The Italian DSU scholarship fully covers tuition, accommodation, and meals. It also provides a grant of up to 7,270 USD. Learn how to apply and what documents are needed.
Free consultationDSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario) is a program by the Italian government, literally translating to "right to university education." Designed for applicants from low-income families, both locals and foreigners can apply.
You should apply for DSU in any case. It is a significant financial relief that simplifies life, especially if you are unsure of your abilities and believe you do not have enough achievements for a merit-based scholarship.
According to Italian laws, all students are equal — both foreigners and Italians — and each student has the right to seek financial assistance if they are in need.
The DSU scholarship is precisely an example of such assistance. It is awarded not based on merits and good grades but as support for applicants facing challenging financial situations.
As a result, the list of recipients is generated randomly, since many families may have similarly low incomes. There is no additional criterion to aid in such cases.
Because of this, no one can guarantee a scholarship award. However, specific regions in Italy and their allocated budgets for the scholarship can increase chances — in some places, the budget is higher and allows for greater awards.
DSU is a need-based scholarship, meaning it is awarded based on the financial situation of the student and their family. The main requirement is to have an annual income below 12,464-23,889 USD.
In this article, we will provide information about the general DSU program, its requirements, necessary documents, as well as what the scholarship covers.
Split the payment into two years – enroll and start learning while staying on budget
The amount of the allowance varies depending on the region and the financial situation of the applicant, reaching up to 7,000 EUR.
Even if a student does not win the scholarship but meets the requirements, they will receive:
The scholarship amount and specific benefits under DSU depend on the region of Italy. For precise details, please refer to the official websites of the regional DSU programs.
The DSU scholarship is awarded based on financial merit. To participate in the competition, you must confirm that your family income is less than 23,889 USD per year. This allows for reduced tuition fees and eligibility for certain benefits, such as free student housing and meals. If the income is below 12,464 USD per year, the student will receive full coverage of tuition fees, all benefits, and an allowance of up to 7,270 USD per year[2].
There are no age restrictions for participation in the competition. Applicants of bachelor's, master's, and PhD programs at Italian universities can apply.
The duration of the scholarship depends on the level of education:
However, the scholarship is not automatically renewed. At the end of each academic year, recipients are re-evaluated based on the number of exams passed and credits earned[4].
The documents should contain information for a specific year, often for the previous year and the first half of the current year. Each region in Italy has its own requirements, so it is essential to verify the information at the university or on the regional DSU website. For example, DSU Toscana.
Next, the document package needs to be submitted to a special authority responsible for assessing the welfare of the population. As a result, the candidate receives the ISEE Parificato certificate, which indicates the annual income of their family. This certificate is crucial as it determines eligibility for the scholarship and determines its amount.
Additional documents required for university admission should also be prepared in advance:
The documents need to be translated into English or Italian, notarized, and apostilled for all income certificates and bank statements.
If your family's income exceeds the ISEE limits and scholarship requirements, you can try to participate in the competition as an independent student.
In this case, there are two main conditions:
University document submission
Gathering scholarship documents
Application submission
Sending documents to authorized bodies in Italy
Final decision
Exact dates may be subject to change. For accurate information, refer to the official scholarship website.
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