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Destination · QS 2027

Study in Italy

Politecnico di Milano leads Europe in engineering, architecture and design at public-university prices.

Start here in Italy

Routes we can submit ourselves, so the file moves the day you send your documents.

Recommended

Politecnico di Milano

QS =87

  • Accepts IELTS 5
  • QS =87 in the world
  • We hold a direct agreement — we submit it ourselves

We hold a direct agreement here — we submit it, chase it and can reach scholarship rates that are not on the public page.

Italian public universities set tuition by FAMILY INCOME, assessed through a document called the ISEE, and award need-based grants on the same basis. A family that files it correctly can pay very little; a family that does not file it is charged the top band. We prepare the ISEE with you — it is the single most valuable thing we do on an Italian application, and it has a deadline of its own.

Apply now

Recommended

Sapienza University of Rome

QS =111

  • Accepts IELTS 2
  • QS =111 in the world
  • We hold a direct agreement — we submit it ourselves

We hold a direct agreement here — we submit it, chase it and can reach scholarship rates that are not on the public page.

Italian public universities set tuition by FAMILY INCOME, assessed through a document called the ISEE, and award need-based grants on the same basis. A family that files it correctly can pay very little; a family that does not file it is charged the top band. We prepare the ISEE with you — it is the single most valuable thing we do on an Italian application, and it has a deadline of its own.

Apply now

Recommended

Alma Mater Studiorum — Università di Bologna

QS =123

  • Accepts IELTS 2
  • QS =123 in the world
  • We hold a direct agreement — we submit it ourselves

We hold a direct agreement here — we submit it, chase it and can reach scholarship rates that are not on the public page.

Italian public universities set tuition by FAMILY INCOME, assessed through a document called the ISEE, and award need-based grants on the same basis. A family that files it correctly can pay very little; a family that does not file it is charged the top band. We prepare the ISEE with you — it is the single most valuable thing we do on an Italian application, and it has a deadline of its own.

Apply now

Pathway from Central Asia — 12 years of schooling required, bridge needed

Italy's national rule requires 12 years of schooling: 11-year certificate holders add roughly one successfully completed year of university at home, documented through CIMEA comparability paperwork. Tuition is income-banded and regional grants exist — one of Europe's most affordable funded routes.

Compare all routes

1In the QS Top 100 index

10Degree programs

1Top 300 universities open to apply

$5,000Tuition from / per year

Why Italy

Public universities that charge by what your family earns — which is why Italy can cost less than Malaysia for a family that files the paperwork.

Italy prices tuition on family income. The assessment is called the ISEE, and at a public university it can take a year's fees from several thousand euros to a few hundred, with need-based grants on top. This is not a scholarship anyone competes for — it is how the system works for everybody, and Central Asian families are almost never told about it.

The universities themselves are not a compromise. Bologna has taught continuously since 1088, Padua since 1222 and is where Galileo lectured, Naples Federico II since 1224. Politecnico di Milano is among Europe's strongest for engineering, architecture and design.

English-taught degrees have expanded sharply, particularly in engineering, economics and the sciences, so a student no longer needs Italian to start — though they will want it to live.

Life in Italy

Cost of living outside Milan and Rome is markedly lower than northern Europe, and student cities like Pavia, Siena and Pisa are small, walkable and built around their universities.

Italy is in the Schengen area, so a residence permit opens travel across most of Europe without further visas.

Italian is not needed for an English-taught degree but is needed for a life — for renting, for part-time work, for the bureaucracy. Students who learn it have a materially different experience from those who do not.

The numbers, and where they come from

110,000

international students in Italy, up 14% since 2019

Italian government data, reported by ICEF Monitor · published 2024

31%

of Italy's international students who come from Asia

Italian government data, reported by ICEF Monitor · published 2024

+12%

expansion of Italian government MAECI scholarship places for Central Asian applicants, 2025–26 against 2024–25

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocation · 2025–26 cycle

Figures re-checked 2026-08-21. Where a Central Asian number is not published, we say so rather than estimate one.

What it opens

  • An EU degree, with the recognition that carries across Europe.
  • Italy grants a post-study residence permit for graduates seeking work, and the country's manufacturing, design and engineering sectors are genuinely world-class.
  • The Italian government funds MAECI scholarships with places allocated to Central Asian applicants, and the 2025–26 allocation was expanded by roughly 12% over the previous cycle.

What is hard about it

  • Italy requires TWELVE years of schooling. An eleven-year Central Asian certificate is not enough on its own — a student needs a bridging year or one completed year of university at home before Italy will accept them. This is the single most common reason an Italian application fails before it starts.
  • Admission runs on a fixed annual calendar through Universitaly and the Italian consulate, and the pre-enrolment deadline is earlier and harder than the university's own. Missing it costs a full year; there is no late route.
  • The ISEE has its own deadline and its own paperwork, and a family that does not file it correctly is charged the top fee band regardless of income. Getting it right is the most valuable thing we do on an Italian file.
  • Bureaucracy is slow and in Italian — the residence permit, the tax code, the health registration. It is manageable and it is not fast.
  • Italy struggles to retain international graduates, so a student planning to stay should plan the language and the work search from year one rather than after graduation.

We publish this because you will meet all of it anyway. Better from us in August than from a consulate in April.

=87Politecnico di MilanoOpenElite concierge

Italy

Cost not read off the page yet

Italian public universities set tuition by FAMILY INCOME, assessed through a document called the ISEE, and award need-based grants on the same basis. A family that files it correctly can pay very little; a family that does not file it is charged the top band. We prepare the ISEE with you — it is the single most valuable thing we do on an Italian application, and it has a deadline of its own.

=111Sapienza University of RomeOpenElite concierge

Italy

Cost not read off the page yet

Italian public universities set tuition by FAMILY INCOME, assessed through a document called the ISEE, and award need-based grants on the same basis. A family that files it correctly can pay very little; a family that does not file it is charged the top band. We prepare the ISEE with you — it is the single most valuable thing we do on an Italian application, and it has a deadline of its own.

=123Alma Mater Studiorum — Università di BolognaOpenElite concierge

Italy

Cost not read off the page yet

Italian public universities set tuition by FAMILY INCOME, assessed through a document called the ISEE, and award need-based grants on the same basis. A family that files it correctly can pay very little; a family that does not file it is charged the top band. We prepare the ISEE with you — it is the single most valuable thing we do on an Italian application, and it has a deadline of its own.

See every Italy route on the boardVisa guide

Funding options

Scholarships and funding routes for studying in Italy, based on your citizenship.

Scholarships

University scholarships

University Merit Scholarships

Varies

Individual Top 100 universities

Many Top 100 universities award their own merit scholarships to strong international applicants, reducing tuition by 10–100%. T100U identifies which of your target universities offer merit awards and positions your application to compete for them.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Strong academics — merit awards follow grades, not need
  • Some are automatic with admission; others need a separate application
  • English scores often feed the assessment

Where and how to apply

Route varies by university — on each university page here we show its scholarships, and we position your application for the specific awards you can win when we prepare it.

Eligible citizens: UZ · KZ · TJ · KG

Destination-government scholarships

DSU Regional Scholarships (Diritto allo Studio Universitario)

Full funding

Italian regional student-welfare bodies (DiSCo Lazio, DSU Toscana, EDISU Piemonte, ER.GO Emilia-Romagna and others)

Italy's regional student-welfare system, and the strongest value in Europe for a family on a modest income. Assessment is based mainly on documented family income rather than pure academic competition, which is what makes it winnable. For a qualifying student it waives tuition entirely, provides university accommodation and one canteen meal a day, and pays a yearly cash stipend in the region of EUR 6,500-7,200. Italy requires a school qualification from 12 years of study, so an 11-year certificate needs a completed foundation year first - a Malaysian foundation certificate, submitted with its exam results and credits, is the standard bridge.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Documented family income (ISEE) below the regional threshold - commonly around EUR 25,000
  • Enrolled or pre-enrolled at a public university in that region — the application is made before enrolment is complete, so a place is not needed on the day you apply
  • A qualification from 12 years of schooling, or a completed foundation year with exams and credits
  • Renewed each year by earning the required credits
  • CIMEA Statement of Comparability is usually required for the foreign qualification

Start preparing now

  • No language test is set by DSU itself — the scholarship is assessed on documented family income, not on scores.
  • The UNIVERSITY sets the language bar: Italian-taught degrees typically require Italian at B2, English-taught ones an English test. Check the specific course.
  • CIMEA Statement of Comparability for your qualification — start this early, it is slow and it is the usual reason a strong candidate misses the deadline.
  • Diarise the regional deadline the day the university is chosen. It closes in summer, before departure — treating the scholarship as something to arrange after arriving in Italy is how the award is lost.

Where and how to apply

Pre-enrol through Universitaly, apply to the university, and apply separately to the regional DSU body for the region you are studying in - the scholarship and the admission are two different applications with two different deadlines. We prepare and submit both, including the CIMEA assessment.

Eligible citizens: UZ · KZ · TJ · KG

Application window: Each region publishes its own call — for 2026/27 they opened in June-July and closed between late July and early September, all before the October start. The deadline falls BEFORE departure, so this is applied for from home, not after arrival. Check the exact date for the region of the university, and note pre-enrolment via Universitaly runs separately in the spring

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Full funding

European Union

EU-funded joint Master's degrees taught across two or more European universities, with full scholarships (tuition, travel and stipend) for non-EU students. Central Asian applicants are fully eligible.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Bachelor's degree (or final-year student) for master's entry
  • Any nationality — Central Asians fully eligible
  • Each consortium sets its own academic + English requirements

Start preparing now

  • English test required by every consortium; the band is set by each programme, so check the two or three you actually want.
  • A completed bachelor's degree, and for many programmes a specific subject background.
  • Each programme has its own deadline and its own application — there is no single portal.

Where and how to apply

Choose programmes in the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue (ec.europa.eu) and apply directly to each consortium (typically Oct–Jan) — one application covers the scholarship.

Eligible citizens: UZ · KZ · TJ · KG

Application window: Most consortia close Oct–Jan for autumn entry

Central Asian government scholarships

El-Yurt Umidi Foundation Scholarship

Full funding

Government of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's flagship government scholarship, funding citizens for Bachelor's, Master's and PhD study at leading foreign universities. Covers full tuition, a monthly living stipend and travel. Admission to a top-ranked university is required — T100U prepares your Top 100 admission and your full scholarship dossier together.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Citizens of Uzbekistan only
  • Master's/PhD track typically requires ~2 years of work experience in the field (university-recommended candidates may be exempt)
  • Strong English required — typically IELTS 6.5+ / TOEFL 90+
  • Admission (or conditional admission) to a leading foreign university strengthens the dossier decisively
  • Post-study work commitment in Uzbekistan applies — confirm current terms

Where and how to apply

Apply online at admission.eyuf.uz when the call opens (announcements on eyuf.uz). Dossier: transcripts, passport, IELTS/TOEFL, 2 recommendation letters, CV, motivation letter — we prepare the admission and the dossier together.

Eligible citizens: UZ

Application window: Typically opens early in the year (Feb–Mar cycle) — verify the current call

Bright Talent Project (El-Yurt Umidi)

Full funding

Government of Uzbekistan

A newer El-Yurt Umidi direction that selects talented youth from every mahalla — including students from lower-income families — prepares them through preparatory courses and sends them to matching foreign universities.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Citizens of Uzbekistan; talented youth including students from lower-income families
  • Selection runs through regional stages — no university admission needed at entry
  • Willingness to complete the Foundation's preparatory courses

Where and how to apply

Selection is announced via El-Yurt Umidi channels (eyuf.uz) and local khokimiyats/mahalla committees — apply through the announced regional intake.

Eligible citizens: UZ

Bolashak International Scholarship

Full funding

Government of Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's flagship presidential scholarship for full-time degrees at leading foreign universities, with tuition and living costs covered. Independent admission to a qualifying university is required first — exactly what T100U delivers.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Citizens of Kazakhstan only
  • Independent (unconditional) admission to a university on Bolashak's approved list is required BEFORE applying
  • Kazakh and foreign-language proficiency tests at selection
  • Work-back obligation in Kazakhstan after graduation (typically 3–5 years, secured by collateral) — confirm current terms

Where and how to apply

Apply at bolashak.gov.kz during the announced competition windows, with your admission letter in hand — the admission is the part we deliver.

Eligible citizens: KZ

State Center for International Programs (Durakhshandagon)

Full funding

Government of Tajikistan

The Government of Tajikistan funds citizens admitted to the world's top universities, covering tuition, accommodation and living costs. T100U prepares both your admission and your scholarship dossier for the Center.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Citizens of Tajikistan only
  • Admission to a recognised leading foreign university required
  • Selection by the State Center for International Programs — academic records and interview

Where and how to apply

Apply through the State Center for International Programs (Durakhshandagon) in Dushanbe when the call opens — bring your university admission letter; we prepare admission + dossier.

Eligible citizens: TJ

Kyrgyz Republic Government Study-Abroad Support

Varies

Ministry of Education and Science, Kyrgyz Republic

Study-abroad support administered through the Ministry of Education and Science for citizens pursuing degrees at recognised foreign universities.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Citizens of Kyrgyzstan only
  • Admission to a recognised foreign university
  • Terms vary by year and agreement — verify the current program

Where and how to apply

Via the Ministry of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic (edu.gov.kg announcements) — ask us to check what is open for your intake.

Eligible citizens: KG

Bank sponsorship

National Bank of Uzbekistan Education Sponsorship

Varies

National Bank of Uzbekistan

The National Bank of Uzbekistan sponsors outstanding students toward tuition at Top 100 world universities, on condition of returning to work in Uzbekistan after graduation. T100U secures the required Top 100 admission and guides the sponsorship application end-to-end.

Eligibility & how to apply

Who can apply

  • Citizens of Uzbekistan only
  • Admission to a world Top-100 university (the bank's core condition)
  • Return-and-work commitment in Uzbekistan after graduation
  • Academic excellence — competitive transcripts and English scores

Where and how to apply

Through the National Bank of Uzbekistan's education sponsorship program — applications are reviewed with your Top-100 admission letter; we guide the full application end-to-end.

Eligible citizens: UZ

Conditions change every cycle, always verify with the official source. We confirm which programmes you currently qualify for when we prepare your application. · Last reviewed July 2026

What's next?

01Check your eligibility — we confirm which of these you currently qualify for02Requirements not met yet? Build your IELTS/SAT preparation plan with Aspira, most scholarships hinge on your scores

Next steps

Two ways to start, and neither needs an appointment

The university charges its own application fee. Not sure where yet? Four questions narrow the list first.

Built for students from Uzbekistan and across Central Asia

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