Complete Guide to
Regional Scholarships 2026

When international students think of studying in Italy, they often assume they need to win highly competitive merit-based scholarships. The reality is much better: Italy has an incredible system of Regional Need-Based Scholarships designed to guarantee the "Right to Higher Education" (Diritto allo Studio) to everyone, regardless of their financial background.

If you can secure admission to an Italian public university and prove that your family's income falls below a certain threshold, you have an extremely high chance of studying in Italy essentially for free, with your living expenses covered.

What are Regional Scholarships?

Unlike national programs (like MAECI), Regional Scholarships are funded and managed by the regional governments of Italy (e.g., Tuscany, Piedmont, Lombardy). Every public university in Italy belongs to a regional student welfare body.

Because they are strictly need-based, your GPA or previous academic achievements do not matter for your first year. The only criteria to win the scholarship as a first-year student are: 1) Getting university admission, and 2) Demonstrating low family income/assets. (However, to maintain the scholarship in your second year, you must pass a specific number of university exams).

Financial Benefits & Allowances

These scholarships provide a massive safety net for international students. The exact amounts vary slightly depending on the region and your status (whether you are classified as an "off-site" commuter student), but the standard package includes:

The Magic Word: ISEE Parificato

To prove your financial status, you cannot just upload a bank statement. Italy uses a specific calculation index called the ISEE (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator).

Since international students have their family income and properties outside of Italy, they must obtain an ISEE Parificato. This is an official document issued by a CAF (Tax Assistance Center in Italy) that translates your home country's income and assets into the Italian metric.

To get your ISEE Parificato, you will typically need to bring documents from your home country showing:

• The composition of your family unit.
• The income of all family members from the previous calendar year.
• The square meters of any properties owned by your family.
• The bank account balances of your family as of December 31st of the previous year.

Crucial Rule: These documents from your home country MUST be officially translated into Italian and legalized (via Apostille or by the Italian Embassy in your country) before the Italian CAF will accept them.

Major Regional Bodies

You apply for this scholarship not through the university, but through the portal of the regional body where your university is located. Here are the most famous ones:

• DSU Toscana: For universities in Florence, Pisa, Siena.
• EDISU Piemonte: For universities in Turin, Novara.
• ER.GO: For universities in the Emilia-Romagna region (Bologna, Parma, Modena, Ferrara).
• LazioDisco: For universities in Rome, Viterbo, Cassino.
• DSU Lombardia / EDiSU Pavia: For universities in Milan, Pavia, Bergamo.
• ALiSEO: For universities in the Liguria region (Genoa).

Step-by-Step Application Guide

The regional scholarship portals usually open in June or July and close in late August or early September.

1. Step 1: Get University Admission
   Apply to Italian universities between November and April. You need an admission letter (or at least be pre-enrolled) to apply for the regional scholarship.
2. Step 2: Prepare Financial Documents
   Gather your family's income and property documents. Get them translated to Italian and legalized in your home country.
3. Step 3: Register on the Regional Portal
   Go to the website of your university's regional body (e.g., ER.GO if you are going to the University of Bologna). Create an account.
4. Step 4: Generate the ISEE Parificato
   Depending on the region, you might need to send your documents to a specific CAF online, or physically visit one when you arrive in Italy, to get your official ISEE number.
5. Step 5: Submit the Scholarship Application
   Fill out the application on the regional portal, input your ISEE value, and hit submit before the September deadline.
6. Step 6: Provisional and Final Rankings
   Rankings are usually published in October. If you are a "Winner" (Vincitore), you will receive the funds. If you are "Eligible" (Idoneo), you qualify but must wait for more funds to be released.

Expert Tips & Common Mistakes

"The biggest reason international students fail to get this scholarship is incorrect documentation. If your home country's income documents aren't properly legalized and translated according to Italian embassy rules, your ISEE Parificato will be rejected."

• Do NOT Wait to Prepare Documents: Legalizing documents in some countries takes months. Start gathering your family's financial papers as soon as you get your university admission letter.
• Check the "Independent Student" Rule: If you try to declare yourself as living alone to avoid showing your parents' income, you must prove you have lived in a house not owned by your parents for at least 2 years, AND that you earned a minimum of €9,000/year legally. If you can't prove this, you MUST include your parents' income.
• Have Backup Funds: The first installment of the scholarship is usually paid in late November or December. You must bring enough money from home to survive your first 3 months in Italy (to pay for initial rent deposits, groceries, and residency permits).