Italy Government & University Scholarships 2025 Undergraduate • Master’s • PhD

Italy Government & University Scholarships 2025

Italy is home to centuries‑old universities, strong academic traditions, and a wide variety of programmes taught in both Italian and English.
Many Italian universities and the Italian government (MAECI) now offer scholarships and grants to attract international talent, reduce costs, and make studying in Italy more accessible.
For 2025–2026 there are several scholarship schemes, including government grants, merit‑based university awards, and special programs such as Invest Your Talent in Italy.

Here are some of the main scholarships you should watch out for if you’re considering undergraduate, master’s or PhD study in Italy in 2025:

Scholarship / Programme	Level (UG / Masters / PhD)	What’s Offered	Key Requirements & Deadlines
Italian Government MAECI Scholarships	Undergraduate, Masters, PhD, Research / Language stays	Grants to cover study, training, research; sometimes tuition waiver, sometimes health insurance or financial support.	Open to foreign citizens not residing in Italy & Italians living abroad. Applications typically open in late April – mid‑May. Eg 2025 deadline: May 16, 2025.
Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT)	Master’s & Postgraduate (mostly)	Monthly stipend (~ €1,000/month for 9 months), tuition/fee waiver, possibly internship / company training component.	Must apply both for the course and the IYT program. Eligible countries: many non‑EU countries (Armenia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, etc.). Application window for 2025/26: Jan 23 → Feb 24, 2025 (12:00 CET).
University‑specific Scholarships	All levels depending on the university	Merit scholarships, tuition waivers, hospitality or stipend in some cases.	Varies widely by university. Always check the international office of a specific university. Some university programs under IYT also count as university‑specific when selecting for IYT. Eg. University of Padua, Politecnico di Torino, Pisa, Brescia are involved in IYT.

The IYT 2025‑2026 edition is active, offering nine months of support, tuition exemptions, and internships.
Application deadlines tend to cluster around February for IYT and mid‑May for government MAECI calls. Make sure to note both full course admission deadlines and scholarship deadlines.
English proficiency (often B2 level or equivalent) is required in many cases; sometimes Italian language ability is assessed or offers bonus points, but often not compulsory.
The IYT programme includes a mandatory internship with an Italian company as part of its offering.

To apply successfully, you’ll generally need:

Citizenship in an eligible country (often non‑EU countries for most of these scholarships).
Qualification appropriate to level: e.g. high school diploma for undergraduate, bachelor’s degree for master’s, relevant previous academic record.
English or Italian language certification as required.
Motivation statement or portfolio or video (some IYT calls require a motivational video).
Timely completion of required documents: transcripts, proof of qualifications, passport, etc.

Pros:

These scholarships significantly reduce cost (tuition waivers + monthly stipend).
Studying in Italy offers cultural richness, high‑quality education, possibility of work/internship connections especially under IYT.
Good for those wanting Master’s or postgraduate specialization, especially in fields offered in English.

Challenges:

Competition is strong; many qualified applicants so merit matters.
Living costs (housing, food, transport) in some cities can be high; stipend may or may not cover everything.
Some scholarships don’t cover all costs (insurance, regional taxes, etc.). You’ll need to budget.
Visa / residence permit process can take time; you’ll need financial proof sometimes before confirming scholarship.
Deadlines are strict—missing one can mean waiting a whole academic year.

Start early – gather all required transcripts, language tests, passport, etc.
Check both admission & scholarship deadlines – sometimes course admission closes earlier or separately.
Strong academic record – grades, projects, relevant experience help.
Motivation & clarity – write a strong motivation letter or video (if required), showing why this programme, why Italy, what you plan to do afterwards.
Apply to multiple opportunities – don’t put all hopes on one scholarship; check university‑level, government, and special programmes.
Meet language requirements – even if Italian isn’t required, knowing some helps; having good English language proof is often essential.
Budget wisely – know what the scholarship covers and what extra costs you will have (rent, travel, food, insurance, etc.)