Italy, Scholarships

🎓 University of Bologna Scholarships 2026 — Fully Funded & Tuition Waiver for International Students

Gradualin

May 10, 2026
No Comments

When people say “the oldest university in the world,” they mean the University of Bologna — established in 1088 and still going strong nearly 1,000 years later. Known officially as Alma Mater Studiorum, this legendary Italian institution has educated some of history’s greatest minds, from Dante Alighieri to Umberto Eco. Today, it enrolls over 90,000 students and consistently ranks among the top 200 universities globally.

What makes this scholarship opportunity particularly special is its reach. The University of Bologna doesn’t offer just one scholarship — it offers a portfolio of funding mechanisms through its flagship programs: International Talents @Unibo, Unibo Action, and the regional ER.GO grants, covering everything from full tuition waivers to monthly living stipends. There are also dedicated pathways for refugees, students from conflict zones, and students with disabilities — making this one of the most inclusive scholarship ecosystems in all of Europe.

Here’s the best part: with over 200 programs available in English and Italian, you don’t have to squeeze yourself into a narrow field. Engineering, law, economics, arts, medicine, data science, architecture — it’s all here.

🎓 Scholarship Benefits & Funding Details

The University of Bologna scholarship package is structured across several award types. Here’s a breakdown of what you could receive:

💰 Unibo Action 1 — Tuition Fee Waiver

Full or partial tuition waiver — instead of paying thousands of euros per year, eligible students pay as little as €157/year (the minimum fixed fee)
Covers the entire duration of your program — 3 years for Bachelor’s, 2 years for Master’s
Awarded based on academic merit — no need for extraordinary financial hardship to qualify
Available to international students enrolling for the first time in a Unibo degree program

💰 Unibo Action 2 / International Talents — Study Grant

Study grants ranging from €6,500 to €11,000 gross per year, paid in instalments throughout the academic year
Designed to cover living expenses, textbooks, daily transport, and personal costs while in Bologna
To give this context: average student living costs in Bologna are around €700–900/month, and a €11,000 grant covers a substantial portion of that
Renewable for the full duration of your program, provided you maintain academic standing

🏠 Additional Benefits

Accommodation subsidies through ER.GO (the regional agency for student rights)
Discounted or free meals at university canteens across the city
Public transport passes at reduced rates in Bologna
Access to sports facilities, cultural events, and university libraries
Reduced fixed fees for students from low-income or developing countries — even if you don’t get the full tuition waiver
Special financial support pathways for refugees, students from conflict zones, and disabled students

Worth knowing: A combined Unibo Action 1 + Action 2 award (tuition waiver + €11,000 grant) is equivalent to approximately $13,000–$15,000 USD per year in total support value. Over a 2-year Master’s program, that’s up to $30,000 in financial support — a life-changing investment in your future.

🎓 Eligibility Criteria

Before you start your application, make sure you meet these requirements. Different scholarship schemes within Unibo have slightly varied criteria, but these are the core requirements across most programs:

Must be an international student — i.e., non-Italian citizenship
Must be enrolling for the first time in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at the University of Bologna
Must demonstrate strong academic merit (strong transcripts, high GPA)
Must be under 30 years old at the time of the application deadline (verify on official website for specific programs)
Must not hold another major scholarship that conflicts with the Unibo award at the same time
Students showing economic need get priority for need-based ER.GO grants
Special pathways exist for refugees, students from conflict-affected areas, and students with documented disabilities — with relaxed or alternative criteria

✅ NO IELTS Required for Many Programs

This is a huge point: No IELTS or TOEFL is required for many of the English-taught programs at the University of Bologna, particularly at Master’s level. Language proficiency requirements vary by program — many accept undergraduate degrees taught in English as sufficient proof, or conduct their own internal language tests. Always verify the specific language requirement for your chosen program on the official website (verify on official website).

🎓 Who Should Apply — And Who Should Not

Not every scholarship is right for every student. Here’s a quick self-check so you can decide whether to proceed:

✅ You Should Apply If…

You are an international student planning to enroll in a Bachelor’s or Master’s at Unibo for the first time in 2026
You have a strong academic record and can demonstrate merit through transcripts or grades
You come from a developing country or low-income background and need financial support to study in Italy
You are a refugee or displaced student looking for a structured, supported pathway to higher education in Europe
You are under 30 years old and want to study in a world-class European institution without paying full fees

❌ You Should Not Apply If…

You are already enrolled at the University of Bologna and this would not be your first enrollment
You are already holding a conflicting major fully funded scholarship from another institution
You are over the age limit specified for the particular bando (grant) you are applying to
You are an Italian citizen — these specific awards target non-Italian international students

🎓 Available Programs & Fields of Study

One of the strongest arguments for choosing the University of Bologna is its extraordinary breadth of programs. With over 200 degree programs available across all campuses (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, Rimini), you are almost guaranteed to find something that matches your academic ambitions.

Programs are grouped across the following major schools and departments:

Engineering & Architecture — Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer Science, Aerospace
Economics, Management & Statistics — Business, Finance, Economics, Data Science
Sciences — Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Environmental Science
Medicine & Health Sciences — Medicine, Pharmacy, Biotechnology, Nursing
Law & Political Science — Law, International Relations, Political Science
Arts & Humanities — Literature, History, Philosophy, Cultural Heritage
Languages & Linguistics — Modern Languages, Translation, Interpretation
Agriculture & Veterinary Science
Psychology & Education Sciences
Sociology & Social Sciences

Many Master’s programs are available entirely in English. For the full list of programs, visit: unibo.it/en/programmes

🎓 Required Documents

The exact list of documents varies depending on which scholarship type (bando) you apply for, but you will typically need:

Valid passport or national identity document
Academic transcripts from your previous degree(s) — translated into Italian or English if necessary
Degree certificates or provisional certificates showing graduation (for Master’s applicants)
Language proficiency proof — either an English test score or confirmation that your previous studies were taught in English (verify per program)
Motivation letter or personal statement — required by some programs and scholarship types
Letters of recommendation — some programs request 1–2 academic references
Curriculum vitae (CV)
ISEE certificate or equivalent income declaration — for need-based grants like ER.GO
Documentation of special status (refugee certificate, disability certificate, etc.) — if applying under a special category
Passport-size photo — for registration on the Studenti Online portal

🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process

The process is straightforward once you know the steps. Here’s exactly how to apply:

Choose your program — Browse the full program catalogue at unibo.it and identify the Bachelor’s or Master’s program you want to join. Check the specific admission deadline for your program, as these vary.
Apply for admission — Complete the admission application through the official Unibo admissions portal. This is separate from the scholarship application and must often be done first.
Register on Studenti Online — Create your account at studenti.unibo.it. This is the central student portal you will use for everything at Unibo.
Navigate to Calls for Applications — Once registered, go to the “Calls for Applications” (Bandi) section and select the relevant scholarship: International Talents @Unibo, Unibo Action 1, Unibo Action 2, or ER.GO grant, depending on which you qualify for.
Complete the scholarship form — Fill in the online application form carefully. Double-check all personal details against your official documents.
Upload all required documents — Scan and upload clearly legible versions of all required documents in the formats specified in the bando (usually PDF).
Submit before the deadline — For the flagship International Talents and Unibo Action scholarships, the main deadline is 30 May 2026. Submit well ahead of time — do not leave it until the last day.

Pro tip: Visit the official scholarship portal at bandi.unibo.it/agevolazioni/opportunita regularly for updated calls, as new bandi are published on a rolling basis throughout the year.

🎓 Important Dates & Deadlines

30 May 2026 — Main deadline for International Talents @Unibo and Unibo Action 1 & 2 scholarship applications.
Individual program admission deadlines may vary — check the specific program page at unibo.it.

Milestone	Date / Notes
Applications Open	Early 2026 (already open)
Program Admission Deadline	Varies by program — check unibo.it
Main Scholarship Deadline	30 May 2026
Results Announcement	Typically 4–8 weeks after deadline (verify on official website)
Academic Year Start	September/October 2026 (verify on official website)

📌 Bookmark this page and check back for updates as deadlines approach.

🎓 Why Study at the University of Bologna?

There are hundreds of scholarship opportunities in Europe every year — so why should Bologna be near the top of your list? Here are a few compelling reasons:

The world’s oldest university — studying here means joining a 900-year-old tradition of academic excellence. That’s not just history; it’s credibility that employers recognize globally.
Top-ranked globally — Unibo consistently places among the top 200 universities worldwide and is one of Italy’s leading research institutions, especially in law, engineering, and sciences.
Bologna city itself — called La Dotta (the Learned), La Grassa (the Fat — for its food!), and La Rossa (the Red — for its iconic porticoes). Bologna is a UNESCO World Heritage city with a legendary food scene, a rich arts culture, and a deeply international student population.
Gateway to Europe — Bologna is centrally located in northern Italy with fast rail links to Milan, Florence, Venice, and Rome. A weekend in Paris or Barcelona is genuinely achievable on a student budget.
Career outcomes — A Unibo degree opens doors across Europe and globally. The university’s alumni network spans academia, diplomacy, science, and business worldwide.
Inclusive financial support — Unlike many European universities that offer only one or two scholarship types, Unibo has multiple layers of support making it genuinely accessible to students regardless of their financial background.

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I apply for the University of Bologna scholarship without IELTS?

For many English-taught Master’s programs at Unibo, IELTS is not required if you can demonstrate that your previous studies were conducted in English (e.g., through a medium-of-instruction letter from your previous university). However, specific requirements vary by program. You should check the language requirements for your specific program on the official Unibo website to confirm what is accepted.

Q: Is the University of Bologna scholarship fully funded?

The scholarship package can be fully funded depending on which awards you receive. Unibo Action 1 provides a full tuition waiver (meaning you pay only the minimum fixed fee of around €157/year), while Unibo Action 2 / International Talents provides a study grant of up to €11,000 gross per year for living costs. If you receive both, the combined award effectively covers tuition and a large portion of your living expenses — making it functionally fully funded.

Q: What is the age limit for the University of Bologna scholarships?

Most Unibo scholarship programs require applicants to be under 30 years old at the application deadline. However, the exact age limit can vary slightly between different bandi (grant calls). Always verify the specific age requirement in the relevant bando on the official bandi.unibo.it portal before applying.

Q: Can refugees or students from conflict zones apply?

Yes — the University of Bologna has dedicated support pathways for refugees, stateless persons, and students from conflict-affected countries. These students may have relaxed eligibility criteria and access to additional financial support beyond the standard scholarship programs. The university’s student welfare office (verify on official website) can provide specific guidance for these cases.

Q: How many programs are available at the University of Bologna?

The University of Bologna offers over 200 degree programs across its 5 campuses in Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini. Programs span virtually every discipline including engineering, economics, law, arts, medicine, science, and many more. A growing number of Master’s programs are taught entirely in English, making them accessible to international students who are not yet Italian speakers.

Q: Is there an application fee for the scholarship?

No — there is no application fee for the University of Bologna scholarship programs. This applies to the International Talents @Unibo, Unibo Action 1, and Unibo Action 2 scholarship applications. You should not need to pay anything to apply for financial support through the bandi system.

🎓 Official Source & Application Links

Official Scholarship Portal: bandi.unibo.it/agevolazioni/opportunita
University of Bologna Main Website: unibo.it/en
Student Registration Portal: studenti.unibo.it
Full Program Catalogue: unibo.it/en/programmes
ER.GO Student Welfare (regional grants): ergo.er.it/en

🎓 Complete Summary Table

University of Bologna Scholarships 2026 — Full Details

University	University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum)
Founded	1088 — Oldest university in the world
Country	🇮🇹 Italy (Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, Rimini)
Degree Level	Bachelor’s & Master’s (Laurea & Laurea Magistrale)
Scholarship Name	International Talents @Unibo, Unibo Action 1 & 2, ER.GO Grants
Tuition Waiver	Full waiver possible — as low as €157/year
Study Grant	€6,500 – €11,000 gross/year
Additional Benefits	Accommodation subsidy, discounted meals, transport pass
Programs Available	200+ across all disciplines
Language Requirement	No IELTS needed for many programs (verify per program)
Age Limit	Under 30 years (verify on official website)
Open To	All international (non-Italian) students worldwide
Application Fee	None
Main Deadline	30 May 2026
Official Portal	bandi.unibo.it