Fully funded Scholarships in Italy for international Students 2025-2026

The Italian Government Scholarship 2025-2026 is a fully funded award for international students who wish to pursue a Master’s or PhD at leading Italian universities. The scholarship provides a monthly allowance of €900, exemption from tuition fees, and comprehensive health insurance coverage.

Administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), this scholarship aims to strengthen scientific and technological collaboration, promote Italian culture and language, and support Italy’s role in global education and economic development (in accordance with Law 288/55 and subsequent amendments).

Italy hosts a vibrant higher education ecosystem with 61 public universities, 30 private universities, 11 public research centers, AFAM institutions (Higher Artistic and Musical Education), and over 339 English-taught courses, making it an ideal destination for international students.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Masters/PhD

• Institution(s): Italian Higher Education Institutes

• Study in: Italy

• Offered Courses: It is possible to apply for every course organized by Universities recognized by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR). In any case, it is up to the applicant to verify directly with the chosen university the existence of the course.

• Program Period: The scholarship duration can be three, six, or nine months depending on the type of course.

• Deadline: June 14, [YEAR]

The University of Bologna Scholarship 2025-2026 is a fully funded award designed for international students. It is available for both undergraduate and master’s degree programs. The scholarship offers recipients study grants worth €11,000 (Unibo Action 2) and tuition fee exemptions (Unibo Action 1), making it one of the most generous opportunities in Europe.

With its wide territorial presence, global perspective, innovative research, diverse program catalogue, and student support services, the University of Bologna stands out as one of the leading institutions in Italy. With over 87,000 enrolled students (a.y. 2019/2020), it is also the country’s most popular university. Teaching and extracurricular activities are spread across five campuses in Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini.

The university currently offers 232 degree programs (a.y. 2025-2026), including 84 international courses, of which 68 are taught in English. Additionally, it provides 48 PhD programs, 53 specialization schools, and 86 first- and second-level professional master’s courses, 14 of which are internationally focused.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Undergraduate, Masters

• Institution(s):  University of Bologna

• Study in: Italy

• Courses Offered: First, Single, and Second Cycle Degree Programs offered at the University.

• Deadline: May, 2025

The Politecnico di Milano, one of Europe’s most prestigious technical universities, offers Merit-Based Scholarships to outstanding international students applying for Master of Science (Laurea Magistrale) programs. These scholarships are fully funded, covering full tuition fees and providing an additional annual allowance.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Master’s (Laurea Magistrale)

• Institution: Politecnico di Milano, Italy

• Study in: Italy (Milan, Piacenza, Lecco, Cremona, Mantova campuses)

• Scholarship Type: Fully Funded (tuition + allowance)

• Deadline: February 2025 (for Fall intake), July 2025 (for Spring intake)

The Scuola Normale Superiore offers 75 fully funded PhD scholarships to both international students and Italian citizens, each lasting four years. These scholarships include full tuition coverage, free board and lodging, and a grant to support living expenses. In addition, all recipients are provided with extra funding for research activities, including opportunities abroad.

The scholarship is awarded to students who maintain high academic performance and demonstrate significant progress in their doctoral research. For every PhD program, one position is reserved for applicants with a valid qualification earned from foreign universities. Furthermore, all admitted candidates benefit from financial support for research mobility, making this one of the most comprehensive doctoral scholarships in Italy.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: PhD

• Institution(s): Scuola Normale Superiore

• Study in: Italy

• Program Period: Four years.

• Deadline: Check the Deadlines here

The University of Padua, founded in 1222 and ranked among the world’s oldest universities, offers the International Excellence Scholarship to attract highly talented international students. This fully funded award supports outstanding candidates enrolling in English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at Padua.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Bachelor’s & Master’s

• Institution: University of Padua, Italy

• Study in: Italy

• Scholarship Type: Fully Funded (tuition + stipend)

• Duration: 2 years (Master’s), 3 years (Bachelor’s)

• Deadline: February–March 2025 (exact dates vary by program)

Great news for ambitious students! Applications for the Bocconi University Scholarships are now open.

The Bocconi University Scholarships are fully funded opportunities for international students applying for undergraduate or master’s programs. They offer a full tuition waiver worth up to approximately €12,000 per year for undergraduates and €13,000 per year for graduates, along with accommodation support.

Bocconi University is committed to making high-quality education accessible to talented students regardless of financial background, with awards based on academic excellence, merit, and financial need.

Founded on the principles of social and economic progress, Bocconi encourages personal growth, leadership, and ethics. Students can take part in diverse extracurricular activities—from sports clubs like football, basketball, and water polo to performing arts, yoga, and cultural programs. Located in Milan, a city rich in art and culture, Bocconi offers students exposure to museums, theaters, and events such as the Bocconi Art Gallery, showcasing collaborations with international artists.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s

• Institution: Bocconi University

• Host Country: Italy (Milan)

• Fields of Study: Bachelor’s or Master of Science programs offered at Bocconi University

• Program Duration: Based on the chosen program

• Application Deadlines: Undergraduate – April 14 ; Master’s – April 21 / May 27

The University of Pavia's CICOPS Scholarships program offers a unique opportunity for international academics and researchers to conduct short-term research collaborations in Italy. This initiative, supported by the Committee for International Cooperation and Development (CICOPS), focuses on scholars from developing countries, aiming to strengthen international academic partnerships. For international professionals working in universities or research centers, it serves as a gateway to build meaningful academic relationships with Italian counterparts.

The scholarship typically covers a stay of up to five weeks at the University of Pavia, with provisions for accommodation and a subsistence allowance. While it is not intended for degree-seeking students, it is especially valuable for mid-career researchers, lecturers, or professionals pursuing post-doctoral projects or collaborative teaching engagements. Applicants must have a formal invitation letter from a professor at Pavia, indicating a clear plan for research cooperation.

For international applicants, this program presents an excellent chance to explore European research culture and enhance their academic credentials. Whether you're engaged in development studies, health sciences, engineering, or social sciences, collaborating with a European university like Pavia can elevate your academic profile and lead to joint publications, future grants, and expanded academic networks. Moreover, the short-term nature of the fellowship makes it accessible for those unable to commit to long overseas stays.

The CICOPS scholarship reflects Italy’s commitment to academic diplomacy and global knowledge exchange. international institutions can benefit from these collaborations as returning scholars often bring fresh ideas, research techniques, and pedagogical insights. It's an ideal opportunity for those who want to contribute to their home institutions by bringing back international best practices.

The EDISU Piemonte Scholarship is offered by the Regional Agency for the Right to University Education of Piedmont (EDISU). It is available to Italian and international students enrolled at universities in the Piedmont region of Italy, such as the University of Turin, Polytechnic University of Turin, and the University of Eastern Piedmont. These scholarships aim to support talented students with financial need so they can pursue higher education without economic barriers.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

• Institutions Covered:

  • University of Turin (UniTo)

  • Polytechnic University of Turin (PoliTo)

  • University of Eastern Piedmont (UPO)

• Study in: Piedmont, Italy

• Scholarship Type: Need-based, partially funded (with tuition waivers + allowance)

• Deadline: Typically August–September 2025 (for academic year 2025-2026)

The Politecnico di Torino (Polytechnic University of Turin), one of Italy’s leading institutions for engineering, architecture, and technology, offers various scholarships to support international students. These include TOPoliTO scholarships, EDISU Piemonte regional grants, Italian Government (MAECI) scholarships, and fully funded PhD fellowships.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

• Institution: Politecnico di Torino, Italy

• Study in: Italy

• Scholarship Type: Partial to Fully Funded (depending on program)

• Deadline: Varies by program (Feb–Mar 2025 for Fall intake; Sep–Oct2025-2026 -2026 for Spring intake)

The NATO Defense College Fellowship 2025-2026 is a fully funded research award for international scholars. The fellowship provides a stipend to cover living costs in Rome as well as travel expenses.

This fellowship is available for international candidates to pursue research studies in Italy. Each year, the NATO Defense College offers eight fellowships focusing on NATO and partner-related defense and security policy research.

The primary aim is to promote academic study and policy analysis in fields of relevance to NATO Member States, and to countries engaged through the Partnership for Peace (PfP), Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), and Other Military Cooperation (OMC)/Partners Across the Globe (PAG) initiatives. Since its launch in 1993, the program has awarded 109 fellowships up to 2017.

The NATO Defense College’s mission is to conduct advanced academic research and to further the broader objectives of the Alliance.

Its overarching goal is to support policy studies of significance to NATO Members and partner countries within the PfP, MD, OMC, and PAG frameworks.

The Resident Fellowship Programme pursues specific objectives such as:

• contributing to the Research Directorate’s agenda by addressing NATO-related themes;

• advancing research on NATO priorities in both member and partner states;

• providing fellows with exposure to NATO’s academic and professional environment;

• strengthening understanding of NATO’s role among member and partner nations;

• delivering lectures to the Senior Course (SC) and NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC), as required;

• supporting NATO Defense College educational programs;

• and fostering the next generation of scholars in NATO-focused studies.

Scholarship Summary

• Level of Study: Research

• Institution(s): NATO Defense College (NDC)

• Study in: Italy

• Opportunity Focus Areas:
  – PhD Candidate Eisenhower Fellowship
  – Early-Career Nuclear Strategists Workshop (ECNSW)
  – Annual Future Leaders’ Conference (AFLC)

• Program Period: From 3 to 5 months

• Number of Scholarships: Eight fellowships each year

• Deadline: May 2025 (23:59 CET) (Applications for Fellowships are closed until 1 April 2026)