Italy is home to some of the world’s oldest universities, University of Bologna (founded 1088) and University of Padua (1222) and several globally competitive institutions in engineering, architecture, design, medicine, and humanities.
More importantly for international students, Italian public universities charge some of the lowest fees in Western Europe and a strong scholarship system makes studying in Italy genuinely accessible for students from developing countries.
This guide covers every major pathway to studying in Italy for free in 2026.
Why Study in Italy?
Affordable tuition. Italian public universities charge non-EU international students approximately €900–€3,000 per year, among the lowest in Western Europe and far below UK, Netherlands, or Sweden rates.
English-medium programs. Italian universities, particularly Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Bologna, and the top research universities, offer hundreds of English-medium Master’s programs specifically designed for international students.
Architecture and design excellence. Italy is the world’s leading destination for architecture, industrial design, and fashion design education. Politecnico di Milano consistently ranks #1 globally for art and design.
Engineering strength. Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino rank in the world’s top 50 for engineering and technology.
IMAT pathway. Italy is one of the most popular destinations for international MBBS students, with English-medium medicine programs recognized globally and competitive IMAT entrance process.
Quality of life. Italy offers exceptional quality of life at significantly lower cost than northern European countries, particularly outside Rome and Milan.
Top Scholarships to Study in Italy for Free 2026
1. Italian Government Scholarship (MAECI) 🇮🇹
The Italian Government Scholarship (MAECI Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation) is Italy’s flagship scholarship for international students, offering fully funded study at Italian universities.
What’s Covered:
- Monthly allowance €900 (~$1,000 USD)
- Italian language course (if needed)
- Regional tax for Right to Education (DSU) waived
Note: MAECI covers monthly living allowance but not always full tuition. Combined with university fee waivers and DSU regional scholarships, the total support can cover most costs.
Eligibility:
- Citizens of countries with bilateral agreements with Italy — check scholarshipsitaly.it for current eligible countries (includes Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and many others)
- Bachelor’s degree for Master’s applications
- Specific academic requirements vary by scholarship type
- Italian or English language proficiency depending on program
Types of MAECI Scholarships:
- Government scholarships for study and research
- Italian culture scholarships
- Scholarships for Italian language study
- Scholarships through bilateral agreements
How to Apply: Apply through the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country OR through the online portal at universitaly.it/en/scholarships
Deadline: Typically February–April 2027 for 2027–2028 academic year
2. Politecnico di Milano Scholarships 🇮🇹
Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi), ranked #1 globally for art and design, top 30 for engineering and technology, offers significant scholarships for outstanding international Master’s students.
PoliMi International Scholarships:
- Full or partial tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend for top applicants
- Available for all English-medium Master’s programs
PoliMi Particularly Strong For: Architecture, industrial design, fashion design, civil engineering, computer engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials engineering, and environmental engineering.
Eligibility:
- Admitted to PoliMi Master’s programs
- Strong academic record
- English proficiency — IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 87
Deadline: January–March 2027
3. DSU Regional Scholarships (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) 🇮🇹
The DSU (Right to University Education) is Italy’s regional scholarship system, administered by each Italian region to support students with financial need.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly allowance €250–€500
- Free or subsidized university accommodation
- Free meals at university canteens
Eligibility:
- Students enrolled at Italian universities
- Financial need — based on ISEE (Italian income assessment) or ISEEU for international students
- Academic performance requirements after first year
How to Access: Apply through the DSU office (ARDIS, ADISU, Ente Regionale) in the region where you are enrolled. Applications open at the start of each academic year — typically October–December.
Who Qualifies: International students from developing countries with documented low family income almost always qualify for DSU support. This is one of the most reliable and accessible forms of funding for international students in Italy.
4. Erasmus Mundus Programs at Italian Universities 🇪🇺
Several Erasmus Mundus programs include Italian universities as lead or partner institutions.
Programs With Italian Partners:
- EMJMD in Heritage Studies — University of Bologna lead
- EMJMD in Art History — Italian university partners
- EMJMD in Urban Studies — Politecnico di Milano partner
- EMJMD in Human Rights — Italian university partners
- EMJMD in Sustainable Architecture — Politecnico partners
- EMJMD in Agricultural Innovation — University of Bologna partner
- EMJMD in Mediterranean Forestry — Italian university partner
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition at 2–3 European universities
- Monthly allowance €1,400
- Travel allowance €1,000
- Health insurance
Deadline: January–March 2026
👉 Read our Erasmus Mundus 2026 Guide
5. Politecnico di Torino Scholarships 🇮🇹
Politecnico di Torino, Italy’s second leading technical university, strong in aerospace, automotive, civil, and energy engineering, offers scholarships for international students.
PolitoSI Scholarship:
- Partial to full tuition waiver
- Some stipend awards for exceptional applicants
Strongest Programs: Aerospace engineering, automotive engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, architecture.
Deadline: January–March 2027
6. University of Bologna Scholarships 🇮🇹
University of Bologna, the world’s oldest university, strong in law, humanities, sciences, and social sciences, offers the Unibo Action scholarship for international students.
Unibo Action 1 and 2 Scholarships:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend €11,000 per year (~$12,300 USD) — one of Italy’s most generous university awards
- For outstanding non-EU international students admitted to Bologna Master’s programs
Eligibility:
- Non-EU citizens admitted to University of Bologna programs
- Strong academic record — typically top 10%
- IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 80
Deadline: February–March 2027
7. Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies — Pisa 🇮🇹
The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, one of Italy’s most elite research institutions alongside Scuola Normale Superiore, offers fully funded PhD positions for international students.
What’s Covered:
- Full tuition
- Monthly stipend ~€1,200
- Research expenses
Strongest Research Areas: Political science, law, economics, biorobotics, life sciences, and management.
Deadline: Check santannapisa.it for current PhD call deadlines
8. IMAT — International Medical Admissions Test 🇮🇹
Italy is one of the world’s most popular destinations for international MBBS students and several Italian universities fund outstanding international medical students.
IMAT Process:
- Sit IMAT examination (annually in September)
- Score-based admission to English-medium Medicine programs
- Apply at universitaly.it
Italian MBBS Scholarships:
- DSU regional scholarships cover tuition and living support for qualifying students
- Some universities offer merit scholarships for top IMAT scorers
- MAECI scholarships sometimes include medical program slots
Recognized by: WHO, PMC Pakistan, MCI India, Italian medical degrees are widely recognized internationally.
Italian University Tuition — What You Pay Without Scholarship
| University | Annual Tuition (Non-EU) |
|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | €3,000–€4,000 |
| Politecnico di Torino | €2,500–€3,500 |
| University of Bologna | €2,000–€3,000 |
| University of Rome La Sapienza | €1,500–€3,000 |
| University of Milan | €1,500–€3,000 |
| University of Naples | €1,000–€2,500 |
Italian tuition is among the lowest in Western Europe even without scholarship, Italian public universities are affordable compared to UK or Scandinavian alternatives.
How to Apply for Italian Universities — Step by Step
1: Apply through Universitaly portal universitaly.it is Italy’s central international student application portal. Create an account, find your program, apply.
2: Pre-enrolment process Most non-EU students apply through the Italian Embassy pre-enrolment process before applying on Universitaly.
3: Apply for MAECI scholarship simultaneously MAECI scholarship applications go through the Italian Embassy in your country. Apply at the same time as your university application.
4: Apply for DSU regional scholarship after enrollment Once enrolled — apply for DSU support through your regional right-to-education body immediately in October.
5: Apply for university scholarship Each university has its own merit scholarship — check the financial aid or international student pages.
IELTS Requirements
| University | Minimum IELTS |
|---|---|
| Politecnico di Milano | 6.5 |
| Politecnico di Torino | 6.5 |
| University of Bologna | 6.0 |
| University of Rome | 6.0 |
| Erasmus Mundus (Italy) | 6.5 |
📖 Use our Free IELTS & TOEFL Practice Tests
Free Tools for Your Italian Scholarship Application
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FAQ — Study in Italy Free 2026
Q: Can international students study in Italy for free?
Through MAECI scholarship, DSU regional support, and university merit scholarships — most costs can be covered. University of Bologna’s Unibo Action scholarship covers full tuition + ~€11,000/year stipend.
Q: Is MBBS in Italy recognized internationally?
Yes, Italian medical degrees are recognized by WHO, PMC Pakistan, MCI India, and most international medical councils.
Q: Do I need to speak Italian to study in Italy?
Not for English-medium programs. Politecnico di Milano, Bologna, and Politecnico di Torino offer hundreds of English-taught Master’s programs. Italian is useful for daily life.
Q: What is DSU scholarship in Italy?
Right to University Education, Italy’s regional financial support for students with financial need. Covers tuition, accommodation, and meals. International students from developing countries regularly qualify.
Q: Is Politecnico di Milano good for engineering students?
Excellent, ranks top 30 globally for engineering and technology. World #1 for art and design. Strong industry connections with Ferrari, Pirelli, Leonardo, and Italian manufacturing sector.