Scholarships to study in Italy: Italian government and regional scholarships (DSU)

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Scholarships to study abroad in Italy are a big reason why Italy has become an "easy" cost-effective destination in Europe. In addition to relatively low public university tuition fees, international students can receive Italian Government scholarships (MAECI) or DSU regional scholarships (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) based on family financial circumstances. The article helps you understand the mechanism, conditions and how to prepare documents.

Overview of scholarships to study abroad in Italy

There are three main groups of scholarships when studying in Italy:

• Italian Government Scholarship (MAECI): granted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, mainly for masters, doctorates, arts and music (AFAM), research and Italian language courses.
• DSU regional scholarships: granted by the student support agency of each region, based on family income and assets, applicable to non-EU students.
• School scholarships: excellent scholarships, tuition exemptions based on achievement, especially in private schools or English-taught programs.

For the majority of Vietnamese students studying bachelor's and master's degrees at public schools, DSU is the most popular and valuable source of support.

Italian Government Scholarship (MAECI)

Italian Government scholarships for foreign citizens are announced annually on the Study in Italy portal of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the notice posted by the Italian Embassy in Hanoi, the scholarship applies to master's (Laurea Magistrale), AFAM, doctoral programs, guided research and Italian language and culture courses, with an allowance of about 900 euros/month (according to published terms). Applications from Vietnam are submitted online via the Study in Italy portal, the deadline is usually around May–June.

In addition, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the program "Invest Your Talent in Italy" for masters in some fields of engineering, economics, and design, for a list of countries that changes each year. Please follow the Italian Embassy and Uni-Italia Vietnam pages for updates.

DSU Regional Scholarship: mechanism and benefits

Each Italian region has an agency that administers DSU scholarships, for example ER.GO (Emilia-Romagna: Bologna, Parma), DSU Toscana (Pisa, Florence, Siena), DiSCo Lazio (Roma), EDISU Piedmont (Torino), DSU agencies in Lombardia (Milano). In the first year, scholarships are considered mainly based on financial circumstances; From the second year, students must achieve the required number of credits (CFU) to continue.

Specific levels vary by region and school year; Dormitory accommodation is not guaranteed in large cities such as Milan and Bologna. This is a need-based scholarship, very suitable for middle-income families in Vietnam. Learn more about The scholarship provides living expenses and tuition exemption.

ISEE parificato and financial records

To consider DSU, non-EU students need to convert family income and assets in Vietnam into the ISEE parificato index at recognized CAF centers in Italy. This index must be below the regional threshold (e.g. around 25,000 euros for ER.GO in 2024–2025). Documents usually include:

1. Certificate of family composition.
2. Confirmation of previous year's income for employed members.
3. Real estate documents, property or rental contract.
4. Confirm bank account balance as of December 31 of the previous year.
5. Translated into Italian and consular legalized upon request.

This is the most time-consuming part, so you should prepare it right from the time you submit your admission application. See instructions in the article Notarized translation of study abroad documents and Study abroad application checklist.

Schedule and important notes

• June–August: regions publish DSU announcements and open online registration.
• August–September: submit ISEE parificato and translated and legalized documents.
• September–November: announcement of temporary and official list, dormitory room assignment.
• Second year onwards: achieve the minimum number of credits according to regional regulations, otherwise they may have to be refunded.

This schedule means that you often fly to Italy when the DSU results are not yet official, so you need to prepare financially for the first few months. Italian student visa procedures also take time; see Study visa processing time for different countries.

Flights to Milan, Rome or Bologna from Vietnam usually transit once. VeDuHoc has more than 30 Bookers comparing many airlines, checking transit visas, optimizing checked baggage of 40–46kg and continuing to monitor prices: if a better price is found after you have paid, HVSC refunds the difference. See air tickets to study abroad.

Frequently asked questions

Can Vietnamese students receive DSU scholarships?

Have. DSU applies to non-EU international students if they meet the ISEE parificato threshold and regional conditions.

Is it possible to receive Italian Government and DSU scholarships at the same time?

Usually do not receive duplicate benefits. Please read the regulations of each scholarship carefully and ask your regional DSU agency.

Are DSU scholarships refundable?

If students do not earn enough credits within the deadline, they may have to repay part or all of the amount. Read the regional notice (bando) carefully.

Do I need Italian to apply for a scholarship?

Not required if studying in an English program, but knowing Italian makes DSU procedures, renting a house and living easier.

Scholarships to study in Italy, especially DSU, are a realistic opportunity to study in Europe at a reasonable cost if you prepare your financial documents carefully. Once you have an invitation letter and visa, contact VeDuHoc via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918 for ticket booking support.

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