Master’s Scholarships in Italy

Master’s study in Italy

The Italian master’s (laurea magistrale) generally runs two years, building specialisation on the bachelor’s. English-taught programmes are far more plentiful here than at bachelor’s level — engineering, business, economics, computing and much else — a real advantage for international students without Italian. And the master’s is the level with Italy’s widest scholarship range: nearly every main channel is open here. For programme choice and funding both, the Italian master’s is an exceptionally attractive target for the international student; knowing the channels is the key to using them.

Which scholarships exist at master’s level?

Many channels open at once. The MAECI government scholarship — merit-based, one of the master’s level’s main channels. The regional DSU grants — income-based support, halls and canteen included. The universities’ merit awards and fee waivers. And where the field fits, Invest Your Talent (grant + internship) and Erasmus Mundus (fully funded, multi-country). The rich spread offers different opportunities to different profiles.

MAECI and DSU together

The strongest master’s strategy, conditions allowing, is holding MAECI and DSU at once: MAECI covering the living allowance and the fee exemption, DSU the halls and the canteen — together, an education in Italy financed almost completely. The pairing is ideal for students with a strong academic file and an income under the threshold. Some regions, though, count the MAECI allowance into the income calculation; confirm the combination first. The logic of the pair is on our DSU and MAECI together page — a whole-picture strategy that largely secures the master’s financially.

IYT and the English-taught programmes

At master’s level, if your field is engineering, design, economics or computing, Invest Your Talent is an especially valuable channel: a grant and an internship at an Italian company, on an English-taught master’s. The Erasmus Mundus joint master’s degrees, meanwhile, are fully funded, multi-country and prestigious. The abundance of English programmes makes the master’s the most accessible level for students without Italian — and these channels pair the academic degree with career experience (IYT) or an international perspective (Mundus). Weighing the ones that fit your field and goal is how the best master’s combination gets built.

Notes for Turkish students

The master’s is the stage with the richest options a Turkish student will find in Italy. Weigh MAECI, DSU, the university awards, IYT and Erasmus Mundus in parallel against your profile, and apply where you fit. The English-programme abundance clears the language barrier; Italian remains the advantage for internships and life. Complete degree recognition and the document translations early — see the translation price in advance — and start from the decision guide. The right channel combination opens the door to a funded, first-rate master’s in Italy.

The master’s application process

The application varies with the programme’s language and the channel. Italian-taught programmes want B2; English-taught ones an English certificate (IELTS/TOEFL). Degree recognition (CIMEA/DoV) and the apostilled, sworn-translated bachelor’s degree and transcript are the core documents. MAECI runs on the Study in Italy portal, DSU on the regional agency’s, IYT on its own, Erasmus Mundus through the consortium — each a separate application. Gather the target channels’ calendars and requirements into one table; the shared documents prepared once serve several applications together. The master’s application and the scholarship applications planned together, early, are the key to the whole thing.

Weighing the field-specific options

Which channels are open to you at master’s level depends on your field as well. In engineering, design, economics or computing, IYT is the strong extra channel. In a research-oriented field, the university awards and MAECI lead on the road towards the doctorate. In art and music, MAECI’s AFAM category comes into play. Shape the master’s funding strategy by field, then — our field pages (engineering, business-economics and the rest) summarise the fitting channels for each. Knowing your field’s channels is what builds the most efficient application strategy.

Timing and preparation

Master’s scholarship applications cluster in the winter–spring before the programme’s start year; some — Erasmus Mundus among them — open a full year ahead. Timing is critical: fix the target programmes and scholarships early, and plan the language and document work (recognition, apostille, translation) against them. With different channels on different calendars, managing them together takes attention. Moving early buys both wider access and a calmer process — a good master’s timetable is the foundation for drawing full value from the rich scholarship spread, and the insurance against missed opportunities.

A short checklist

• List every channel (MAECI, DSU, university, IYT, Mundus) against your field and profile
• Aim for the MAECI + DSU combination where conditions allow
• Complete degree recognition and the translations early
• Manage the different channels’ calendars in one table
• Check the English-programme option and the language requirement

Related document guides

The document side of the master’s application, in our guide library: the master’s document list and degree recognition.

Frequently asked questions