Italy Scholarships for African Students 2026

Find fully funded scholarships to study in Italy as an African student in 2026. MAECI Italian Government Scholarships, University of Bologna DSU awards, and Erasmus Mundus options. Apply from October 2025. Direct official links included.

Italy is an underappreciated destination for African students seeking quality higher education in Europe. While France, Germany, and the UK command more attention, Italy offers a powerful combination: globally ranked universities, lower tuition fees than most Northern European countries, the Italian Government's MAECI scholarship programme, and strong programmes in design, engineering, architecture, and social sciences that are directly relevant to Africa's development context.

The MAECI (Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale) scholarships are the primary pathway to fully funded study in Italy for African students. Covering full tuition and a monthly stipend of EUR 900, they are available for Master's, PhD, and research stay programmes. Applications are submitted through an online portal managed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, typically opening in October for the following academic year.

Beyond MAECI, the University of Bologna — Europe's oldest university, founded in 1088 — offers the "Study Grants for International Students" awards that can cover full tuition and living costs for eligible non-EU students. The Politecnico di Milano and Politecnico di Torino, two of Europe's top technical universities, run merit scholarships for high-performing international applicants to their English-taught Master's programmes. Bocconi University, Italy's leading private business school, offers substantial scholarships for international students with strong academic records.

Italy's higher education system spans two main tracks: state universities (with lower fees) and private institutions (higher fees, sometimes better-resourced). For African students on scholarships or limited budgets, public universities offer an excellent quality-to-cost ratio, with tuition ranging from EUR 900 to EUR 4,000 per year before scholarships are applied.

Main Scholarship Programmes for African Students

MAECI Italian Government Scholarships: Italy's national scholarship for international students. Covers full tuition and EUR 900/month stipend. Available for Master's (Laurea Magistrale), PhD, and research visits. Applications at esteri.it, typically opening October–November. Eligibility: holding a relevant Bachelor's or Master's degree, meeting the age requirements (varies by programme level), and not currently studying in Italy. Strong focus on Italy-Africa diplomatic partnerships in scholarship allocation.

University of Bologna Study Grants: Bologna's regional scholarship system (administered through ER.GO) provides full tuition waivers and accommodation grants for qualifying low-income non-EU students. Income assessment uses ISEE Parificato calculations. Applications open July–September at er.go.it. Simultaneously apply for admission at unibo.it.

Politecnico di Milano Scholarships: Merit scholarships for incoming non-EU Master's students with GPA above 27/30 or equivalent. Cover partial to full tuition. Apply at polimi.it. Some programmes have automatic scholarship consideration on admission — no separate application needed.

Politecnico di Torino Excellence Scholarships: Similar merit award system for Politecnico di Torino's English-taught Master's programmes. Highly competitive — GPA and recommendation letters are key evaluation criteria. Apply at polito.it/international.

Bocconi University Merit Scholarships: Bocconi (private, Milan) offers generous merit and need-based scholarships for non-EU students. These are among the most competitive but valuable private scholarships in Italy. Apply at unibocconi.eu/scholarships.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees: Several Erasmus Mundus programmes have Italian partner universities. Full tuition coverage and EUR 1,000/month. Search eacea.ec.europa.eu.

Top Universities in Italy for African Students

University of Bologna (UNIBO) — Europe's oldest university; strong in law, humanities, social sciences, engineering, and medicine. Bologna is a lively, affordable student city.
Politecnico di Milano — Europe's top design school; world-class in engineering, architecture, urban planning, and design. Milan is Italy's financial and fashion capital.
Politecnico di Torino — Strong in engineering, aerospace, automotive, and sustainable construction. Turin is more affordable than Milan.
Sapienza University of Rome — One of Europe's largest universities; broad programme range. Rome offers unmatched cultural context for archaeology, art, and humanities.
Bocconi University (Milan) — Italy's top private university for business, economics, and law. Highly competitive; excellent post-graduation employment for finance and consulting careers.
University of Padova — Historic, well-ranked across sciences, engineering, humanities, and medicine. Padova (near Venice) has lower living costs than Milan or Rome.
University of Florence — World-renowned for art, architecture, fashion, and humanities; strong international programmes in design and arts management.

Visa Requirements for African Students

African students need a Type D Study Visa from the Italian embassy in their home country. Apply after receiving an admission letter and, if applicable, a scholarship confirmation. Required: admission letter (pre-enrollment from Studiare in Italia portal), financial means proof (scholarship letter or bank statement showing EUR 6,079.40 for the first year minimum), health insurance, accommodation proof, and a passport valid for at least 3 months beyond intended stay. Italian embassies in Africa are present in major capitals; processing takes 3–6 weeks. The pre-enrollment declaration (dichiarazione di valore) may be required for degree verification — start this process early as it involves the Italian consulate.

Cost of Living Estimates

Milan: EUR 1,000–1,500/month (rent EUR 500–900/month for a room)
Rome: EUR 900–1,300/month
Bologna/Florence/Turin: EUR 750–1,050/month
Padova/Trento/Perugia: EUR 650–900/month
MAECI stipend: EUR 900/month (comfortable in most cities outside Milan)
Subsidised student meals (mensa): EUR 2–5 per meal

How to Apply — 7 Steps

Select a programme: Browse English-taught programmes at universitaly.it. Filter by English-medium programmes.
Check MAECI scholarship opening: The MAECI portal (esteri.it) typically opens in October. Register and monitor for announcements.
Submit pre-enrollment: For the study visa, submit a pre-enrollment declaration at the Italian consulate or via universitaly.it. This is separate from the university application and scholarship application.
Apply to the university: Submit your academic application directly to the university (deadlines vary; typically December–April for September intake).
Apply for MAECI scholarship: Submit your scholarship application through the MAECI portal. Include: academic documents, CV, motivation letter, research proposal (for PhD), and language certificates.
Apply for other scholarships: Simultaneously apply to university-specific merit awards (ER.GO for Bologna, PoliMi scholarship portal, etc.) where eligible.
Obtain study visa: Once admission and scholarship are confirmed, apply for Type D study visa at the Italian embassy. Allow 4–6 weeks.

Required Documents

Valid passport
Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts (with Italian-certified translations — "dichiarazione di valore" issued by Italian consulate)
English language certificate (IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 for English programmes)
Italian language certificate (CILS B2 or equivalent) for Italian-medium programmes
CV/resume (Europass format recommended)
Motivation letter
Two references
Research proposal (for PhD or research stay MAECI scholarships)
Passport-size photographs

2 Scholarships for African Students

Each scholarship below is drawn from Scholar Africa's verified database and cross-checked for eligibility, funding scope, and current deadline. Direct apply links go to each scholarship's official application portal.

Stipend

Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students

Host Country Italy

Degree Level Masters, PhD

Award / Funding EUR 7,000–12,000

Deadline June 10, 2026

Provider Italian Universities

The Italian Government offers study grants for foreign and Italian citizens living abroad who wish to attend university courses, language courses, or research projects in Italy.

Apply at official site Full details

Stipend

ESA African Research Fellowship (ESRIN)

Host Country Italy

Degree Level Postdoctoral

Award / Funding €2,500/month stipend + travel and networking funding + access to ESA cloud computing and training for 12 months

Deadline Check for next cycle

Awards 4

Provider ESA-ESRIN (European Space Agency), Frascati, Italy

The European Space Agency (ESA) African Research Fellowship, part of the EO AFRICA initiative in partnership with the African Space Agency (AfSA), supports early-career African scientists in conducting Earth Observation (EO) research. Selected fellows spend one year at ESA's ESRIN centre in Frascati, Italy, collaborating directly with ESA experts. Each fellowship provides a ...

Apply at official site Full details

How to Apply — Step by Step

Competition for fully funded international scholarships is high. African students who apply systematically and early significantly improve their odds. Follow this process:

Research and shortlist
Review each scholarship's eligibility requirements — nationality restrictions, GPA minimums, age limits, and language requirements. Build a shortlist of 6–10 scholarships that match your profile.
Prepare academic documents early
Certified transcripts, degree certificates, and a current CV are required by almost every scholarship. Get official copies stamped by your institution early — processing takes 2–4 weeks at many African universities.
Book language tests
Most scholarships in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia require IELTS (6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100). German programmes may accept a TestDaF B2 equivalent. French institutions may require DELF B2. Book at least 3 months before your target deadline.
Request letters of recommendation
Contact academic referees 6–8 weeks before the deadline. Give them your CV, the scholarship brief, and the submission deadline. Follow up gently two weeks before.
Write tailored personal statements
Generic essays fail. For each scholarship, address its specific mission directly. Chevening wants leaders with a return-to-home-country plan; DAAD wants academic excellence with a clear development angle; Commonwealth prioritises development impact in your home nation.
Submit before the deadline
System crashes and upload errors are common on deadline day. Submit at least 48–72 hours early. Screenshot your confirmation page and save the reference number.
Apply to multiple scholarships simultaneously
Most finalists apply to 5–12 scholarships per cycle. Parallel applications do not disqualify you from any programme. Systematic parallel applications significantly improve your odds.

Documents Checklist

While each scholarship has specific requirements, the following documents are commonly requested. Prepare these well in advance of any deadline.

Academic transcripts — certified/official copies from all institutions attended
Degree certificates — undergraduate degree certificate (for Masters and PhD applicants)
Valid passport or national ID — at least 18 months remaining from the application date
Letters of recommendation (LORs) — typically 2–3 from academic supervisors or employers
Personal statement or statement of purpose — 500–1,200 words depending on the programme
Research proposal — required for PhD scholarships; typically 1,500–3,000 words
English language test scores — IELTS (minimum 6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100); check each programme's minimum
Academic CV or resume — includes publications, research experience, awards, and extracurriculars
Proof of nationality — birth certificate or national identity card
Employer reference letter — for scholarships requiring professional experience (e.g., Chevening requires 2 years)

Always verify the specific document requirements on the official scholarship website. Requirements vary by programme and change annually — this checklist covers the common core, not every programme's unique additions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MAECI scholarship for African students studying in Italy?

The MAECI (Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale) scholarship is the Italian Government scholarship for international students. It covers full tuition, a monthly stipend of EUR 900 (approximately USD 975), and may include health insurance. It is available for undergraduate, Master's, and PhD programmes. Applications are submitted online at esteri.it. Most African applicants target the Master's and research categories.

What is the University of Bologna DSU scholarship?

The University of Bologna's DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) regional scholarships are among the most generous in Italy. For non-EU students with low economic status, they can cover full tuition, accommodation in university residences, and meals. The income/wealth calculation for non-EU students uses ISEE Parificato, which applies different thresholds for applicants from abroad. Many African students from lower-income backgrounds can qualify — apply at er.go.it.

Are there English-taught programmes in Italy?

Yes. Italy has expanded its English-taught offerings significantly. The Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, University of Bologna, and Bocconi University (private) all offer Master's programmes entirely in English. Programmes in engineering, computer science, management, design, and architecture are particularly well-represented in English.

What is the cost of living in Italy for students?

Italy is moderate by European standards. Students in Milan (most expensive) should budget EUR 900–1,400/month. Rome: EUR 850–1,200/month. Bologna, Florence, Turin: EUR 700–1,000/month. Southern cities (Naples, Palermo) are cheaper at EUR 550–800/month. University cafeterias offer subsidised meals for students with valid university IDs, reducing food costs.

What language is required to study in Italy?

Italian is the primary language at most universities. However, for English-taught programmes (particularly at Politecnico di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, and Bocconi), English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 90) is the only language requirement. For Italian-medium programmes, B2 Italian (CILS or CELI certificate) is required. The Italian Cultural Institutes in Africa sometimes offer language courses.

What fields is Italy known for academically?

Italy is world-renowned for design and fashion (Politecnico di Milano's School of Design), architecture, civil engineering, food science, art history, economics (Bocconi for finance/management), and classical humanities. For African students, Italy also offers relevant programmes in development economics, international law, and sustainable agriculture.

What are the Politecnico di Milano scholarships for international students?

The Politecnico di Milano offers the PoliMi Merit Scholarship for non-EU students entering Master's programmes with excellent academic records. Coverage: partial or full tuition waiver. There is also the PoliMi International Scholarship (specific programmes). Apply at polimi.it/international. Deadlines are typically in January-March for September intake.