Compare who runs each Italian funding route, what it may cover and which separate admission or financial-document steps must be completed before you rely on it.
Compare the route, funding and practical next steps together.
The short answer
Compare three routes: university merit awards, regional DSU benefits and government calls. They can have different application owners and compatibility rules.
Next step: Use the actual academic-year call before calling an award open or including it in your budget.
Named cycle and deadline status
Dated records are compared with today's date in your browser. The current programme portal remains the authority for availability and applicant conditions.
4 official-source records match this topic. Check category and applicant conditions before applying.
Filter opportunities
4 matches
Results show possible programme routes, not confirmed personal eligibility. Check nationality, subject, category and current intake on the official call. Status follows dated records; an undated call needs a fresh check.
ScholarshipClosed
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
MAECI Italian Government Grants 2026–2027
The current call is closed. MAECI grants use an annual eligible-country list and the official Study in Italy application portal for study carried out in Italy.
Destination
Italy
Deadline
26 March 2026, 14:00 Italian time — closed
FundedMaster's / PhD
Check category, nationality and programme eligibility. Funding labels do not confirm that every personal cost is covered.
ScholarshipClosed
ER.GO Emilia-Romagna
ER.GO Regional Scholarship 2026–2027
Regional right-to-study support assessed under ER.GO's economic, enrolment and merit rules, with separate guidance for families holding income or assets abroad.
Destination
Italy
Deadline
24 August 2026, 16:00 — main scholarship deadline closed
FundedBachelor's / Master's / PhD
Check category, nationality and programme eligibility. Funding labels do not confirm that every personal cost is covered.
ScholarshipCheck official site
University of Padua
Padua International Excellence Scholarship
The 2026–2027 scheme offered €8,000 gross per year plus a tuition-fee exemption for selected international students in eligible English-taught degrees.
Destination
Italy
Deadline
2027–2028 award terms: verify on the official scholarship page
FundedBachelor's / Master's
Check category, nationality and programme eligibility. Funding labels do not confirm that every personal cost is covered.
ScholarshipOpen
Politecnico di Milano
Politecnico di Milano International Merit Scholarships
The 2027–2028 merit call has a separate form closing 15 December at noon Italian time, after qualifying early admission payment by 1 December. The PDF lists an acceptance administrative fee around €190; check award-specific benefits and English evidence.
Destination
Italy
Deadline
15 December 2026, noon Italian time; early admission payment required by 1 December
FundedMaster's
Check category, nationality and programme eligibility. Funding labels do not confirm that every personal cost is covered.
What changed in the latest funding review
As checked on 5 October 2026, Polimi has a 2027–2028 merit call. Its official PDF is linked below. Padua's Excellence page says further call information will be available in November 2026. Open admission does not mean the full future award conditions are already confirmed.
MAECI Italian Government grants
MAECI publishes an annual call for foreign citizens and Italians living abroad, an eligible-country list and instructions for the Study in Italy portal. The 2026–2027 call closed at 14:00 Italian time on 26 March 2026 and covered study carried out in Italy.
Before a future application, verify that your country, course type, age, academic background and language evidence meet the new call. Also confirm the grant duration, health-insurance terms, tuition treatment and any costs that remain yours.
Regional DSU scholarships
DSU is a right-to-study system administered through regional or institution-linked bodies. Names, portals, deadlines, benefit amounts and document rules vary. ER.GO serves institutions in Emilia-Romagna; other regions use different bodies and calls.
Applicants whose family income or assets are outside Italy commonly need official financial and family documents, translations and legalisation or authentication that meet the relevant call. Start these documents early because admission documents alone are not enough for an economic assessment.
University merit scholarships and fee waivers
Read the university-specific profiles for current merit-funding requirements, application dependencies and costs that remain payable. Historical award descriptions should not be used as a new intake's confirmed amount or eligibility rule.
Compare funding using the same fields
Write down tuition coverage, mandatory charges, cash stipend, accommodation, meals, travel, insurance, duration, payment schedule and renewal conditions. A fee waiver and a living-cost scholarship solve different parts of the budget.
Calculate how much cash you need before arrival and before the first payment. Housing deposits, visa-related costs and initial travel can be due earlier than scholarship disbursement.
Academic year and current status
Eligible nationality and degree level
Separate admission required
Income or merit assessment
Covered and excluded costs
Renewal and credit requirements
Build a safe application sequence
Open the official call, confirm eligibility and save the dated document. Apply through the named government, regional or university portal. Record every dependent action, including admission, financial documentation, language evidence and pre-enrolment.
Avoid anyone promising a guaranteed DSU, MAECI or university award. Never send passwords or pay a private account to secure selection. Use the contacts published on the official domain when a rule is unclear.
Official sources and verification
Source records support the guide. Page update dates describe editorial changes; they do not mean every linked rule was checked again today. Reopen the current call for your programme and intake.
Benefits can include money and services such as accommodation or meals, but the package and amount depend on the regional call, student status and assessment. Read the exact current call before using the label fully funded.
Can I apply for MAECI and a university scholarship together?+
Check both calls for incompatibility rules. Some awards cannot be combined, and admission may remain a separate requirement.
Does admission automatically apply me for every university scholarship?+
No. Some merit awards use automatic consideration, while others require a separate form or financial documents. Follow the named award's procedure.
Can Pakistani students apply for scholarships in Italy?+
They can apply to routes whose current nationality, degree, academic, financial and language conditions they meet. Confirm Pakistan on any eligible-country list and read the current call.
