Scholarships for studying in Italy

Dreaming of Studying in Europe but Worried About Costs?

Italy offers students the opportunity not only to earn a master’s degree but also to obtain a student residence permit and quickly find employment after graduation. Thanks to various scholarship programs, it’s possible to study at top universities for free—and even receive financial support. In this article, we’ll explore two main types of scholarships: need-based and merit-based, as well as some special programs.

Need-Based Scholarship: DSU

DSU is the most popular scholarship based on a student’s financial need. It covers tuition fees and provides an additional allowance of around €6,000 (depending on the region and family income level). While relatively easy to obtain, the documentation process can be complex.

Required documents for DSU application:

• Family composition certificate with full name and birth date of each family member (everyone registered at the same address counts as a family member).
• Income certificate (or statement of no income) for each family member.
• Property certificate showing owned real estate and its square meter size.
• Movable asset certificate (bank statements, tax documents confirming absence of additional income).
• Translation of all documents into Italian and legalization at the Italian consulate.

Important: The exact time period for which documents must be collected is stated in the official bando (call for applications), usually published in June–July.