Italy: income-based fees and regional grants for nearly free study

Fees depend on family income

Italian public universities calculate most students' fees from family income and assets, using an indicator called the ISEE (for families abroad, an equivalent calculated from home-country documents). Students from lower-income families pay little or nothing, and some universities offer reduced flat fees to students from developing countries.

Application fees

Italian universities charge a small fee to assess an international application: €50 at Politecnico di Torino and €60 at Padova. Politecnico di Milano charges €50 in its early-bird window (1 October to 1 December) and €150 after that, so apply early. At Padova, programmes that require the CEnT-S entry test ask for its €55 registration fee instead. None of these fees is refunded.

Compare other countries in our guide to universities with no application fee.

Regional grants (DSU)

Each Italian region funds a student-aid agency that awards the diritto allo studio (DSU) scholarship. In Emilia-Romagna, where the University of Bologna is, the agency is ER.GO. For 2026–27 it offered a full fee exemption plus a grant of up to €7,171.11 a year for students living away from home, with access to student housing, for families with an ISEE of up to €25,000 and an ISPE of up to €50,000. Applications ran from late June to 24 August 2026.

Merit scholarships

Some universities reward strong international applicants directly. Politecnico di Milano waives tuition for top applicants to its English-taught master's programmes, and adds up to €10,000 a year for the highest-ranked, but only for applicants who apply in its Early Bird window (1 October to 1 December).

Tuition waivers

Some Italian universities also run their own waivers for international students. The University of Padua waives student fees and adds €8,000 gross a year for up to 76 students on its 2026/27 terms, with no separate form. Bocconi offers 100%, 80% or 60% off to international first-year Bachelor's and Law students, based on family finances. The University of Calabria gave 132 non-EU master's students tuition, board, lodging and €3,600 in 2026/27, and expects its next call in January 2027.

Some fees also fall automatically. At the University of Pisa in 2026-27, students with income and assets outside Italy pay a flat fee set by their country's World Bank income group: €290 for low-income, €580 for lower-middle-income, €1,160 for upper-middle-income and €2,900 for high-income countries, before €156 in regional tax and stamp duty. See all of them in our guide to tuition fee waivers in Europe.

Paperwork is the hard part

Income-based aid needs official documents about your family's income and property from your home country, usually translated and legalised. Start collecting them in spring: DSU windows close in late summer, often before international students arrive.

Proof of funds for your visa

For a study visa you must show at least €10,179.85 for the 2026–27 academic year, plus the cost of a return journey. The threshold is linked to Italy's social allowance and is updated each year. Consulates can ask for more, judging the whole financial situation of your family or sponsor, and some accept only certain kinds of evidence, so read the checklist of the consulate that handles your application.

Working and staying after graduation

With a study residence permit you can work up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year. After a bachelor's (laurea), master's (laurea magistrale), specialising master's or PhD, you can convert your study permit into a one-year residence permit while awaiting employment. Register with the local job centre (Centro per l'Impiego) first. During that year the permit can be changed into a work permit once you find a job.

Common questions

How much is the application fee at Italian universities?

Usually €50 to €60: €50 at Politecnico di Torino, €60 at Padova, and €50 at Politecnico di Milano if you apply between 1 October and 1 December (€150 after that).

How much money do I need for an Italian student visa?

At least €10,179.85 for 2026–27, plus money for a return journey. Consulates may ask for more evidence about your family's or sponsor's finances.

Can I work while studying in Italy?

Yes, up to 20 hours a week and 1,040 hours a year with a study residence permit.

Can I stay in Italy after graduating?

Yes. After a degree or PhD you can convert your permit into a one-year permit to look for work, after registering with the local job centre.

Italy: income-based fees and regional grants that make study nearly free

Funded routes in Italy