University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship 2025/2026 in Italy — €6,500 + Full Tuition Waiver
The University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship is open to international students from all countries who want to study a two-year full-time master’s degree at one of the world’s oldest universities. For the 2025/2026 cycle, 30 scholarships are on offer. Each award is worth €6,500 gross plus full exemption from tuition fees for two academic years. The application window for this cycle ran from 17 January 2025 to 30 May 2025 at 12:00 CEST — that cycle is now closed and results were published in July 2025. You must have a GRE test score and a verified financial status within a specific income bracket to qualify.
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University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship Summary
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | International Talents at Unibo |
| Host Country ⇒ | Italy |
| Study Level ⇒ | Masters (2 years full-time) |
| Benefits ⇒ | €6,500 gross scholarship + full tuition fee exemption for 2 academic years |
| Funded By ⇒ | University of Bologna |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries (international students with a non-Italian undergraduate qualification) |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 30 May 2025 |
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About the University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship
The International Talents Scholarship is run directly by the University of Bologna, known in Italian as Alma Mater Studiorum — Università di Bologna. Founded in 1088, it is the oldest university in the world still in continuous operation. It is located in Bologna, in northern Italy, and is consistently ranked among the top universities in Italy and Europe. The QS World University Rankings 2025 places it in the 154th position globally.
The International Talents program was created to bring academically strong international students into Bologna’s master’s degree community, with a specific focus on students who demonstrate both academic merit through GRE scores and financial need through verified income documentation. The scholarship is not open to students who already hold an Italian undergraduate qualification — it is specifically for students whose prior degree comes from outside the Italian education system.
30 scholarships are awarded per academic cycle. Awards cover two full academic years, but continued payment of instalments in the second year is subject to meeting merit conditions. Verify the current merit continuation requirements in the official call for applications on the Studenti Online portal.
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What the Scholarship Covers
The scholarship covers the following:
- A cash scholarship of €6,500 gross for the academic year — paid in instalments directly to the scholar
- Full exemption from tuition fees at the University of Bologna for the duration of your two-year master’s programme
The €6,500 is a gross figure — tax deductions apply depending on your individual circumstances. The scholarship does not cover flights, accommodation, health insurance, or living costs beyond the cash award. Bologna’s average monthly living cost for a student is approximately €800–€1,000, covering rent, food, and transport — budget carefully against the monthly instalments of the award.
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Continued payment of the second-year instalment depends on meeting academic merit conditions set out in the official call for applications. If you do not meet the merit threshold after year one, payment may be suspended.
Eligibility Requirements for the University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship
You must meet all of the following to apply:
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- You must hold, or be in the process of obtaining, an undergraduate qualification from a non-Italian education system that is valid for entry to your chosen second-cycle (master’s) programme at Bologna
- You must have taken the GRE test by the application deadline — no exceptions. Results must be sent to the University of Bologna using institution code 7850 in time to reach Unibo before the deadline
- You must be aged 30 or under on the closing date of the application call
- Your family’s financial status must fall within an ISEE (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator) of between €16,000 and €35,000. If your family’s income is entirely outside Italy and you cannot submit an ISEE certificate, an equivalent financial status assessment is accepted — check the documentation requirements in the official call carefully, as obtaining this documentation can take several weeks
Key disqualifier: if you have not taken the GRE test by the application deadline, your application cannot be processed. Register for the GRE as early as possible — test slots fill up, and results take time to be delivered to institutions.
Eligible Master’s Programmes
The scholarship is available for second-cycle degree programmes at the University of Bologna. The full list of eligible programmes is published on the official International Talents call page on the Studenti Online portal at studenti.unibo.it. Check here
Two important points about programme eligibility: first, applying for this scholarship does not constitute an application for admission to your chosen degree programme — those are two separate processes. Second, each degree programme at Bologna has its own admission requirements and deadlines published on the individual programme website. Check both the scholarship call and your chosen programme’s admission page before you submit anything.
University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship Required Documents
- Completed online application form submitted through Studenti Online at studenti.unibo.it
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates from all previous institutions
- GRE score report — must be sent directly to the University of Bologna using institution code 7850
- Documentation certifying your family’s financial situation — either an ISEE certificate (if applicable) or the equivalent financial documentation for families with income outside Italy. Check the official call for the exact documents required, as these can take several weeks to obtain
- Personal statement outlining your academic background and goals
- Letters of recommendation
- CV
- Copy of a valid passport. EU citizens may submit a valid national identity document instead
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One practical warning: the financial documentation requirement catches many applicants off guard. If your family’s income is outside Italy, the process of obtaining the equivalent financial status documents can take four to six weeks. Do not leave this until April or May. Start gathering financial documents as soon as the call opens in January.
How to Apply – Step by Step for the University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship
The scholarship application is submitted exclusively through the Studenti Online portal. Applications sent by email or post are not accepted.
- Go to studenti.unibo.it and register for an account. If you are an international student without an Italian tax ID number (Codice Fiscale), use the international students registration section.
- Fill in all mandatory registration fields exactly as they appear in your passport or identity document. Your name and personal details must match your passport precisely — discrepancies can invalidate your account.
- After your first login, replace the PUK code with a personal password. Keep your Unibo username and password secure — you will need them throughout your entire time at the university.
- Log back into studenti.unibo.it and click on “Calls.”
- Select the call titled “Call for applications International Talents at Unibo, a.y. 2025-2026” (or the equivalent for the next cycle).
- Check your contact details and enter all required information.
- Upload all required documents in PDF format — transcripts, financial documentation, personal statement, recommendation letters, CV, and passport copy.
- Confirm that your GRE results have been sent to Bologna using institution code 7850 before submitting.
- Submit your application before the deadline. Late applications are not accepted.
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This application is only for the scholarship. To gain admission to your chosen master’s programme, you must separately complete the admission application process for that programme, published on the individual programme’s website at the University of Bologna.
If you need help with the Studenti Online portal, contact the help desk at [email protected] or call +39 051 2080301, Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Italian time.
Application Deadline
30 May 2025
The 2025/2026 cycle closed on 30 May 2025 at 12:00 CEST. Results were published in July 2025.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the University of Bologna International Talents Scholarship fully funded?
It covers €6,500 gross per academic year and full tuition fee exemption. It does not cover flights, accommodation, or living costs beyond the cash award. It is a merit and means-tested scholarship, not a full-cost living scholarship. Budget separately for accommodation and daily expenses — Bologna’s average monthly student cost is approximately €800–€1,000.
Can Nigerian students apply for the Bologna International Talents Scholarship?
Yes. The scholarship is open to international students from all countries holding a non-Italian undergraduate qualification. Nigerian degrees qualify. You must meet the GRE, age, and financial status requirements like all other applicants.
Do I need to take the GRE to apply?
Yes. A GRE score is a hard requirement — not optional. You must have taken the test and had your results sent to the University of Bologna using institution code 7850 before the application deadline. Register for the GRE as early as possible after the call opens in January, as test slots book up quickly.
How many scholarships are available?
30 scholarships are awarded per cycle. All 30 are available to international students from any country with a non-Italian undergraduate qualification.
Is the scholarship application the same as the Bologna admission application?
No. They are two separate processes. Submitting the International Talents scholarship application does not register you for admission to your chosen master’s programme. You must also complete the admission application for your specific programme, following that programme’s own requirements and deadlines published on the Bologna programme website.
When does the next cycle of International Talents open?
The 2025/2026 cycle is closed. Based on previous years, the next call is expected to open in January 2026. Monitor studenti.unibo.it for the confirmed opening date.
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Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official University of Bologna International Talents scholarship page on the Studenti Online portal. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.
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