Italy has
quietly become one of Europe's most rewarding destinations for international
students who want a high-quality, English-taught degree without the heavy
financial burden that often accompanies study abroad. Backed by a mix of
university-run merit scholarships, region-run “Diritto allo Studio
Universitario” (DSU) grants, and fully funded doctoral fellowships, Italian
public universities routinely offer international applicants a full tuition
waiver plus a cash stipend, accommodation support, and subsidised meals — all
without charging a fee to apply for the scholarship itself.
This guide
focuses exclusively on Italian universities that satisfy three strict
conditions: the institution is physically located in Italy, it teaches the
relevant degree programme entirely in English, and the scholarship application
carries no application fee. Every entry below has been cross-checked against
official university pages and recent admission calls so that the figures,
deadlines, and benefits you see reflect the current 2026/2027 admission cycle
rather than outdated or recycled information.
Whether you are
aiming for a Bachelor's degree in Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano, a
Master's in Economics at the University of Bologna, or a fully funded PhD at
one of Italy's elite Scuole Superiori, the sections that follow walk through
exactly what each scholarship covers, who qualifies, what documents you will
need, and where to apply — directly on each university's official website.
Why Choose Italy for an English-Taught
Degree?
•
Italy is home to several of the
world's oldest and most respected universities, including Bologna (founded
1088) and Padua (founded 1222), alongside modern technical leaders such as the
Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino.
•
Public tuition fees in Italy are
modest by international standards even before a scholarship is applied, and
many regions operate income-based DSU grants that can reduce fees to near zero
regardless of merit.
•
Italian PhD programmes are, by
national law, fully funded with a guaranteed annual stipend, making doctoral
study in Italy one of the most financially secure research paths in Europe.
•
English-taught programmes have
expanded rapidly across Italian public universities over the past decade,
particularly in engineering, economics, data science, and the social sciences.
•
Living costs outside Milan and
Rome remain reasonable compared with other major Western European study
destinations, stretching a stipend further.
Important Note on Application Timing
|
Read This Before You Apply Italian academic years begin in
September or October, and most scholarship application windows for a given
intake run between October of the previous year and June of the entry year.
Because this guide was prepared in June 2026, several of the exact deadlines
listed below for the 2026/2027 intake have already closed by the time you are
reading this. We have kept these dates in the
guide deliberately, because they are the best available evidence of each
university's typical annual timeline and let you plan precisely when the next
cycle (generally 2027/2028) is likely to open. Always confirm the live,
current-year deadline on the official scholarship page linked in each profile
before you begin an application, since exact dates shift slightly from one
year to the next. |
How These
Universities and Scholarships Were Selected
Every entry in
this guide was verified against four criteria before inclusion:
•
Located in Italy: Location:
the university must be physically based in Italy.
•
English-taught: Language of
instruction: the relevant Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD programme must be taught
in English, not merely offer occasional English-language courses.
•
Recognised degree level: Degree
level: the programme must lead to a recognised Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD
qualification.
•
Zero scholarship application
fee: No application fee: the scholarship application process itself —
separate from any standard, low-cost degree-admission processing fee that some
universities charge as a matter of national policy — must be free to submit.
Universities
and schemes that charge a mandatory, non-waivable fee simply to access the
application gateway for English-taught programmes (a practice found at a
handful of Italian institutions) were deliberately excluded from this list,
even where their scholarships themselves are generous.
Use this table
to compare the ten scholarships at a glance before reading the full profiles
below.
|
University |
City |
Degree
Levels |
Scholarship |
Annual Value |
App. Fee |
|
Politecnico di Milano |
Milan |
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
Merit-Based Intl. Scholarship |
Up to €10,000 |
No Fee |
|
University of Bologna |
Bologna |
Bachelor's, Master's |
Unibo Action 1 & 2 |
Up to €11,000 |
No Fee |
|
University of Padua |
Padua |
Bachelor's, Master's |
Padua Intl. Excellence Scholarship |
€8,000 |
No Fee |
|
University of Trento |
Trento |
Bachelor's, Master's |
Intl. Scholarship for Excellence |
€7,200–€8,500 |
No Fee |
|
Politecnico di Torino |
Turin |
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD |
EDISU Piemonte + Partner Awards |
~€5,000–€8,000 |
No Fee |
|
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna |
Pisa |
PhD |
Sant'Anna PhD Scholarship |
~€19,740 |
No Fee |
|
Scuola Normale Superiore |
Pisa |
PhD |
SNS PhD Scholarship |
~€16,243 |
No Fee |
|
University of Salerno |
Salerno |
Master's |
UNISA Scholarship |
€8,000 total |
No Fee |
|
IMT Lucca |
Lucca |
PhD |
IMT Lucca PhD Scholarship |
~€15,300 |
No Fee |
|
University of Pavia |
Pavia |
All levels |
EDiSU Pavia Scholarship |
Up to €7,258 |
No Fee |
Each profile
below sets out everything you need to evaluate and apply for the scholarship:
coverage and benefits, eligibility, required documents, the application
timeline, language requirements, and direct official links.
1. Politecnico di Milano
Italy's top-ranked technical university for Engineering,
Architecture, and Design.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Milan,
Lombardy, with additional campuses in Como, Cremona, Lecco, Mantova, and
Piacenza.
•
Degree Levels Available: Bachelor's
(selected programmes in Cremona and Piacenza), Master's (the main scholarship
route), and PhD.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes.
More than 40 Master of Science programmes are taught entirely in English,
alongside two English-taught Bachelor's programmes.
•
Scholarship Name: Merit-Based
International Scholarships (Platinum, Gold, and Silver tiers) for Academic Year
2026/2027.
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: Platinum
tier: €10,000 gross per year. Gold tier: up to €8,000 gross per year (or, for
the Piacenza campus, a place in the Collegio Morigi residence). Silver tier:
tuition waiver only, with no cash stipend.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: Full
tuition waiver for all three tiers; winners pay only a small non-refundable
administrative fee of roughly €170 for the academic year.
•
Accommodation Support: The
Gold 'Morigi' award at the Piacenza campus includes a shared room with
breakfast and one additional meal on weekdays; other tiers do not include
guaranteed housing, though students can apply separately to Polimi residences.
•
Monthly Allowance: The cash
component is paid in instalments rather than as a fixed monthly sum; exact
instalment dates are confirmed in the award letter.
•
Health Insurance: Not
bundled into the merit scholarship; international students must register
separately with the Italian National Health Service (SSN), which is inexpensive
and compulsory for the residence permit.
•
Travel Allowance: Not
included in this particular scheme.
•
Additional Benefits: Access
to career services, a global alumni network, and eligibility to combine the
award with the regional DSU Lombardia (ISU) scholarship for students who also
meet income-based criteria.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Open to international
(non-Italian) candidates applying for the first year of an English-taught
Master of Science programme.
•
Must have applied for admission
and paid the admission fee during the Early Bird window for the academic year
in question.
•
Selection is based on previous
academic performance (GPA), the strength of the application portfolio (where
required), and a short motivational statement.
•
A valid certificate of
English-language proficiency must be submitted by the stated deadline.
Required Documents
Bachelor's
degree transcript and diploma; curriculum vitae; two short motivational
statements (200 and 500 words); valid English-language certificate; passport
copy; IBAN details (for awardees only).
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: The
admission Early Bird window for the 2026/2027 intake ran from 1 October 2025 to
1 December 2025; the dedicated scholarship form opens after admission, at no
extra cost.
•
Application Deadline: 1
December 2025 (admission Early Bird, now closed) and 21 February 2026
(English-certificate deadline). These windows have closed for September 2026
entry; the next call, for the 2027/2028 academic year, is expected to open
around October 2026 — bookmark the scholarship page to be notified.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: IELTS
is accepted but not exclusively required; TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1/C2, PTE
Academic, and equivalent certificates are also accepted as alternatives.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee for the scholarship form itself. (The general Master's
admission process carries its own standard, non-refundable processing fee,
which is separate from the scholarship application.)
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.polimi.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: Politecnico
di Milano — Scholarships
•
Direct Application Portal: How to Apply
— Politecnico di Milano
2. University of Bologna (Unibo)
The oldest university in the Western world, and one of
Europe's largest and most international.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Bologna,
Emilia-Romagna, with additional campuses in Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini.
•
Degree Levels Available: Bachelor's,
Single-Cycle Master's, and Master's degrees; PhD scholarships are funded
separately through departmental and MUR-PNRR calls.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes.
Around 68 programmes are taught entirely in English out of more than 260 degree
programmes offered.
•
Scholarship Name: Unibo
Action 1 & 2 Study Grants, complemented by the International Talents @
Unibo scheme.
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: Unibo
Action 2 provides a study grant of up to roughly €11,000 gross per year; the
related International Talents @ Unibo award provides €6,500 gross per year for
up to two years.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: Unibo
Action 1 gives a full waiver of tuition fees for the regular duration of the
programme; recipients pay only the regional tax and stamp duty, typically
around €157.
•
Accommodation Support: Not
directly bundled into Action 1/2, but recipients can apply for subsidised
housing and canteen access offered by the Emilia-Romagna regional student-aid
body (ER.GO).
•
Monthly Allowance: The
study grant is disbursed in instalments across the academic year rather than as
a fixed monthly payment.
•
Health Insurance: Not
included; students must register with the Italian SSN separately, as required
for the residence permit.
•
Travel Allowance: Not
included in the standard Unibo Action package.
•
Additional Benefits: Discounted
meals at university canteens, library and IT services, and access to Bologna's
large international student community.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Hold, or be about to obtain, a
qualification from a non-Italian education system that is valid for admission
to the chosen programme.
•
Enrol in an eligible first-cycle,
single-cycle, or second-cycle degree programme at Bologna.
•
Submit the required standardised
test: SAT and/or TOLC for Bachelor's/single-cycle applicants, or GRE (Verbal +
Quantitative ≥ 290, Analytical Writing ≥ 3.0) for Master's applicants.
•
Generally be under 30 years of age
at the application deadline; financial status may be verified for certain
calls.
Required Documents
Qualification
certificate/diploma; official transcripts; SAT, GRE, or TOLC score report;
passport copy; online application via the Studenti Online portal.
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: Calls
are published annually, typically between December and February for the GRE
(Master's) track, and between February and May for the SAT/TOLC (Bachelor's)
track.
•
Application Deadline: Deadlines
vary by test type and intake; recent cycles have closed between March and May
for September entry. Always confirm exact current-cycle dates on the official
Unibo Action call before applying, since they shift slightly each year.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: IELTS
is not required. English proficiency is demonstrated through the standardised
admission test (SAT/GRE/TOLC) plus, where requested by the individual
programme, a recognised English certificate or proof of prior English-medium
education.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. The Unibo Action study-grant application is submitted free of
charge through Studenti Online alongside the degree application.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.unibo.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: Unibo
— Study Grants for International Students (Unibo Action)
•
Direct Application Portal: Studenti Online — Application Portal
3. University of Padua (UNIPD)
Founded in 1222, Padua is one of Europe's oldest
universities and the academic home of Galileo Galilei.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Padua
(Padova), Veneto — a short train ride from Venice.
•
Degree Levels Available: Bachelor's
and Master's degrees (the scholarship covers both levels); PhD positions are
funded separately through department- and project-specific calls.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes.
Padua offers a wide and growing catalogue of Bachelor's and Master's degrees
taught completely in English, spanning engineering, psychology, medicine,
agriculture, economics, and the humanities.
•
Scholarship Name: Padua
International Excellence Scholarship Programme, plus additional departmental
scholarships.
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: €8,000
gross per year, paid in two instalments of €4,000: the first after arrival and
enrolment, the second after reaching a minimum ECTS-credit threshold.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: A
complete waiver of tuition fees for the full duration of the scholarship; the only
payment due each year is the regional tax and revenue stamp.
•
Accommodation Support: Not
automatically bundled, but scholars can apply through the regional student-aid
body (Azienda Regionale per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario) for
subsidised housing.
•
Monthly Allowance: Paid as
two lump-sum instalments rather than monthly, as outlined above.
•
Health Insurance: Not
included; separate SSN registration is required, as for all international
students in Italy.
•
Travel Allowance: Not
included.
•
Additional Benefits: Scholars
are expected to act as informal ambassadors for the university; access to
Padua's global mobility programmes and a vibrant international student network.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Must not hold Italian citizenship
and must not be resident in Italy at the time of application.
•
Hold a non-Italian
secondary-school diploma (Bachelor's applicants) or a non-Italian Bachelor's
degree (Master's applicants) that grants access to the Italian university
system.
•
Apply to an English-taught degree
programme at the University of Padua within the published deadline (up to three
programmes may be selected).
•
Selection is automatic and based
purely on academic excellence and the quality of prior academic records — no
separate scholarship form is required.
Required Documents
Diploma or
Bachelor's transcript; passport copy; language certificate (where required by
the programme); all documents required for the chosen degree application,
submitted in PDF format.
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: First
application round: 2 November 2025 – 2 February 2026 (open-access programmes)
or 7 January – 7 March 2026 (limited-access programmes). Second round: 2 March
– 2 May 2026 (open-access) or 10 March – 10 April 2026 (limited-access).
•
Application Deadline: 2 May
2026 was the principal second-round deadline for the 2026/2027 intake, with a
further results window from 4 June 2026 for remaining unlimited-access places.
For 2027/2028 entry, expect an equivalent first round to open around November
2026 — confirm on the official page closer to the date.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: No
standalone IELTS mandate. Most programmes accept IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge C1/C2,
or documentation that the applicant's prior education was delivered entirely in
English.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. There is no separate scholarship application — eligible
applicants are automatically considered for free once they apply to their
chosen degree programme.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.unipd.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: Padua
International Excellence Scholarship Programme
•
Direct Application Portal: Apply Unipd — Application Portal
4. University of Trento (UniTrento)
Consistently ranked among Italy's top universities for
research quality and student satisfaction.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Trento,
Trentino-Alto Adige, in the Italian Alps.
•
Degree Levels Available: Bachelor's
and Master's degrees through the merit scholarship described here; PhD
positions across all UniTrento doctoral programmes are separately and fully
funded, as is standard for Italian PhDs.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes,
particularly strong in Computer Science and Information Engineering (DISI),
Economics and Management, Physics, and International Studies.
•
Scholarship Name: UniTrento
International Scholarship for Excellence.
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: €7,200
gross per year for most international scholars, rising to €8,500 gross per year
for female students enrolled in STEM programmes.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: Full
exemption from tuition fees for every year in which the scholarship is held.
•
Accommodation Support: Access
to housing managed by Opera Universitaria di Trento, the regional
student-services agency, often at reduced rates for scholarship holders.
•
Monthly Allowance: The
annual amount is disbursed in instalments tied to enrolment and academic
progress rather than a flat monthly sum.
•
Health Insurance: Reimbursement
of the National Health Service (SSN) enrolment cost is included for certain
related Trentino-funded grants; standard merit-scholarship holders should
confirm current-year terms.
•
Travel Allowance: Not
included in the standard merit award.
•
Additional Benefits: Discounted
canteen meals, library access, and a Foundation Year pathway for students who
need additional academic or language preparation before starting a degree.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Open to non-Italian citizens
applying to an English-taught Bachelor's or Master's degree at UniTrento.
•
Awarded automatically to the
top-ranked candidates in the international admission evaluation — no separate
scholarship application is required.
•
No minimum-income or
financial-need documentation is required for the international merit award
(unlike the regional DSU grant, which is need-based).
•
Applicants must meet the academic
and language entry requirements of their specific degree programme.
Required Documents
Academic
transcripts and diploma; curriculum vitae; passport copy; English-language
certificate or equivalent proof; programme-specific admission documents.
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: Admission
cycles for English-taught Bachelor's and Master's programmes generally open in
January for September entry.
•
Application Deadline: Deadlines
vary by programme, typically falling between February and May. Always check the
current-year calendar on the official scholarships page, since dates are
reconfirmed every cycle.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: No
Italian-language requirement for English-taught programmes; English proficiency
is verified via certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge) or proof that a prior
degree was taught in English — IELTS itself is not the only accepted option.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. The scholarship is awarded automatically upon admission, with
no extra form or charge.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.unitn.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: UniTrento
— Scholarships for International Students
•
Direct Application Portal: UniTrento — Admission Information
5. Politecnico di Torino
One of Italy's two leading technical universities,
renowned for Engineering and Architecture.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Turin
(Torino), Piedmont.
•
Degree Levels Available: Bachelor's,
Master's, and PhD.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes,
a substantial number of Master of Science programmes in Engineering and
Architecture are delivered entirely in English.
•
Scholarship Name: EDISU
Piemonte Regional Scholarship, combined with Politecnico di Torino's own
partner and merit-based awards (including MAECI grants and the Invest Your
Talent in Italy programme).
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: EDISU
Piemonte awards are income-assessed; non-EU students whose family income is
earned abroad are generally placed in the lowest income bracket, which
typically qualifies them for the maximum scholarship tier — commonly in the
region of €5,000–€6,500 per year, depending on residency category. Selected
endowed and partner scholarships (historically including donor-funded
country-specific awards) have offered up to €8,000 per year.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: EDISU
recipients receive a waiver of regional and university fees in line with their
assessed bracket; partner scholarships frequently include a full tuition waiver
as well.
•
Accommodation Support: EDISU
Piemonte operates dedicated student residences in Turin and other Piedmont
cities, with priority placement and reduced or free rent for non-resident
scholarship holders.
•
Monthly Allowance: EDISU
benefits combine a cash component (paid in instalments) with in-kind services
such as housing and meals rather than a single flat monthly payment.
•
Health Insurance: Not
bundled; SSN registration must be arranged separately, as for all international
students.
•
Travel Allowance: A
supplementary grant for international mobility (for students undertaking part
of their studies abroad) is available to existing EDISU scholarship holders.
•
Additional Benefits: Free
daily meals at EDISU canteens for scholarship winners, plus Politecnico's own
career-service and international-office support.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Must be enrolled, or formally
admitted, to a degree programme at Politecnico di Torino.
•
For EDISU Piemonte: submit
financial documentation (an ISEE-equivalent assessment) showing family income
and assets; non-EU applicants with family resident abroad use a simplified,
consularised declaration.
•
Meet the merit requirements
(minimum credits earned) to retain the benefit into the second year.
•
For partner/endowed scholarships:
eligibility criteria vary by donor and are published in the specific call (for
example, by nationality or programme of study).
Required Documents
Proof of
admission/enrolment; consularised financial/income declaration (for EDISU);
passport copy; academic transcripts; online application via the EDISU Piemonte
portal or Politecnico's Apply@Polito system.
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: The
EDISU Piemonte annual call is typically published over the summer (around
July–August) ahead of the new academic year; Politecnico's own partner
scholarships open on a rolling basis tied to each Master's admission cycle.
•
Application Deadline: EDISU
Piemonte deadlines generally fall in the autumn, with rolling provisions for
students enrolling later in the academic year; partner-scholarship deadlines
vary (historically as early as mid-July for some Master's programmes). Confirm
exact current dates directly on the EDISU Piemonte and Politecnico websites.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: Not
mandatory as a single fixed requirement; Politecnico accepts IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge
certificates, or a declaration that previous education was delivered in
English, depending on the specific programme.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee for either the EDISU Piemonte scholarship application or
Politecnico's own scholarship and partner-award applications.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.polito.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: Politecnico
di Torino — Financial Aid for International Students
•
Direct Application Portal: EDISU Piemonte — Official Portal
6. Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa
One of Italy's elite 'Schools of Excellence' (Scuole
Superiori), specialising in advanced, interdisciplinary doctoral research.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Pisa,
Tuscany.
•
Degree Levels Available: PhD
only (a small number of integrated Bachelor's-into-Master's honours tracks
exist for students already enrolled at a partner university, but the
institution's core international offer is doctoral).
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes
— all PhD programmes are taught and researched entirely in English.
•
Scholarship Name: Sant'Anna
PhD Scholarship (fully funded doctoral positions across all PhD programmes).
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: Approximately
€19,740 gross per year in representative programmes such as the PhD in
BioRobotics, renewed annually after a successful yearly assessment. Total
funding packages (covering the full PhD duration plus mobility top-ups) have
been valued by the School at roughly €88,000 for a 3-year programme and
€114,000 for a 4-year programme.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: There
are no tuition fees for enrolment in any Sant'Anna PhD programme.
•
Accommodation Support: On-campus
or School-affiliated housing options are available; specific arrangements vary
by programme and are detailed in each individual call.
•
Monthly Allowance: The
annual scholarship is paid monthly throughout the academic year.
•
Health Insurance: PhD
students are enrolled in the Italian national social-security and health system
as part of their funded status.
•
Travel Allowance: A 50%
increase in the scholarship is granted during periods of research conducted
abroad (minimum stay requirements apply), plus a personal fund for conferences
and research-related travel.
•
Additional Benefits: 26
free meals per month, dedicated research and training funds, and strong links
with industry and public-sector partners.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Hold, or be about to obtain, a
Master's degree (or an equivalent non-Italian qualification) relevant to the
chosen PhD track.
•
Pass a competitive selection
process evaluating educational background, research aptitude, and suitability
for interdisciplinary work.
•
Open to candidates of all
nationalities; no upper age limit is generally imposed, though specific calls
should be checked.
•
Some tracks may require a short
research proposal or statement of research interests.
Required Documents
CV/résumé;
degree certificates and transcripts; valid passport or ID; reference letters;
research proposal or statement of interest (where requested by the specific
track).
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: Calls
for the annual PhD intake are typically published between January and March,
with start dates in the following November.
•
Application Deadline: Deadlines
vary by programme; recent cycles for the 2026/2027 intake closed around 15 May
2026 (e.g., the BioRobotics and Human Rights, Global Politics and International
Studies tracks). New calls for the 2027/2028 cycle are expected to open in the
first quarter of 2027 — monitor the PhD programmes page directly.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: Not
typically mandatory as a standalone requirement; English competence is assessed
through the interview and academic record, since the entire programme is
delivered in English.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. Like all Italian public doctoral competitions, the Sant'Anna
PhD selection process is free to enter.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.santannapisa.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: Sant'Anna — PhD
Programmes & Funding
•
Direct Application Portal: Sant'Anna — PhD
Admission Portal
7. Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa
Founded in 1810 as a sister institution to the École
Normale Supérieure in Paris; among the most selective universities in Europe.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Pisa,
Tuscany (with a secondary campus in Florence).
•
Degree Levels Available: PhD
(the institution's main internationally open route); an Italian-language
integrated undergraduate course, the Corso Ordinario, also exists but is not
part of this guide's English-taught scope.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes
— the PhD programmes in the sciences, humanities, and social sciences are
conducted in English (with Italian also used in select humanities seminars).
•
Scholarship Name: Scuola
Normale Superiore PhD Scholarship (Call for the 42nd Cycle, Academic Year
2026/2027).
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: A
scholarship in line with the Italian national PhD funding baseline (currently
around €16,243 gross per year at comparable Italian doctoral schools),
including dedicated financial support for accommodation.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: No
registration or tuition fees of any kind are charged to admitted PhD
candidates.
•
Accommodation Support: Financial
support for housing is built directly into the scholarship package, and the
School also refunds the regional student tax.
•
Monthly Allowance: The
scholarship is paid in monthly instalments across the academic year.
•
Health Insurance: PhD
students are covered under the standard Italian doctoral social-security and
health arrangements.
•
Travel Allowance: Additional
funding is provided for research activities carried out abroad.
•
Additional Benefits: Free
meals at the School's canteen for all enrolled students, plus access to one of
Italy's most prestigious academic communities and libraries.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Hold a Master's degree or an
equivalent non-Italian qualification obtained no earlier than five years before
the relevant application deadline (or be on track to obtain one by 31 October
of the intake year).
•
Must not already hold, or have
previously benefited from, a scholarship for a PhD programme in Italy.
•
Pass a rigorous, multi-stage
selection process specific to the chosen doctoral programme.
•
Open to applicants of all
nationalities.
Required Documents
Degree
certificates and transcripts; CV; passport or ID copy; reference letters;
writing sample or research proposal (programme-dependent).
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: The
call for the 42nd cycle (Academic Year 2026/2027) was published in stages
during Spring 2026, with the application portal opening progressively by track.
•
Application Deadline: Qualification
cut-off dates for the 2026/2027 cycle included 19 February 2026 and 10 April
2026 depending on the track; most application windows for this cycle have now
closed. The 43rd-cycle call, for 2027/2028 entry, is expected to follow a
similar timeline, typically opening in late winter/spring.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: Not
a fixed requirement; both English and, for some humanities tracks, Italian
competence are assessed as part of the holistic selection process rather than
through a single standardised test.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. No registration fees are required at any stage of the PhD
admission competition.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.sns.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: Scuola Normale Superiore
— PhD Admission Competition
•
Direct Application Portal: Scuola Normale Superiore
— Application Portal
8. University of Salerno (UNISA)
A large public university recognised for strong regional
financial-aid support and a growing international Master's catalogue.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Fisciano,
near Salerno, Campania.
•
Degree Levels Available: This
specific scholarship covers Master's degree programmes; UNISA also offers
Bachelor's and PhD study through other admission routes.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes
— selected Master's degree programmes are delivered entirely in English.
•
Scholarship Name: UNISA
Scholarship for Non-EU International Students, Academic Year 2026/2027.
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: A total
annual award value of €8,000, made up of a direct cash instalment of €1,800
plus room-and-board services valued at €6,200.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: Built
into the overall award package; the scholarship is structured to be tax-exempt
under Italian law, though the standard regional tax remains payable by the
student.
•
Accommodation Support: Guaranteed
university housing for 12 months, starting 1 October of the intake year
(students arriving earlier must arrange and fund their own interim
accommodation).
•
Monthly Allowance: Delivered
as a combination of an upfront cash instalment and ongoing in-kind room-and-board
services rather than a flat monthly transfer.
•
Health Insurance: Not
separately itemised in the award; standard SSN registration is required as for
all international students in Italy.
•
Travel Allowance: Not
included.
•
Additional Benefits: A
second cash instalment of €1,800 in year two, conditional on earning at least
27 credits by 15 September of the following year; meal service continues until
the university canteen's scheduled closing dates.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Open exclusively to non-EU
citizens residing abroad at the time of application.
•
Must hold a Bachelor's degree (or
equivalent) obtained abroad that is recognised as valid for admission to an
Italian Master's degree programme.
•
Applicants must not simultaneously
hold, or apply for, a MAECI (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) scholarship —
a signed statement of incompatibility is required.
•
Selection combines an
academic-record evaluation, additional merit points, and an interview.
Required Documents
Application
submitted via the Universitaly ministerial portal; two reference letters; CV;
academic transcripts with official translation; course syllabus from the prior
degree; signed declaration of incompatibility with MAECI funding.
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: The
call for the 2026/2027 academic year was published in spring 2026, with
submissions accepted through the Universitaly portal.
•
Application Deadline: Applications
for the 2026/2027 cycle closed on 15 June 2026, with the final ranking
published on 14 July 2026 (and a possible ranking adjustment by 28 July 2026).
For the next academic year, expect an equivalent call to open in spring 2027.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: A
B2-level English certificate is generally required for English-taught programmes;
equivalent proof of prior English-medium study can in many cases substitute for
a standardised test.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. Submission through the Universitaly portal carries no charge
for this scholarship call.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://web.unisa.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: UNISA
— Call for International Scholarships
•
Direct Application Portal: Universitaly — Ministerial Application
Portal
9. IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca
A small, highly selective public graduate school and one
of Italy's official 'Schools of Excellence', focused entirely on
interdisciplinary doctoral research.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Lucca,
Tuscany.
•
Degree Levels Available: PhD
only.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes
— 100% of coursework, research, and supervision is conducted in English.
•
Scholarship Name: IMT Lucca
PhD Scholarship (fully funded doctoral fellowships across all programme
tracks).
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: Historically
around €15,300 gross per year as a baseline research scholarship, adjusted
periodically in line with the national PhD funding rate; additional funding is
available for a possible fourth year to complete the thesis.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: Full
tuition waiver — there are no fees for enrolment in any IMT Lucca doctoral
programme.
•
Accommodation Support: Free
on-campus room and board is provided at the historic San Francesco complex in
central Lucca for the duration of the PhD.
•
Monthly Allowance: The annual
stipend is disbursed monthly throughout the programme.
•
Health Insurance: Health
and social-security coverage is included as part of the standard
funded-doctoral status.
•
Travel Allowance: Dedicated
mobility funding supports research stays at partner institutions in Italy and
abroad.
•
Additional Benefits: Small
cohort sizes, close faculty mentorship, and strong placement outcomes in
academia, policy, and industry.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Hold, or be near completion of, a
Master's degree (or equivalent) relevant to the chosen doctoral track (for
example, neuroscience, economics, computer science, or cultural heritage
studies).
•
Pass a competitive,
interdisciplinary selection process combining document review and an interview.
•
Open to candidates of any nationality
and academic background, provided the relevant prerequisites are met.
•
Candidates may apply to more than
one track or programme in the same intake.
Required Documents
National ID
card or passport copy; CV; copy of degree diploma and transcripts; research
project proposal (where requested); online application submitted through the
national PhD portal (PICA).
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: Calls
are generally published in the first half of the year, with applications
opening between February and April for a November programme start.
•
Application Deadline: Deadlines
have historically fallen between April and August depending on the track and
cycle; always confirm the exact current-year date on the official PhD
programmes page, since IMT Lucca runs several tracks with slightly different
schedules.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: Not
mandatory as a fixed rule; English proficiency is evaluated through the
interview and the candidate's academic and research background.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. As with all Italian public PhD competitions, applying to IMT
Lucca is free of charge.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.imtlucca.it/en
•
Official Scholarship Page: IMT Lucca — PhD Programmes
•
Direct Application Portal: PICA — National PhD Application Portal
(IMT Lucca)
10. University of Pavia (UniPV) — EDiSU Pavia
Scholarship
A historic university (founded 1361) known for medicine,
law, and engineering, supported by one of the most comprehensive regional aid
bodies in Italy.
Key Facts
•
City and Location: Pavia,
Lombardy.
•
Degree Levels Available: Bachelor's,
Single-Cycle Master's, Master's, PhD, and non-medical Specialization Schools —
the EDiSU Pavia grant spans every level of study.
•
English-Taught Programmes: Yes,
including programmes in economics, engineering, and other internationally
oriented fields.
•
Scholarship Name: EDiSU
Pavia Scholarship (Diritto allo Studio Universitario regional grant).
Scholarship Coverage and Benefits
•
Annual Stipend: Need- and
merit-assessed cash support: on-site students receive roughly €1,286–€2,545 per
year; commuting students roughly €2,417–€3,905; and off-site (including most
international) students up to approximately €7,258 per year, plus a 20%
increase for female students enrolled in STEM programmes.
•
Tuition Fee Waiver: Scholarship
winners are exempted from university tuition fees for the relevant academic
year.
•
Accommodation Support: Off-site
students can be placed in an EDiSU college residence, in which case the cash
award is adjusted but housing is guaranteed for the academic year.
•
Monthly Allowance: Benefits
are paid in instalments tied to enrolment and progress rather than as a single
monthly transfer.
•
Health Insurance: Not
separately included; standard SSN registration applies, as for all
international students.
•
Travel Allowance: Supplementary
funding is available for students undertaking part of their studies abroad
through Erasmus or other mobility programmes.
•
Additional Benefits: One
free daily meal at EDiSU canteens for every scholarship holder, plus additional
support for students with disabilities and for international mobility costs.
Eligibility Criteria
•
Open to Italian, EU, and non-EU
students alike, assessed via an ISEE-equivalent calculation (Indicator of
Equivalent Economic Situation) appropriate to each applicant's circumstances.
•
Available to first-year entrants
as well as continuing students who meet annual merit requirements (minimum
credits earned).
•
Applicants whose family unit
resides entirely abroad use a simplified, consularised income declaration; in
practice, many international students without independent income qualify for
the maximum support bracket.
•
Must be enrolled, or in the
process of enrolling, at the University of Pavia for the relevant academic
year.
Required Documents
Family income
and asset documentation (consularised and translated where required); proof of
enrolment or admission; passport/ID copy; online application through EDiSU
Pavia's Online Student Services portal.
Application Timeline
•
Application Opening Date: The
annual call typically opens in the summer, around July–August, ahead of the new
academic year.
•
Application Deadline: The
2025/2026 cycle closed on 16 September 2025; the 2026/2027 call was expected to
open on a similar late-summer schedule. Confirm the current-year deadline
directly on the EDiSU Pavia website, since exact dates shift slightly each
year.
Language Requirement & Fees
•
IELTS / English Proficiency: Not
required for the EDiSU grant itself; English-proficiency requirements (IELTS,
TOEFL, Cambridge, or equivalent) apply only to admission into the chosen
English-taught degree programme.
•
Application Fee Status: No
Application Fee. The EDiSU Pavia scholarship application is submitted online at
no cost.
Official Links
•
Official University Website: https://www.unipv.eu
•
Official Scholarship Page: EDiSU Pavia — Official Scholarship Portal
•
Direct Application Portal: EDiSU Pavia — Online Student Services
This expanded
table consolidates the stipend, tuition treatment, accommodation support, and
deadline status for every university covered in this guide.
|
University |
Scholarship |
Stipend/Year |
Tuition |
Accommodation |
2026/27
Status |
|
Politecnico di Milano |
Merit-Based Intl. Scholarship |
Up to €10,000 |
Full waiver |
Limited (Piacenza only) |
Closed – watch Oct 2026 |
|
University of Bologna |
Unibo Action 1 & 2 |
Up to €11,000 |
Full waiver |
Via ER.GO (separate) |
Check current call |
|
University of Padua |
Padua Intl. Excellence |
€8,000 |
Full waiver |
Via regional ADiSU |
Closing window |
|
University of Trento |
Intl. Scholarship for Excellence |
€7,200–€8,500 |
Full waiver |
Opera Universitaria |
Check current call |
|
Politecnico di Torino |
EDISU Piemonte + partners |
~€5,000–€8,000 |
Fee waiver (tiered) |
EDISU residences |
Rolling/seasonal |
|
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna |
PhD Scholarship |
~€19,740 (PhD) |
No tuition fees |
School-affiliated |
Closed – watch Q1 2027 |
|
Scuola Normale Superiore |
PhD Scholarship (42nd cycle) |
~€16,243 (PhD) |
No tuition fees |
Funded directly |
Closed – watch late 2026 |
|
University of Salerno |
UNISA Scholarship |
€8,000 total |
Included in award |
Guaranteed 12 months |
Closed – watch spring 2027 |
|
IMT Lucca |
PhD Scholarship |
~€15,300 (PhD) |
No tuition fees |
Free on-campus |
Check current call |
|
University of Pavia |
EDiSU Pavia Scholarship |
Up to €7,258 |
Fee waiver |
EDiSU college (off-site) |
Watch Aug 2026 |
If your
priority is maximising the cash component of your award, this ranking orders
the same ten institutions purely by the size of their headline annual stipend.
Notice that PhD-focused schools dominate the top of the list: Italian doctoral
funding is nationally regulated and consistently generous, while Bachelor's and
Master's merit awards vary more by institution and donor.
|
# |
University |
Degree Level |
Annual
Stipend (approx.) |
|
1 |
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa |
PhD |
€19,740 (representative programme) |
|
2 |
IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca |
PhD |
~€15,300 + free room & board |
|
3 |
Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa |
PhD |
~€16,243 + free accommodation & meals |
|
4 |
University of Bologna |
Bachelor's / Master's |
Up to €11,000 (Unibo Action 2) |
|
5 |
Politecnico di Milano |
Master's |
Up to €10,000 (Platinum tier) |
|
6 |
University of Padua |
Bachelor's / Master's |
€8,000 |
|
7 |
University of Salerno |
Master's |
€8,000 total package |
|
8 |
Politecnico di Torino |
Bachelor's / Master's / PhD |
Up to €8,000 (select awards) |
|
9 |
University of Trento |
Bachelor's / Master's |
€7,200–€8,500 |
|
10 |
University of Pavia |
All levels (EDiSU) |
Up to €7,258 (off-site rate) |
Note: PhD
stipend figures represent gross annual amounts before standard Italian
social-security deductions, and are frequently supplemented by free meals, free
or subsidised housing, and dedicated research/mobility funds — meaning the real
total value of a PhD package is often considerably higher than the cash figure
alone suggests.
If you want to prepare scholarship documents:
1. Research Proposal and thesis writing |
2. Study Plan |
3. Statement of Purpose |
4. Motivational / Cover Letter and many more. |
5. Document Translations |
· Then, contact us on the following social media platforms.
· Connect with us on social media for the latest updates and exclusive content:
#naeemiqbal #scholarships #thesiswriting #researchproposal
WhatsApp Contact Number: +923338738813
ads39
Comments
Post a Comment