Laurea in Italy refers to Bachelors Degrees also called Laurea Triennale and sometimes Single Cycle programmes depending on context.
The scholarships often cover tuition fees living costs and other support.
Many are offered by the Italian Government MAECI universities or joint programs.
Why Italy Scholarships Are Attractive
- World-class universities Italy has many well-ranked institutions
- Cultural richness language history and arts
- Affordable cost compared to many other European countries some costs are lower plus many scholarships waive or reduce fees
- Many English-taught programs especially at Masters level
Read More: Study in US Without IELTS 2025 Universities and Visa Requirements
Key Dates for Laurea Scholarships 2026
One major set of deadlines for Politecnico di Milano for Masters Laurea Magistrale scholarships.
- First Call 15 October – 2 December 2025
- Second Call 9 December 2025 – 4 March 2026
- Third Call 10 March – 19 May 2026 for Engineering and similar for Architecture and Design
The general MAECI government grants deadline was 16 May 2025 for the academic year 2026.
Who Can Apply Eligibility
Foreign citizens and Italian citizens living abroad IRE are eligible for many scholarships
Age limits depend on the level.
| Level | Max Age |
|---|---|
| Bachelors Laurea Triennale or Single-cycle | 23 years old |
| Masters AFAM Language and Culture courses | 28 years old |
| PhD Programmes | 30 years old |
| Research under academic supervision | 40 years old |
Academic qualifications are required for enrolment in the chosen program Transcripts certifications and other documents must be valid.
Language proficiency
- For Italian-taught programs usually B2 level in Italian required
- For English-taught programs B2 in English generally required
- Some exceptions depending on program or if previous degree was in that language
What the Scholarship Covers
Financial grant For full-time students Masters PhD etc it is €9000 per year paid in installments
Grant for Italian language and culture courses around €3000
Tuition fees waiver many universities allow exemption from tuition fees depending on the institution and program
Health and medical insurance is provided via MAECI for the duration of the grant
Types of Programs Supported
- Laurea Triennale Bachelor programmes
- Laurea Magistrale Masters Degree programmes
- Single-Cycle degree programmes in some fields
- AFAM Fine Arts Music Dance
- Research projects under academic supervision
- Italian Language and Culture courses
Which Universities Participate
- Politecnico di Milano is prominent in offering Laurea and Laurea Magistrale scholarships
- University of Perugia offers ItAS Italian for Teaching to Foreigners under the ITALYOU scheme
- Many public universities across Italy under MAECI grants
How to Apply
Most applications happen via the Study in Italy portal which is run by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
For university-level scholarships like Politecnico you must.
- Apply for admission to the programme
- Fill a scholarship application if required during the calls
- Provide supporting documents transcripts language certificates CV and portfolio for Architecture or Design if needed
Deadlines are strict Missing them means waiting for the next call
Special Initiatives
ITALYOU – Italy in your future For 2025-2026 MAECI will give 70 annual scholarships of €6250 each for students from countries like Algeria Cameroon Egypt Libya Morocco Senegal and Tunisia These are for the Masters degree program ItAS at Perugia.
Attanasio Grants In memory of Ambassador Luca Attanasio a few reserve grants are given.
Limitations and Exclusions
- Part-time enrolment or enrolment exceeding legal duration fuori corso is usually not allowed
- Private institutions not recognized by the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research are not eligible
- Some programs like AFAM or single-cycle degrees may have special rules or restricted eligibility
- Renewals require proof of academic progress such as passing credits or tutor evaluation
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Keep your grades high Strong GPA helps a lot
- Prepare a good application early with transcripts and certificates ready
- For design or architecture prepare a clean portfolio
- Meet deadlines Late documents are rejected
- Show language proficiency clearly with certificates or past education proof
- Read the official call notices carefully and follow all rules
Updates and Validity
The official call for 2025-2026 shows many grants will begin 1 November 2025 and end 31 July 2026 for some Others will run from 1 January 2026 to 30 September 2026.
Always check the latest Study in Italy portal and university websites as rules can change.
