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Study in Italy

Italy is a strong European choice for Arab students: historic universities such as Bologna, Padua and Sapienza Rome, leading technical universities such as Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, and hundreds of English-taught programmes. Fees at public universities depend on family income, and study can be funded by the Italian Foreign Ministry (MAECI) scholarships, Invest Your Talent in Italy (Egypt and Tunisia are eligible), the regional "right to study" (DSU) grants that include an annual grant, housing and meals, and the universities' own scholarships. Students may work 20 hours a week and stay one year after graduating to look for work.

10

universities listed

12

scholarships & discounts

2

government programmes

it, English

teaching languages

September

academic year starts

Government scholarships & national programmes

Scholarships funded by the state or its official bodies for international students.

Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI)

Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI)

Fully Funded2 scholarships

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants for international students: Master's, PhD, arts (AFAM) and language courses in Italy, with a monthly stipend and tuition exemption. Annual call on the Study in Italy portal.

European University Institute

Fully Funded1 scholarship

The European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, is an international institution for graduate studies and research in economics, history, law, and political and social sciences, offering a doctoral program usually funded for four years through member-state grants or EUI grants for certain nationalities. Funding eligibility depends on nationality, and you apply with a research proposal to one of the departments.

Universities (10)

Fees for international students and the highest discount or scholarship available, from each university’s official sources.

Sapienza University of Rome

Sapienza University of Rome

جامعة روما سابينزا

RomeState university

€300 – €1,500 per year

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Bologna

University of Bologna

جامعة بولونيا

BolognaState university

€657 – €1,557 per year

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Padua

University of Padua

جامعة بادوفا

PaduaState university

€930 – €2,990 per year

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Pisa

University of Pisa

جامعة بيزا

PisaState university

€290 – €2,900 per year

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Siena

University of Siena

جامعة سيينا

SienaState university

€500 – €2,711 per year

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Turin

University of Turin

جامعة تورينو

TurinState university

€300 – €1,000 per year

1 scholarshipDetails

Polytechnic University of Milan

Polytechnic University of Milan

بوليتكنيك ميلانو

MilanState university

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Florence

University of Florence

جامعة فلورنسا

FlorenceState university

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Trento

University of Trento

جامعة ترنتو

TrentoState university

1 scholarshipDetails

University of Milan

University of Milan

جامعة ميلانو

MilanState university

€346 – €4,307 per year

All scholarships & discounts (12)

Filter by funding type and study level.

Sapienza University of Rome

DiSCo Lazio Right-to-Study Scholarship at Sapienza University of Rome 2027–2028

by Sapienza University of Rome

Bachelor’sMaster’sPhD

Open for applicationDetails

University of Florence

DSU Toscana Right-to-Study Scholarship at the University of Florence 2027–2028

by University of Florence

Bachelor’sMaster’sPhD

Open for applicationDetails

University of Pisa

DSU Toscana Right-to-Study Scholarship at the University of Pisa 2027–2028

by University of Pisa

Bachelor’sMaster’sPhD

Open for applicationDetails

University of Bologna

ER.GO Right-to-Study Scholarship at the University of Bologna 2027–2028

by University of Bologna

Bachelor’sMaster’sPhD

Open for applicationDetails

European University Institute (EUI) PhD Research Fellowship in Social & Political Sciences

by European University Institute

2027-01-15Details

Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI)

Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship 2027–2028

by Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI)

Open for applicationDetails

University of Padua

Padua International Excellence Scholarship 2027–2028

by University of Padua

Master’sBachelor’s

Open for applicationDetails

University of Turin

Talents 4 UniTO Scholarships, University of Turin 2027–2028

by University of Turin

Open for applicationDetails

University of Trento

University of Trento Scholarships for International Students 2027–2028

by University of Trento

Master’sBachelor’s

Open for applicationDetails

Polytechnic University of Milan

Partially Funded

Politecnico di Milano Merit-Based International Scholarships 2027–2028

by Polytechnic University of Milan

Open for applicationDetails

Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI)

Living Stipend Only

Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI) 2027–2028

by Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI)

Open for applicationDetails

University of Siena

Living Stipend Only

Siena International Excellence Scholarships 2027–2028

by University of Siena

Open for applicationDetails

Study guide

The study system

Italian higher education follows the Bologna system: the bachelor's (Laurea) takes three years and 180 ECTS, the master's (Laurea Magistrale) two years and 120 ECTS, and single-cycle degrees of 5–6 years cover fields such as medicine, pharmacy, law and architecture, followed by the PhD (Dottorato), usually three years. AFAM institutions teach art, music and dance. The academic year starts in September or October; most programmes are in Italian, with a large number of English-taught master's degrees.

How to get admitted

Students first apply to the university by its own deadlines, then submit the "pre-enrolment" request on the Universitaly portal, which is required for the study visa. Each university sets its dates, and limited-access programmes such as medicine and architecture have entrance tests. Usually required: diplomas and transcripts, a Declaration of Value or CIMEA statement, proof of language (Italian or English, depending on the programme) and a valid passport. Only a pre-enrolment validated without reservations supports a visa application.

Fees and living costs

Fees at public universities depend on income: for example, at the University of Milan a non-EU student whose family lives abroad pays a first instalment of €146 (2026/27), then a second instalment set by the income bracket of their country. Private universities charge much more. For the visa you must show at least €10,179.85 a year (2026/27) plus the cost of a return ticket. Main funding sources: MAECI scholarships (€1,200 a month in 2026/27), Invest Your Talent in Italy (€10,800 plus a tuition waiver) and regional DSU grants (national minimum €7,171 a year for off-site students in 2026/27, with free housing and meals).

Visa, residence permit and health insurance

Non-EU students need a long-stay study visa (type D) from the Italian consulate in their country after pre-enrolling on Universitaly. For 2026/27 bachelor's and master's degrees the visa application must be filed by 30 November 2026. Required: passport, validated pre-enrolment, proof of funds, proof of accommodation and health insurance of at least €30,000. After arrival, students must apply for a study residence permit within 8 working days; it is renewed each year if enough exams are passed.

Working while studying

Holders of a study residence permit may work up to 20 hours a week, with a cap of 1,040 hours a year. After a bachelor's or master's degree, the study permit can be converted into a one-year permit to look for work, and then into a work permit once a job is found.

Information last verified: October 16, 2026Official source

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Key questions and answers regarding eligibility, documents, and application steps for 2026 / 2027.

Yes. MAECI scholarships pay €1,200 a month for master's and PhD study (2026/27 call, deadline 26 March 2026); Invest Your Talent in Italy pays €10,800 plus a tuition waiver to citizens of 23 countries including Egypt and Tunisia; regional DSU grants give an annual grant, housing and meals based on income to all nationalities; and universities such as Padua, Trento, Turin and Politecnico di Milano offer their own scholarships.

They depend on family income: at the University of Milan, for example, a non-EU student whose family lives abroad pays a first instalment of €146 and a second set by the income bracket of their country. DSU grant winners are exempt from fees.