MAECI or DSU? A Comparative Scholarship Guide

Italy’s two main scholarship channels, MAECI and the DSU, are often confused. The two work on completely different logic and, if the conditions align, can even be taken together. In this post we compare the two side by side.

The basic difference: merit or income?

MAECI is the Italian Foreign Ministry’s merit-based government scholarship; it looks mainly at your academic file. The DSU is the regions’ income-based grant; it looks at your family’s economic situation. That is, for MAECI a strong file stands out, for the DSU being below the income threshold.

Source and application

MAECI belongs to the central government and the application is made to the Study in Italy portal. The DSU is regional and the application is made to the student-right agency of the region you will study in. So MAECI is a single door, the DSU a door that varies by your region.

The level difference

MAECI is not given at bachelor’s level; it is for the master’s, doctorate, AFAM and language courses. The DSU is valid at every level, including the bachelor’s. If you are a bachelor’s student, MAECI is already out of play.

The scope difference

MAECI covers the living allowance, the fee exemption and health insurance but does not include housing. The DSU, alongside the cash grant, offers a hall and canteen, lowering the housing burden. So the two actually complement each other: MAECI covers living, the DSU housing.

Taking the two together

As they come from different sources, if the conditions align MAECI and the DSU can be taken together; this provides near-full funding in Italy. But some regions may add the MAECI allowance to the income calculation, and this can affect your DSU. Confirm the combination with the regional agency.

Which is for you?

If your academic file is strong and you are aiming at a master’s/doctorate, weight towards MAECI. If your income is below the threshold and/or you are studying a bachelor’s, focus on the DSU. If you are eligible for both, apply to both and catch the best combination.

The common point

Both are official supports of the Italian state, applied for free of charge. Avoid intermediaries promising a “scholarship guarantee”. For a detailed comparison, see our MAECI or DSU page.

Deciding with example scenarios

Let us look with concrete examples: for a student with a middle-to-upper income family, a high grade average and an English-taught master’s goal, MAECI is the primary target. For a low-income student who will study a bachelor’s, the DSU is the single and strongest channel. A student who is both low-income and has a strong file and will do a master’s should apply to both and aim to combine them. Matching your own situation with these scenarios quickly shows the right channel.

Application load and documents

The document load of the two scholarships partly overlaps: both want the diploma-transcript apostille and a sworn translation. The DSU additionally requires income documents and the ISEE Parificato; MAECI weights the motivation letter and the academic file. Preparing the common documents once and using them in both applications saves time. For your document translations you can take a free quote.

Which is the priority in which case?

In short: if your income is low and/or it is a bachelor’s, the DSU comes first; if the file is strong and it is a master’s/doctorate, MAECI stands out; if you are eligible for both, apply in parallel. Remember these are not alternatives to each other but usually complements. For a holistic view, see our which scholarship fits you page.

The renewal and continuity difference

The renewal logic of the two scholarships also differs. MAECI is usually given for a certain period and its renewal into the second year depends on academic performance. The DSU is reassessed each year on income and academic-progress conditions; if your income or credit situation changes, your grant can be affected too. In both scholarships, regular academic progress is the key to continuity. So you must plan not just winning but maintaining it.

Which is less competitive?

As MAECI is national, prestigious and merit-based, its competition can be high. The DSU works on a rights basis: everyone who meets the income and progress conditions is eligible, that is, it is a matter of a “right” rather than a “competition”. So for students who meet the conditions, the DSU is a more predictable channel. For low-income students whose file is not strong, the DSU is often more accessible.

A final tip for the decision

The soundest approach is to see the two not as rivals but as complements. Apply to every channel you are eligible for, combine them if you can, and confirm the conditions from official sources. For a clear path by your personal situation, you can use our which scholarship fits you decision guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can MAECI and the DSU be taken together?

In most regions yes, as they are different sources; but some regions may add MAECI to income. Confirm.

Which for a bachelor’s?

The DSU; MAECI is not given at bachelor’s level.

My income is high but my file is strong; which?

The merit-based MAECI and university scholarships are more suitable; your DSU chance would be low.