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Ph: Mohammed Keita/IRC

Italy offers a range of scholarships for international students at both the Bachelor's and Master's levels, provided by various public universities and governmental organizations. Please note that the availability, requirements, and details of these scholarships can change, so it's essential to check the official websites of the universities or the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit ('Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito' in Italian) for the most current information.

To figure out which procedure is best for your situation, availability, requirements, and other details of the scholarship you want to apply for, it's essential to check the official websites of the universities, or the website of the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit (Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito in Italian) for the most current information.

Title recognition

If you had to leave your home country, you may have not brought your original academic records with you. It may also be impossible or too dangerous to request those documents from the authorities in your home country.

If you hold International Protection, you may obtain the recognition of your degrees even if your country of origin does not provide an official certification. You may obtain it if you can prove that it is impossible for you to get the degree certification from your home country.

Depending on the case, there may be different procedures and types of certifications:

  • ‘Certificate of Comparability’ ('Attestato di comparabilità' in Italian), issued free of charge by CIMEA to holders of international protection. CIMEA issues free ‘Statements of Comparability’ for foreign study qualifications to holders of international protection who have obtained the status of political asylum or subsidiary protection in Italy. 
  • ‘Declaration of Value’ (Dichiarazione di valore in Italian), issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a specific application service for international protection holders. 
  • EQPR (European Qualifications Passport for Refugees): the Council of Europe has developed an assessment procedure for cases where documentation is incomplete or even absent. 

If you are abroad and you need information on Italian universities and how to pre-enroll to get your student visa at the Italian Consulate, you can visit Universitaly portal here.

In this article you can learn more on:

  • Who can apply
  • How to apply
  • What your rights are

Who is eligible?

You may be eligible for a scholarship if you meet specific requirements, some of the most common are:

  • Holding a residence permit for International Protection, or Temporary Protection in some cases
  • Being currently enrolled in a Bachelor's degree, or Master's degree course at the University of the scholarship you want to apply for
  • Holding a valid Bachelor’s degree if you are applying for scholarship for a Master’s Degree course

To apply for these scholarships, students generally also need to provide academic transcripts, a cover letter, letters of recommendation, and proof of language proficiency, among other documents. The specific requirements and benefits of each scholarship can vary significantly, so we recommend thorough research and direct contact with the offering institution!

Italy has been increasingly attentive to the inclusion of international protection holders within its higher education system, recognizing the unique challenges they face and the importance of providing access to university education as a means of integration and empowerment. Below we list some of the opportunities you may have as holder of International Protection and also as international student. 

Scholarships for International Protection holders:

  1. UNICORE – University Corridors for Refugees: this program is is coordinated by UNHCR, UN Refugee Agency, and is made possible through collaboration with partners such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Caritas Italiana, Diaconia Valdese, Centro Astalli, Fondazione Finanza Etica, and Gandhi Charity. Every year this programme offers scholarships at 39 Italian universities. https://universitycorridors.unhcr.it/ 
  2. CRUI Foundation scholarships: Every year since 2016, the Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI), makes available 100 annual scholarships for students with international protection status. Usually, the call for applications is published at the beginning of July. https://en.unimib.it/international/opportunities/inclusive-university/crui-scholarship 
  3. University of Bologna scholarships for International Protection holders: Offers dedicated scholarships for international students under international protection, supporting enrollment in degree programs across all levels. https://www.unibo.it/en/study/study-grants-and-subsidies/exemptions-and-incentives/unibo-for-refugees 
  4. Sapienza University of Rome initiatives: Provides specific admission procedures and scholarship opportunities for international protection holders, aiming to support their education and integration. https://www.uniroma1.it/en/pagina/manifesto-inclusive-university 
  5. University of Padova Refugee scholarships: The University of Padova offers special scholarships for students with refugee status or subsidiary protection, covering tuition fees and living expenses for undergraduate, Masters, and PhD programs. https://www.unipd.it/en/going-global/opportunities-refugees#:~:text=Amount%20of%20scholarship%3A%20fee%2Dwaiver,one%20(1)%20academic%20year 
  6. Politecnico di Milano’s support programs: Offers dedicated scholarships and support services to refugees and International Protection holders seeking to enroll in its engineering, architecture, and design programs. (This program is not available in 2024, but another one is available at this link: https://www.polimi.it/en/international-prospective-students/laurea-magistrale-programmes-equivalent-to-master-of-science/scholarships/merit-based-scholarships).
  7. Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (UCSC) international scholarships: UCSC offers scholarships that include international protection holders, aiming to support their enrollment in Bachelors, Masters, and one-year Master’s degree programs. https://international.unicatt.it/ucscinternational-admission-and-tuition-tuition-fees-and-scholarships-9352 
  8. University of Pisa scholarships for International Protection holders: Offers scholarships and support for refugees and those under international protection, facilitating their access to higher education and integration into the academic community. https://www.unipi.it/index.php/tuition-fees-and-financial-support/item/2274-unipi-scholarship 

Bachelor-Oriented Scholarships:

  •           DSU Scholarships: Offered by various regions in Italy to both domestic and international students based on merit and financial need, applicable to undergraduate studies. https://www.unipi.it/index.php/tuition-fees-and-financial-support/item/2275-dsu-scholarship 
  •           Invest Your Talent in Italy: Although primarily aimed at Master's degrees, some parts of this program may support undergraduate studies in specific fields like engineering, advanced technologies, architecture, design, economics, and management. https://investyourtalentapplication.esteri.it/SitoIYT/EN/invest-your-talent-in-italy 
  •           University of Bologna Study Grants for International Students: The University of Bologna offers study grants to international students who wish to register for first cycle Triennale (Bachelors), Specialistica (Masters), or Master (one-year Master’s degrees) at the University of Bologna. https://www.unibo.it/en/study/study-grants-and-subsidies 
  • University of Pavia scholarship for developing country students: The University of Pavia offers scholarships for international students from developing countries, including undergraduate scholarships through the CICOPS Scholarships program, aimed at fostering international cooperation. http://cicops.unipv.it/ 
  • Sapienza University of Rome scholarships: Sapienza offers scholarships based on merit and financial need to international students enrolling in bachelor's programs. https://www.uniroma1.it/en/pagina/scholarships 

Master-Oriented Scholarships

Applicable for both Bachelor and Master Levels

  •           EDISU Piemonte scholarships: These regional scholarships are for students, including international students, who are enrolled at universities in the Piemonte region of Italy, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. https://www.edisu.piemonte.it/en/services/scholarships-and-other-grants/scholarship 
  •           I Tatti Fellowship for renaissance studies: Specifically for advanced studies in the Renaissance period, this fellowship by the Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies is open to doctoral and post-doctoral students, but master's students interested in Renaissance studies might also find opportunities here. https://itatti.harvard.edu/i-tatti-fellowship 
  • University of Milan Excellence Scholarships for international students: Offers scholarships to high-achieving international students at both undergraduate and graduate levels, covering a portion of the tuition fees. https://www.unimi.it/en/study/financial-support/international-scholarships