University of Milan DSU Scholarship in Italy 2025/2026
Introduction
Are you dreaming of studying in Italy but worried about tuition fees, accommodation, and living costs? The University of Milan DSU Scholarship may be the life-changing opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
Offered as part of the Italian Government’s “Diritto allo Studio Universitario” (DSU) initiative, this scholarship provides financial support to both Italian and international students—making it possible to study at one of Italy’s top public universities with minimal personal cost.
In this guide, I’ll explain:
- What the DSU Scholarship offers
- Who is eligible
- Available degree programs
- Step-by-step application process
- And how to stay updated so you never miss a deadline
What is the DSU Scholarship?
The DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) is Italy’s regional financial aid program aimed at supporting students from low-income backgrounds. Every Italian region has its own DSU authority; for the University of Milan, it’s managed under the Lombardy region.
The scholarship is need-based, not merit-based, which means your family’s financial situation plays a major role in determining your eligibility—especially for the first year.
Benefits of the University of Milan DSU Scholarship
Here’s what successful applicants can receive:
- Free university accommodation or a housing allowance
- Free meals (1 to 2 daily meals at university canteens)
- Full or partial tuition fee waiver
- Cash stipend (ranges from €2,000 to €5,200 per year)
- Special support for students with disabilities or other special conditions
These benefits make this scholarship almost fully-funded, which is especially helpful for international students covering their travel and living expenses.
Available Courses
Both Italian and international students can apply for the University of Milan DSU Scholarship across several academic levels. The programs include:
Bachelor’s Degree (Laurea Triennale)
- 3 years
- First-level degree
Single-cycle Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico)
- 5 or 6 years
- Combined first and second-level degree (e.g., Medicine, Law)
Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale)
- 2 years
- Second-level degree for those who already hold a bachelor’s
Postgraduate School
- Available to all fields except medical students receiving specialist training contracts
PhD / Doctoral Research Programs
- Doctorate students can apply unless they already receive a scholarship or research grant
This makes the DSU scholarship flexible and widely accessible for students across disciplines.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the University of Milan DSU Scholarship, you must meet both financial and academic conditions:
Citizenship
- Open to Italian, EU, and non-EU international students
Financial Condition
- Your family’s income must be below a specified threshold (based on the Italian ISEE indicator)
- International students must provide:
- Income certificates
- Asset declarations
- Family composition forms
These must be translated to Italian, legalized, and validated at an Italian embassy in your home country.
Academic Status
- Must be admitted to a degree program at the University of Milan
- Continuing students must meet ECTS credit requirements to remain eligible in future years
How To Apply for the University of Milan DSU Scholarship 2025/26 (Step-by-Step)
If you’re interested and qualified, follow this step-by-step guide carefully:
1. Apply for Admission to the University of Milan
- Visit the official University of Milan international admission portal
- Choose your course and submit all required academic documents
- Wait for your offer of admission
2. Gather Financial Documentation
- Collect official income, asset, and family documents
- Get them translated into Italian
- Legalize and certify these documents at your country’s Italian embassy or consulate
3. Visit the DSU Scholarship Portal
- For the University of Milan, scholarship applications are often processed through the DSU Lombardia portal
- However, in some cases, DSU Toscana or other regional DSU portals are used for international students (check carefully during application season)
Click below to visit the scholarship page and confirm regional access
(University of Milan admission )
4. Fill and Submit the DSU Application Form
- Register an account on the DSU platform
- Fill in your personal, academic, and financial information
- Upload all required documents
- Double-check your entries
- Submit before the deadline (usually August–September)
5. Monitor Application Status
- Wait for provisional rankings to be published
- If needed, submit corrections
- Wait for final rankings to know your scholarship status
Tips to Increase Your Chances
- Start your application process early—especially for documents that require legalization
- Ensure your financial documents are valid and properly translated
- Keep a high GPA and meet ECTS credit targets to maintain the scholarship in future years
- Double-check your DSU region—the University of Milan generally uses DSU Lombardia
- Apply every academic year—the scholarship does not automatically renew
Conclusion
The University of Milan DSU Scholarship offers a rare chance to study in Italy almost free of charge. With benefits like free housing, meals, tuition waivers, and cash stipends, it’s one of the most generous scholarships for low-income and international students.
Whether you’re applying for a bachelor’s degree, master’s, or PhD, this scholarship can drastically reduce the financial stress of studying abroad. With proper preparation, attention to detail, and early application, you can secure your spot at one of Italy’s finest universities.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by—start preparing now and take the first step toward your academic future in Italy.