Applications for the University of Milan Regional Scholarship 2026/27 are open right now, and if you’re eyeing a degree in Italy without draining your savings, this is worth a close look.
The scheme sits under Italy’s DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) framework, a right-to-study system that hands out aid based on how much money your family has and how well you’re doing in class. It’s jointly bankrolled by the Lombardy Region and the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and winners can walk away with up to €8,248 in cash, a full or half tuition waiver, and a free lunch six days a week.
Students whose family finances sit outside Italy can still apply; they just need to hand over extra paperwork. On top of that, there’s a separate €600 monthly mobility grant for anyone doing a certified exchange like Erasmus+.
Applications close 30 September 2026, so let’s break down who qualifies and how to actually get your application in.
What Exactly Is This Scholarship?
Picture studying at one of Italy’s biggest and oldest public universities, La Statale, without tuition fees eating into your budget every semester. That’s the pitch here.
The University of Milan runs its financial aid through the national DSU system, meaning the amount you get depends purely on your household income and your academic track record, not a lottery or a committee’s personal opinion.
Here’s the thing a lot of applicants get wrong: this isn’t a “free ride for everyone” scholarship. It’s a means-tested regional grant, so your payout shrinks or grows depending on your numbers.
If your family’s income and assets sit outside Italy, the university runs a separate calculation to work out where you land financially, and you’ll need to submit certified documents to make that happen.
Selected students can end up with a mix of cash support, a tuition break, and daily meals covered, depending on where they rank once the university crunches the data.
If you want an affordable route into a well-known Italian university, this is one of the more realistic options on the table.
What makes this scheme stand out from a lot of “international scholarships” you’ll find online is that it’s genuinely open to non-Italians, not just a token line in the eligibility list. You don’t need to be an EU citizen, and you don’t need a special visa category.
What you do need is a spot in an eligible programme and the paperwork to back up your financial situation. That last part trips up a surprising number of applicants, so we’ll spend some time on it below.
First, though, let’s cover exactly what you get, who can apply, and the steps to submit your paperwork before the deadline hits.
Quick Facts
| Scholarship | University of Milan Regional Scholarship (DSU) |
|---|---|
| Country | Italy |
| University | University of Milan (La Statale) |
| Type | Regional, means-tested financial aid |
| Funders | Lombardy Region + Italian Ministry of University and Research |
| Academic Year | 2026/27 |
| Who Can Apply | Italian and international students in full-time programmes |
| Application Window | 10 July – 30 September 2026 (23:59 GMT+2) |
How Much Money Can You Actually Get?
Here’s what’s on the table for students who make the cut:
- Cash grant: Anywhere from €2,143 up to €8,248 a year, meal quota already folded in
- Full tuition waiver for top-ranked winners
- 50% tuition waiver for partial winners
- Free lunch Monday through Saturday at university cafeterias
- A graduation bonus if you finish your degree on time, funding permitting
Your grant gets paid straight onto your Carta La Statale, the university’s student badge, which you’ll need to activate as a prepaid card before any money lands.
First-years get half their grant by December 2026, with the rest released once they’ve hit their credit target. Students past year one usually get both payments finished by June 2027, no extra conditions attached.
Graduation Bonus
One thing worth flagging: that graduation bonus isn’t automatic just because you finished your degree.
It only kicks in if:
- You graduate within the standard length of your programme
- You haven’t already collected the bonus once before in your studies
- You’re actually a scholarship recipient for that final year
Miss any of those and you simply don’t get the top-up, no appeals process attached to it.
The €600 Study-Abroad Bonus
If you’re already receiving this scholarship and you head off on a university-approved exchange, say Erasmus+, you can also claim the International Mobility Allowance.
That means:
- €600 a month for as long as ten months
- Travel money of up to €100 if you’re staying in Europe
- Travel money of up to €500 if you’re heading further out
- Compensation for missed meals back home during your exchange
You just need to keep meeting the same income and attendance rules as the main scholarship.
Applications for this run from mid-July through the end of September, and for the 2026/27 cycle, provisional results land in January 2028, with final rankings out by February 2028.
Who Qualifies?
You’re in if you:
- Are Italian or international and enrolled, or about to enrol, full-time at the University of Milan
- Are applying for a Bachelor’s, Master’s, single-cycle Master’s, PhD, or postgraduate school programme
- Meet the income and academic thresholds set in the official call
- Submit every required document before the deadline
- Provide certified financial paperwork if your family’s income sits outside Italy
Who Is Generally Not Eligible?
You’re generally ruled out if you:
- Already hold an Italian qualification equal to or higher than what you’re applying for
- Already get a similar grant for the same year
- Study part-time or on a shortened programme
- Are repeating a year
- Are a medical student on a specialist training contract via a postgraduate school
- Are a PhD student already drawing a scholarship or research grant
How Are Students Ranked?
One more detail that matters: how you get ranked depends on which year you’re in.
If you’re a first-year student, your spot is worked out mainly from your household income, though you’ll still need to hit a minimum credit count later on to keep the money.
If you’re past your first year, the university looks at:
- How many credits you’ve banked
- Your average exam scores
- Your household income
So a strong academic record genuinely improves your odds here; it’s not purely about how much your family earns.
Deadline: Don’t Miss This
Applications open 10 July 2026 and shut for good on 30 September 2026 at 23:59 GMT+2.
Late submissions simply won’t get looked at, so don’t leave this to the last week.
How to Apply, Step by Step
Getting the university to admit you is a completely separate process from getting this scholarship, so don’t assume one covers the other.
1. Secure Your Admission First
Apply to your chosen Bachelor’s, Master’s, single-cycle Master’s, PhD, or postgraduate programme, and make sure you’ve got an official offer or you’re already enrolled.
2. Sort Your Financial Paperwork
If you’re coming from abroad, pull together your family’s income and asset certificates.
These get converted into Italy’s economic indicator, similar to ISEE/ISPE, and need proper legalisation and translation.
3. Register and Log In
Sign up on the UniMi portal, using SPID if you’re eligible, then head to the Benefits Service Desk at:
studente.unimi.it/dirittoallostudio
to start your form.
4. Fill In the Application
Enter your details accurately, since mistakes here can cost you your ranking position.
5. Upload Your Documents
Attach your:
- Admission letter
- ID
- Financial certificates
Make sure everything is submitted before the portal closes.
6. Submit and Double-Check
Review everything before hitting submit.
Once 30 September passes, that’s it.
7. Watch for the Rankings
A provisional list comes out around late October. You get seven days to appeal if something looks off.
The final list follows by late November, and payments start rolling out by December.
Important Tips Before You Apply
A couple of practical tips before you dive in:
- Get your financial documents translated and legalised well ahead of time.
- Embassies and consulates can take weeks to process this kind of paperwork.
- Rushing the process in September is a recipe for missing the cutoff.
- Keep a copy of everything you upload.
- If your ranking gets flagged for review, you’ll want your own records handy to back up an appeal quickly within that seven-day window.
FAQ
Who’s eligible for this scholarship?
Both Italian and international students enrolled full-time at the University of Milan who meet the income and merit rules.
How much money is on offer?
Between €2,143 and €8,248 a year, meals included.
Does it cover tuition?
Yes, full winners get a complete waiver, and partial winners get 50% off.
Can international students really apply?
Yes, as long as you submit the extra financial documents required for income earned outside Italy.
When’s the deadline?
30 September 2026, 23:59 GMT+2.
Is the scholarship application separate from admission?
Yes. You need to apply for both, and neither replaces the other.
What’s the mobility allowance worth?
€600 a month for up to 10 months, plus travel reimbursement, for students on certified exchange programmes.
When do results come out?
Provisional rankings by late October, with final rankings by late November.
Can I dispute my ranking?
Yes, you get a seven-day appeal window after the provisional list drops.
What happens if I fall short on credits?
First-year students who don’t hit their required credits by the set date lose the scholarship for that year.