Italy just got even more exciting for international students. The University of Bergamo (UniBg) is offering €8,000 per year — €16,000 total — to outstanding international students enrolling in one of its English-taught Master’s degree programs for the 2026–27 academic year. This is a rare, fully supported study grant covering two consecutive academic years, and the application deadline is 10 July 2026. If you have a GRE score and a dream of studying in one of Northern Italy’s most vibrant cities, this complete guide on Gradualin gives you everything you need to apply with confidence.
🎓 Quick Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
| University | University of Bergamo (UniBg) |
| Country | Italy |
| Grant Name | Top International Student Grant |
| Grant Value | €8,000/year (€16,000 total over 2 years) |
| Degree Level | Master’s (MA) — English-taught programs |
| Open To | EU and Non-EU international students |
| Number of Grants | 6 grants available |
| Selection Criteria | GRE Revised General Test score |
| Application Deadline | 10 July 2026, 10:00 am CET |
| Official Website | en.unibg.it/international/scholarships |
🎓 About the University of Bergamo
The University of Bergamo — known locally as UniBg — is a dynamic, internationally oriented public university located in Bergamo, Lombardy, in the heart of Northern Italy. Founded in 1968, UniBg has grown into a respected institution with over 24,000 students and a strong emphasis on internationalization, innovation, and interdisciplinary research.
Bergamo itself is one of Italy’s most beautiful cities — a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its stunning medieval upper city (Città Alta), with sweeping views over the Lombardy plains. It sits just 50 kilometres east of Milan and is served by Orio al Serio International Airport, making it one of the most accessible cities in Italy for international arrivals.
What makes this different from scholarships at better-known Italian universities is the specificity of the investment: UniBg is targeting exactly six outstanding international students per year and rewarding them with a two-year financial commitment. This is not a token gesture — it is a serious grant designed to attract future global leaders to a university actively building its international reputation.
For international students seeking to study in Italy without the overwhelming scale of Rome or Milan, Bergamo offers world-class education in an intimate, high-quality setting — with the full resources of Lombardy’s booming economy right on your doorstep.
🎓 Grant Benefits & Funding — What Exactly Do You Get?
Here is what the Top International Student Grant covers:
- ✅ €8,000 gross per academic year — paid across two academic years (2026–27 and 2027–28)
- ✅ Total grant value: €16,000 over the full two-year Master’s program
- ✅ Paid in 4 instalments — tied to academic progress milestones (credit acquisition)
- ✅ Grant is compatible with Students’ Aid Service dining/canteen benefits
Important notes on the grant amount: The grant is paid gross, meaning Italian taxes apply. Candidates should factor in approximately 8.5% IRAP tax and a further 23% IRPEF income tax on the gross amount. These deductions are indicative and set for 2026 rates. After taxes, the net amount you receive will be lower than €8,000 — plan accordingly. (Verify exact net amounts with the university)
How payments are structured:
| Instalment | Amount (Gross) | Condition |
| 1st | €4,000 | Arrival in Bergamo + enrollment confirmed + tax code + Residence Permit application |
| 2nd | €4,000 | 15 credits earned by 30 April 2027 |
| 3rd | €4,000 | 40 credits earned by 30 September 2027 |
| 4th | €4,000 | 60 credits earned by 30 April 2028 |
The payment schedule means that your grant is performance-linked — you need to pass your coursework on schedule to receive each instalment. This is a strong motivation to stay on top of your studies.
What the grant does NOT cover:
- Tuition fees — students must still pay UniBg’s academic fees (though fee reductions based on family income — ISEEU — are available separately)
- The regional tax and duty stamp payable at enrollment (~€156)
- Housing, transport, or personal living expenses beyond the grant amount
🎓 Eligible Master’s Programs — English-Taught at UniBg
The grant covers enrollment in any one of the following English-taught MA programs at the University of Bergamo:
- MA Accounting, Governance and Sustainability
- MA Clinical Psychology for Individuals, Families and Organizations
- MA Economics and Data Analysis
- MA International Management and Marketing
- MA Intercultural Studies in Languages and Literatures
- MA Management Engineering
- MA Mechatronics and Smart Technology Engineering
- MA Medical Engineering
- MA Planning and Management of Tourism Systems
- MA Economics & Finance
- MA Philosophical Knowledge: Foundations, Methods, Applications
There is real breadth here — from STEM and engineering to business, social sciences, humanities, and health. Whether you are a future data scientist, a psychologist, an engineer, or a philosopher — there is a program in this list for you.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Top International Student Grant, you must meet all of the following conditions:
- ✅ Your university qualifications required for admission to the chosen MA program were obtained outside the Italian education system, after at least three years of attendance
- (Note: Qualifications from San Marino do NOT qualify)
- ✅ You can be either EU or Non-EU citizen — both are welcome
- ✅ You must meet all academic admission requirements of your chosen MA program at the time of application
- ✅ You must not currently be enrolled in a First, Single, or Second Cycle degree program at the University of Bergamo
- (Past students whose careers ended in 2024–25 are not considered current students, provided withdrawal was completed before this call was published)
- ✅ You must be 30 years old or younger by the application deadline of 10 July 2026
Regarding incompatibility: This grant cannot be combined with:
- Other UniBg scholarships or prizes
- Regional Board (Students’ Aid Service) grants
- Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) grants
- CRUI grants for beneficiaries of international protection
- Erasmus Mundus program grants
It can be combined with Students’ Aid Service canteen/dining access benefits.
Regarding English Language: All programs are taught in English. You must meet the English language entry requirements of your chosen MA program at UniBg. (Verify specific IELTS/TOEFL requirements per program on the official website)
🎓 Who Should Apply — And Who Should Not
✅ Apply if you…
- Have a Bachelor’s degree obtained outside Italy (any nationality — EU or non-EU)
- Have taken the GRE Revised General Test after 31 March 2023
- Are 30 years old or younger on 10 July 2026
- Want to study a full English-taught Master’s program in Italy
- Are not currently enrolled in a degree at UniBg
- Want to study in a beautiful, safe, internationally connected Northern Italian city
❌ Don’t apply if you…
- Hold an Italian degree or a degree from San Marino
- Are currently enrolled in a degree program at UniBg
- Have taken your GRE test before 31 March 2023 (those results are not accepted)
- Are over 30 by the application deadline
- Are already receiving an incompatible grant (MAECI, Erasmus Mundus, Regional Aid grants, etc.)
🎓 Required Documents
You must submit all of the following — incomplete applications will be rejected:
- Copy of a currently valid passport (EU citizens may attach a national identity document instead)
- Official GRE score report (taken after 31 March 2023 only)
- Certificate confirming qualifications suitable for admission to your chosen MA program, plus transcripts of records for the last 3 years of study
- Completed and signed Application Form (scan of the signed document) — download from: Application Form
Language requirements for documents: All documents must be in English or Italian. If your documents are in another language, you must provide a translation into English or Italian — this can be done and signed by you directly (no official certified translation required at this stage).
🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process
- Take the GRE Revised General Test — if you have not done so already, check test dates at ets.org/gre. Your GRE must have been taken after 31 March 2023.
- Choose your MA program from the eligible list of 11 English-taught programs at UniBg.
- Download and complete the Application Form from the official scholarships page.
- Prepare your documents — passport/ID, GRE score report, degree certificate, transcripts (last 3 years), signed application form.
- Translate any non-English/non-Italian documents into English or Italian (self-translation is accepted at this stage).
- Submit your application online via the official Google Form: https://forms.gle/yH1iTnfCGhrcP1pE8
- Wait for results — the selection board will publish outcomes by 7 August 2026, 6:00 pm CET on the UniBg scholarship page.
- Confirm acceptance — if selected, you must confirm your acceptance by email to international.office@unibg.it by 24 August 2026.
- Enroll at UniBg — pay the regional tax and duty stamp (~€156) and complete enrollment.
- Arrive in Bergamo by 15 December 2026 — physical arrival is a condition for the first grant instalment.
Pro tip: The GRE selection is purely score-ranked — the highest scores win. There is no minimum score required, but every extra point counts. In the event of a tie, the younger candidate is preferred. If you have already taken the GRE, check your score and apply immediately.
🎓 Important Dates & Deadlines
| Milestone | Date |
| Call Published | June 2026 |
| Application Deadline | 10 July 2026, 10:00 am CET |
| Results Published | 7 August 2026, 6:00 pm CET |
| Acceptance Confirmation Deadline | 24 August 2026 |
| Arrival in Bergamo Deadline | 15 December 2026 |
| 1st Instalment Paid | By 31 January 2027 |
| Academic Year Starts | 2026–27 |
⚠️ The application deadline is 10 July 2026 — less than four weeks away. Do not delay. Incomplete applications will not be accepted and documents cannot be retrieved after submission.
🎓 Why Study at the University of Bergamo — Why Italy?
Bergamo is one of Italy’s best-kept secrets for international students — and that is changing fast. The city was European Capital of Culture 2023, shining a global spotlight on its extraordinary artistic heritage, vibrant creative scene, and forward-thinking urban energy.
UniBg itself punches well above its weight for a mid-sized Italian university. Its Faculty of Engineering is recognized nationally, its economics and management programs draw students from across Europe and Asia, and its psychology and humanities offerings are gaining international traction. The university’s push to grow English-taught Master’s programs is a direct investment in becoming a destination for the world’s best students — and this grant is the financial signal of that ambition.
What makes this different from studying at, say, the University of Milan or Bologna? Bergamo offers the Italian experience in a human-scale city. You will know your professors. You will have time to explore the medieval Città Alta on a weekend afternoon. You will live 45 minutes from Milan’s global business ecosystem while paying significantly lower rents. And with Orio al Serio Airport right in town — one of Ryanair’s busiest hubs — you are well-connected to the rest of Europe.
The €16,000 grant over two years, combined with Italy’s relatively affordable cost of living compared to Northern European countries, makes this one of the most financially sensible Master’s opportunities in Europe for 2026–27.
🎓 Additional Funding Opportunities at UniBg
Beyond the Top International Student Grant, UniBg offers further support options:
- University Scholarships & Contributions (2026–27) — the main call for university-wide financial aid, accommodation, and contributions for international mobility is expected to be published in July 2026. Check unibg.it/node/293 for updates.
- 100 Scholarships for Students with International Protection — available for students enrolled at Italian public universities (A.Y. 2026/27). See tirocinicrui.it for information.
- Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI) — the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation offers grants to foreign citizens. See esteri.it for full details. (Note: MAECI grants are incompatible with the Top International Student Grant.)
🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply for the Top International Student Grant? A: The grant selection is based on GRE scores only — no IELTS or TOEFL is required specifically for the grant application. However, you must meet the English language admission requirements of your chosen MA program at UniBg before enrolling. (Verify per-program English requirements on the official website)
Q: What GRE score do I need to win the grant? A: There is no minimum score threshold. The six grants are awarded to the six applicants with the highest GRE scores among all eligible applicants. In the event of a tie, the younger applicant is preferred. The more competitive your score, the better your chances.
Q: Can I apply if I already have a degree from an Italian university? A: No. The grant is specifically for international students whose qualifications for admission were obtained outside the Italian education system. Degrees from Italian institutions (including San Marino) do not qualify.
Q: Does the grant cover my tuition fees? A: No — the grant is a study stipend, not a tuition waiver. You must still pay UniBg’s academic fees, which are calculated based on your family’s income (ISEEU). However, the grant can be used freely, including to offset your tuition costs.
Q: Can EU citizens apply? A: Yes. Both EU and Non-EU citizens are eligible, provided their qualifications were obtained outside the Italian education system and they meet all other criteria.
Q: What happens if I am selected but cannot arrive in Bergamo by 15 December 2026? A: Arriving in Bergamo by 15 December 2026 is a condition for receiving the first instalment of the grant. If you cannot arrive by this date, you risk forfeiting the first payment. Contact the International Office immediately if this situation arises. (Verify on official website)
🎓 Official Sources & Contact
- Scholarships Page: https://en.unibg.it/study/enrollment/foreign-students-join-us/fees-grants-and-scholarships
- Official Call PDF: Download the Full Call Document
- Application Form Download: Download Application Form (.docx)
- Online Application Link: https://forms.gle/yH1iTnfCGhrcP1pE8
- International Office Email: international.students@unibg.it
- Welcome Office Address: Via San Bernardino 72/E, 24122 Bergamo, Italy
- Phone: +39 035 2052 198
- GRE Registration: ets.org/gre
Office Hours (Welcome Office):
- Monday: 9:30 am – 12:30 pm / 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
- Thursday: 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
🎓 Complete Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
| University | University of Bergamo (UniBg) |
| Location | Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy |
| Grant Name | Top International Student Grant |
| Academic Years | 2026–27 and 2027–28 |
| Grant Value | €8,000 gross/year (€16,000 total) |
| Number of Grants | 6 |
| Eligible Students | EU and Non-EU students with non-Italian degrees |
| Selection Basis | GRE Revised General Test score |
| GRE Test Validity | Must be taken after 31 March 2023 |
| Age Limit | Maximum 30 years old by 10 July 2026 |
| Degree Level | Master’s (MA) — English-taught only |
| Programs Available | 11 English-taught MA programs |
| Tuition Coverage | Not included — grant is a stipend |
| Application Deadline | 10 July 2026, 10:00 am CET |
| Results Published | 7 August 2026 |
| Acceptance Deadline | 24 August 2026 |
| Official Website | en.unibg.it |
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