Government Benefits (Scholarships, Health & Transport) in Italy

Government Benefits (Scholarships, Health & Transport)

Once the student has sorted out the accommodation issue, accessing government benefits is the next critical step to reduce the cost of living in Italy.
1. Government and Regional Scholarships
In Italy, there are two major types of government-sponsored scholarships for international students:

- Regional DSU Scholarships (which we talked about): These are the most common. They offer cash amounts (between €3,000 and €7,000 per year, depending on the region and whether the student is considered in sede or fuori sede—that is, if they have rented a house in the city). The amount often also includes free meal vouchers at university canteens (mense universitaire).
- MAECI Scholarships (Ministry of Foreign Affairs): These are special excellence scholarships awarded directly by the Italian Government to foreign students. Applications are usually made in the spring (April-May) through the official Study in Italy portal. The scholarship offers a total exemption from tuition fees and a fixed monthly payment (around €900/month).

2. Health System (Health / Servizio Sanitario Nazionale - SSN)
All international students are entitled to healthcare in Italy, but the access method differs radically depending on their status:

- EU students:
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): If they have the European card issued in their country of origin, EU students have free access to emergencies and basic consultations in Italy.
- Registration with the SSN (Optional but recommended): If they want a permanent family doctor in Italy (Medico di Base), EU students can register for free with the ASL (Local Health Agency) based on the S1 form obtained from their home country before departure.
- Non-EU students:
- Voluntary Registration is MANDATORY: In order to obtain a residence permit (Permesso di Soggiorno), non-EU students must have health insurance.
- Cost: The Italian government offers students a subsidized fee to enroll in the public system (SSN). The cost is around €150 - €700 per year (rates vary according to government budget updates), payment is made by postal form F24. This provides them with a health card (Tessera Sanitaria) and a family doctor just like an Italian citizen.

3. Subsidized Public Transport (Transport)
Transport passes in major cities in Italy have special, extremely reduced rates for students and young people under 26 or 27.

- Milan (ATM): Students can get the Abbonamento Studenti pass, which reduces the monthly cost to around €22/month (compared to the normal rate of €39), offering unlimited travel on the metro, tram and bus.
- Bologna (TPER): The Emilia-Romagna Region (through ER.GO) often offers completely free or symbolic urban transport passes (around €10-€40 for the whole year) for students who have a low ISEE Parificato and are beneficiaries of a scholarship.
- Rome (ATAC): There is the annual student pass (Metrebus Card) with massive discounts also calculated based on the ISEE value.
- Government Bonus (Bonus Trasporti): In certain years, the Italian Government launches national transport vouchers (e.g. €60 discount) for young people with low incomes, which can be combined with local student discounts.

Government and Regional Scholarships

The DSU Regional Scholarships are the most important pillar of financial support in Italy. For many international students, they make the difference between being able to afford to study abroad or not.
Student Classification: How is the value of the scholarship calculated?
The exact amount a student receives (between €3,000 and over €7,500 per year) is not fixed. Regional agencies divide students into three official categories, depending on the distance between their parents' home and the university:

- Fuori Sede (Out-of-town/International Student):
- Who is this: A student who lives a long way from the university (usually more than 60-90 minutes by public transport). All international students fall under this category.
- Mandatory condition: Must present a legal and registered rental contract (for a minimum period of 10 months) in the city where they study.
- Benefit: Receives the highest amount of cash (maximum value of the scholarship) plus free meals.
- In Sede (Local Student):
- Who is it: The student who lives in the same city as the university or very close (under 30-45 minutes of commuting).
- Benefit: The cash amount is the lowest, since it is considered that the student does not have any rent expenses, living with his parents.
- Commuter (Commuter):
- Who is it: The student who lives at a medium distance (between 45 and 90 minutes of commuting).
- Benefit: A medium amount, intended to cover the high costs of daily transportation (trains/buses).

Canteen Service (Mense Universitarie)
In addition to the money transferred to the bank account, the DSU scholarship covers a basic need: daily food.

- Vincitori (Winners): Students who receive the full scholarship are assured 1 or 2 free meals per day (depending on the region and fuori sede status) at partner university canteens.
- Digital system: Access is modern, through an application on the phone or based on the student card (Badge).
- Idonei Non Vincitori: Students who have their file approved, but have not received cash due to lack of regional funds, still receive the right to eat in the cafeteria at an extremely reduced rate (between €2 and €4 for a complete three-course meal).

How are payments made?
The money from the DSU scholarships is not given all at once. The Italian system uses a payment protocol in installments:

1. First Tranche (December - January): Around 50% of the scholarship value is usually paid, after the university confirms that the student has attended classes.
2. Second Installment (June - September): The remaining 50% is paid, but ONLY if the student meets the academic merit criterion (must accumulate a minimum number of exam credits—CFU—by August 10). If the student does not collect the credits, he loses the second installment and may be forced to return the first installment!
3. Bank Account: The money can only be transferred to a bank account in the student's name (or prepaid card with an Italian IBAN). DSU agencies do not accept parent accounts and refuse accounts outside of Italy for large scholarship payments.

Tip from HubStudentsEurope

Be careful with synchronization! As a Fuori Sede student, you cannot receive the maximum amount of the scholarship if you upload a simple verbal agreement or an Airbnb receipt to the DSU system. The rental contract must be officially registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate. Platforms like HousingAnywhere or Uniplaces help you quickly obtain the necessary documents to validate this status before the DSU commission.

MAECI Scholarships

MAECI Scholarships are scholarships of excellence awarded directly by the Italian Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). On HubStudentsEurope, this section represents the premium opportunity for international students (both EU and Non-EU), offering stable funding and high academic prestige.
Unlike regional DSU scholarships which are based solely on income, MAECI scholarships are awarded on strict criteria of academic merit, public profile and interview results.
What does the MAECI scholarship cover?
The scholarship offers a highly attractive financial package to support students during their stay in Italy:

- Tuition fee exemption: Selected students are exempt from paying university registration fees (tasse universitaire), with the exception of a small regional administrative fee.
- Fixed monthly payment: The scholarship offers a cash amount of €9,000 per year, paid in installments (equivalent to €1,000 per month for 9-month study periods).
- Health insurance included: MAECI provides a health insurance policy valid for the entire duration of the scholarship to cover emergencies and medical treatment in Italy.

Eligible study programs
The scholarship is not awarded for any type of study. It is mainly intended for higher education and research:

1. Laurea Magistrale (Master's Degree / Cycle II): Full-time programs lasting 2 years.

2. Corsi di alta formazione professionale (AFAM): Higher education studies within Art, Music and Dance institutions (Conservatories, Academies of Fine Arts).

3. Dottorati di ricerca (PhD): Doctoral programs within Italian universities.
4. Research projects under academic supervision (Ricerche in co-tutela).
5. Advanced Italian Language and Culture Courses: Short duration, 3 months (for students who want to improve their language skills).

Application Calendar and Process
This is a critical detail that students must follow in advance, as the process begins well before the start of the academic year:

- Application Opening: The official call (Bando) is published every year in the spring, usually in April-May.

- Deadline: Applications close quickly, in mid-June.

- Official Platform: All documents, letters of recommendation, CV and language proofs are uploaded exclusively on the government portal of the Ministry: Study in Italy - MAECI.

Eligibility Conditions and Language of Study

- Language of the Program:
- If the student applies for a course taught in Italian, he/she must present a language certificate of minimum level B2 (CELI, CILS, etc.).
- If applying for a course taught in English, they must present a certificate of at least B2 level (IELTS, TOEFL), and in this case it is not mandatory to know Italian.
- Age limit: There are strict age limits on the deadline date (e.g. maximum 28 years for Master, maximum 30 years for Doctorate and maximum 40 years for research projects).

If you have excellent academic results, you can apply for the scholarship offered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This provides you with €1,000/month, tax exemption and health insurance.

Attention: You cannot combine the MAECI scholarship with a regional DSU scholarship in the same academic year. You must choose the option that best suits your profile!