Hereโs a comprehensive guide to Italy Scholarships for Indian Students (2026โ2027) โ with key programs, benefits, deadlines (estimates based on available 2026 info), eligibility, and apply-here links where possible ๐ฎ๐น๐.
๐ฎ๐น Top Scholarships in Italy for Indian Students 2026โ2027
| Scholarship / Program | Level | Coverage | Estimated Deadline | Apply / Official Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI) | Masterโs/PhD/Research | Tuition waiver + โฌ900/month stipend + health insurance | MayโJune 2026 (est.) | https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/ |
| University of Bologna Merit Scholarships | Bachelorโs & Masterโs | Tuition waiver + up to โฌ11,000/year | MarโApr 2026 (est.) | https://www.unibo.it/en/teaching/grants-and-scholarships |
| Politecnico di Milano Excellence Scholarships | Masterโs | Tuition waiver + โฌ5,000โโฌ10,000/year | FebโMar 2026 (est.) | https://www.polimi.it/en/tuition-fees-and-scholarships/ |
| Bocconi University Financial Aid & Merit Awards | Bachelorโs/Masterโs | Tuition waiver + โฌ8,000โโฌ12,000/year | JanโMar 2026 (est.) | https://www.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/Bocconi/SitoPubblico_EN/Navigation+Tree/Programmes/Scholarships/ |
| University of Padua International Excellence | Bachelorโs & Masterโs | Tuition waiver + โฌ8,000/year | FebโMar 2026 (est.) | https://www.unipd.it/en/studying-padua/funding-and-fees/scholarships-international-students |
| Regional DSU Scholarships (e.g., EDISU Piemonte, DSU Toscana) | All levels | Tuition + accommodation + meals + stipend | JulโSep 2026 (est.) | Via regional DSU portals |
| Invest Your Talent in Italy | Masterโs (certain fields) | Tuition waiver + โฌ8,100/year + Internships | Feb 2026 (est.) | Official IYT website (search โInvest Your Talent in Italyโ) |
| University of Milan Excellence Scholarships | Bachelorโs/Masterโs/PhD | Tuition waiver + โฌ6,000/year | MarโApr 2026 (est.) | https://www.unimi.it/en/study/enrolment |
| University of Trento Scholarships | Bachelorโs/Masterโs | Tuition waiver + โฌ6,000โโฌ7,200/year | MarโApr 2026 (est.) | Official UniTrento site |
| University of Turin Scholarships | Bachelorโs/Masterโs | Tuition waiver + stipend (~โฌ9,000/year) | Apr 2026 (est.) | University of Turin portal |
| Politecnico di Torino International Scholarships | Bachelorโs/Masterโs | Tuition waiver + โฌ4,000โโฌ8,000/year | FebโApr 2026 (est.) | Politecnico di Torino site |
| Universitร Cattolica (UCSC) International Scholarship | Bachelorโs/Masterโs | Partial tuition waiver (~โฌ3,000โโฌ5,000/year) | JanโMar 2026 (est.) | UCSC official website |
| Erasmus+ (EU Mobility/Joint Programs) | Exchange / Masterโs | Tuition waiver + โฌ850โโฌ1,200/month stipend | Varies by university (JanโMar) | Erasmus+ portal / Home university |
| Scuola Normale Superiore PhD Scholarships | PhD | Fully funded tuition + ~โฌ1,400/month + housing | FebโApr 2026 (est.) | Scuola Normale Superiore site |
๐ Popular Options Explained (Indian Students)
๐ฎ๐น 1. MAECI โ Italian Government Scholarship
- Offered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Benefits: Tuition fee waiver + monthly stipend (~โฌ900) + health insurance.
- Eligibility: Open to Indian students for Masterโs & PhD programs.
- Application: Through the Study in Italy portal.
- Deadline: Typically mid-May each year for the next academic cycle.
๐ Apply: https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/
๐ 2. University of Bologna Merit Scholarships
- One of Italyโs top public universities.
- Benefits: Up to โฌ11,000 per year + tuition fee support.
- Programs: Bachelorโs & Masterโs.
- Deadline: Often MarโApr 2026 (varies by course).
๐ Apply: University of Bologna scholarship page
๐ 3. Politecnico di Milano Excellence Scholarships
- Top choice for engineering, architecture, and design.
- Benefits: โฌ5,000โโฌ10,000 + tuition waiver.
- Deadline: Usually FebโMar 2026.
๐ Apply: Politecnico di Milano scholarships page
๐ 4. Bocconi University Financial Aid & Merit Awards
- Excellent for business, economics, law, and management.
- Benefits: โฌ8,000โโฌ12,000 per year + tuition support.
- Deadline: Around JanโMar 2026.
๐ Apply: Bocconi University scholarship page
๐ 5. University of Padua โ International Excellence
- Prestigious and highly competitive.
- Benefits: Tuition waiver + โฌ8,000/year for living costs.
- Deadline: Typically FebโMar 2026.
๐ Apply: University of Padua scholarship page
๐งโ๐ซ 6. Regional & DSU Scholarships
- Regional scholarship programs like EDISU Piemonte and DSU Toscana provide:
- Tuition coverage
- Housing and meal support
- Living allowances in some districts
- Eligibility: Income + merit criteria; Indian students are eligible.
- Deadline: Often JulโSep 2026.
๐ Apply: Regional DSU / EDISU portal
๐ 7. Erasmus+ & Erasmus Mundus
- EU-funded mobility and joint degree programs including Italian participation.
- Benefits: Tuition waiver + monthly living allowance (~โฌ850โโฌ1,200).
- Deadline: Varies by university, generally JanโMar 2026.
๐ Apply through your home or Italian university Erasmus+ office
๐ฌ 8. Scuola Normale Superiore โ PhD Funding
- Top research university offering fully funded PhD positions.
- Benefits: Salary + research support + housing allowances in many cases.
- Deadline: FebโApr 2026 (est.).
๐ Apply: Scuola Normale Superiore PhD portal
๐ Typical Application Timeline (2026โ2027)
| Period | What Happens |
|---|---|
| OctโDec 2025 | University admissions open (UG/PG). |
| JanโMar 2026 | Major university scholarships close (Bocconi, PoliMi, UniBo). |
| FebโApr 2026 | Padua & Normale scholarship cycles. |
| MayโJune 2026 | MAECI Italian Govt scholarship deadline. |
| JulโSep 2026 | Regional DSU/EDISU calls open. |
| AugโSept 2026 | Late or secondary calls, final eligibility checks. |
๐ How to Boost Your Chances (For Indian Students)
โ
Apply early: University scholarships often have rolling or fixed early deadlines.
โ
Prepare documents: Academic transcripts, SOP, LORs, passport, MOT (medium-of-instruction) for language.
โ
Check English requirements: Many programs are English-taught; some waive IELTS with prior English education.
โ
Use centralized portals: Universitaly for admissions + Study in Italy for MAECI.
โ
Regional aid: Apply for DSU/EDISU after admission for extra support.
๐ Official Scholarship Portals (Quick Links)
- Study in Italy (MAECI scholarships): https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/
- University of Bologna Scholarships: https://www.unibo.it/en/teaching/grants-and-scholarships
- Politecnico di Milano Scholarships: https://www.polimi.it/en/tuition-fees-and-scholarships/
- Bocconi Scholarships: https://www.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/Bocconi/SitoPubblico_EN/Navigation+Tree/Programmes/Scholarships/
- University of Padua Funding: https://www.unipd.it/en/studying-padua/funding-and-fees/scholarships-international-students
- University of Milan Enrollment: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/enrolment
