DSU Scholarships, University of Milan, Study in Italy

The University of Milan DSU Scholarship provides a combination of financial and student-service benefits.

Successful beneficiaries may receive:

• A monetary scholarship award.
• Free access to eligible university refectory/meal services.
• Full exemption from the second instalment of university tuition fees for full beneficiaries.
• 50% exemption from the second instalment for partial beneficiaries.
• International mobility support for eligible students studying abroad.
• Additional benefits according to the student's status and the annual scholarship call.

The scholarship is therefore more than a tuition reduction because it combines financial assistance with meal benefits and, in applicable cases, other student support.

Is the University of Milan DSU Scholarship Fully Funded?

The University of Milan DSU Scholarship provides substantial financial support, but it should not automatically be described as a conventional fully funded scholarship covering every study and living expense.

The value and composition of the benefit depend on factors such as the student's economic situation, academic status, enrolment year and other conditions established in the annual call. The official University of Milan describes the regional scholarship as a monetary benefit combined with free refectory services.

Students who are beneficiaries or eligible for the regional scholarship also receive a full exemption from the second tuition instalment, while partial beneficiaries receive a 50% exemption.

The University of Milan DSU Scholarship can support students enrolled in eligible:

• Bachelor’s degree programmes
• Single-cycle Master’s degree programmes
• Master’s degree programmes
• Doctoral programmes
• Other eligible postgraduate programmes covered by the regional scholarship call

The exact eligibility depends on the programme and the conditions established in the annual call.

The DSU scholarship is not restricted to a particular academic discipline.

Eligible students can apply while enrolled in qualifying degree programmes offered by the University of Milan, subject to the conditions of the annual regional scholarship call.

Possible study areas at the University include:

• Arts and Humanities
• Economics and Management
• Law
• Medicine
• Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Political and Social Sciences
• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Biotechnology
• Engineering and related fields
• Environmental and Earth Sciences
• Languages
• Education
• Other eligible academic disciplines

Students should confirm that their specific degree programme is covered by the current University of Milan call.

The University of Milan DSU regional scholarship is available to eligible students regardless of whether they are Italian, EU or non-EU students, provided they satisfy the applicable enrolment, income and academic requirements.

International students may need to provide additional documentation concerning their family's financial and property situation outside Italy.

Applicants must satisfy the requirements established in the annual regional scholarship call.

Generally, applicants must:

• Be enrolled or intend to enrol in an eligible University of Milan degree programme.
• Meet the required economic conditions.
• Meet the academic merit requirements applicable to their year of study.
• Be enrolled on a full-time basis where required.
• Not be repeating a year in a way that makes them ineligible.
• Not already hold an Italian qualification at the same or higher level as the programme for which the scholarship is requested.
• Not receive another incompatible benefit for the same academic year and programme.
• Fulfil any additional conditions specified in the official call.

Students enrolled in vocational Master's programmes and postgraduate medical schools, as well as PhD students already receiving another scholarship or research grant, are among the categories identified by the University as generally ineligible.

Income Requirements:

Economic eligibility is an important component of the University of Milan DSU Scholarship.

The applicant's financial and property situation is assessed according to the economic indicators and documentation required under the regional scholarship system.

International students with income or assets outside Italy may have to submit specific documentation concerning their family and economic situation. Applicants should follow the documentation requirements specified in the current call rather than relying on requirements from previous academic years.

The scholarship is not awarded solely on the basis of income. Academic merit and academic progress also play an important role.

Academic Merit Requirements:

Academic requirements depend on the student's year of study.

For students entering the first year of a programme in 2026–27, the initial ranking is based on income, subject to subsequently achieving the required academic merit.

First-year students must obtain the required number of university credits (CFU) by 10 August 2027 to maintain their scholarship. A bonus of up to 5 CFU may be available for students enrolled in Bachelor's or single-cycle degree programmes under the conditions specified in the call.

For students in years after the first, the ranking considers academic merit, including the number of credits earned and examination results.

Scholarship for International Students:

International students can apply for the University of Milan regional scholarship if they meet the applicable requirements.

Students whose families live outside Italy should pay particular attention to the documentation required to demonstrate their economic and property conditions.

The University provides specific information and procedures for evaluating the economic situation of foreign students. Applicants should ensure that documents are prepared in the required format and within the deadlines.

Tuition Fee Exemption:

One important benefit of the DSU regional scholarship is its relationship with university tuition fees.

Students who are beneficiaries of the regional scholarship receive a full exemption from the second instalment of tuition fees. Students who receive a partial regional scholarship are entitled to a 50% exemption from the second instalment.

This benefit is separate from the first instalment that students may need to pay according to the University's tuition regulations.

Free Meals:

The regional scholarship includes access to free university refectory services.

The University states that the regional scholarship consists of a monetary benefit together with free access to refectory services. The precise meal arrangements are determined under the University's student-services system.

Accommodation:

Accommodation is handled through a separate University of Milan residence application process.

For the 2026–27 academic year, applications for a university accommodation place were open from 10 July to 7 August 2026 at 14:00 Italian time. Eligibility is based on requirements including income, merit and residence-distance conditions.

Therefore, students interested in accommodation should not assume that applying for the DSU scholarship automatically guarantees a university residence place. Accommodation has its own application and ranking process.

International Mobility Allowance:

DSU scholarship beneficiaries participating in University-certified study-abroad programmes may be eligible for an international mobility allowance.

For the 2026–27 scholarship framework, the allowance is €600 per month, including applicable EU allowances, for a maximum period of 10 months. Travel expenses can also be reimbursed up to €100 for European destinations and up to €500 for destinations outside Europe, subject to the applicable conditions.

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Review the official University of Milan regional scholarship call and confirm that your degree programme, academic status and economic situation meet the requirements.

Step 2: Register on the University Portal

Prospective students must register on the University of Milan portal to access the online services required for the application.

Step 3: Prepare Economic Documentation

International applicants should prepare the required documentation concerning family income and assets according to the University's rules for foreign students.

Step 4: Complete the Online Application

The 2026–27 regional scholarship application is submitted through the University's Online Helpdesk.

Applications are accepted from 10 July to 30 September 2026.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Review the information and supporting documentation carefully before submitting the application.

Step 6: Check the Rankings

The University publishes provisional and final ranking lists through its online student-services system. For 2026–27, the provisional ranking is planned for the end of October, followed by the final ranking at the end of November.

Required Documents:

Depending on the applicant's circumstances, documents may include:

• Passport or identification document
• University registration information
• Academic records
• Information about previous qualifications
• Family income documentation
• Property and asset documentation
• Documents required for international students
• Translations or certifications where required
• Other documents specified in the annual call

International applicants should carefully follow the University's requirements for assessing the economic situation of foreign students.

Application Deadline:

The application deadline for the University of Milan DSU Regional Scholarship 2026–27 is 30 September 2026.

Applications are submitted online through the University of Milan's Online Helpdesk. The application period opened on 10 July 2026.

The accommodation application had a separate earlier deadline of 7 August 2026, so students seeking university housing should distinguish between the scholarship deadline and the accommodation deadline.

Scholarship Renewal:

Students who continue their studies must satisfy the academic progress requirements applicable to their year of study.

For first-year students in 2026–27, the required number of CFU must be achieved by 10 August 2027 to maintain the scholarship. Students in subsequent years do not have the same post-award merit requirement described for first-year students, although their eligibility and ranking are based on academic performance and other conditions.

Important Points:

The University of Milan DSU Scholarship should not be confused with the University's separate merit-based scholarships.

For example, the University is also offering 1,055 University scholarships worth €1,800 each for the 2026–27 academic year to students whose income exceeds the limit for regional scholarships. These are a different scholarship scheme.

The DSU regional scholarship is instead part of Italy's right-to-higher-education support system and is based on a combination of economic and academic requirements.

Students should also remember that:

• The DSU scholarship is awarded through a competitive public call.
• Income and academic merit both matter.
• International students may need additional financial documentation.
• Accommodation has a separate application process.
• First-year students must meet the required CFU target to maintain the benefit.
• Scholarship recipients can receive tuition-fee exemptions.
• Free refectory services are included as part of the regional scholarship.
• The 2026–27 application deadline is 30 September 2026.