University of Brescia STAR Scholarships 2026/2027

There’s a specific problem this scholarship solves that most university funding doesn’t even try to address: what happens when a genuinely capable student from outside the EU has never studied in Italian, doesn’t know the university system, and would otherwise be set up to struggle in their first year regardless of how strong their secondary school results were?

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The University of Brescia’s STAR Scholarship answers that directly, by funding an entire preparatory year before your actual degree even begins: 600 hours split between Italian language training and subject-specific coursework, so that by the time you start your Bachelor’s, you’re genuinely ready for it rather than catching up mid-semester.

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Only two of these four-year scholarships are awarded each cycle, making it one of the more competitive opportunities in this guide series. The application deadline for this cycle was 15 March 2026, and the final ranking was published by 15 May 2026, so results are already known. This guide covers exactly how the Foundation Year structure works, the specific eligibility rules around age, schooling, and priority countries, and what to prepare now if you’re aiming for the next cycle.

About the University of Brescia STAR Scholarship

Founded on principles of social sustainability and inclusion, the University of Brescia runs the STAR Scholarship, “Students at Risk”, as part of a broader 17-scholarship call for non-EU applicants across both undergraduate and Master’s levels for the 2026/27 academic year.

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The specific bachelor’s track covered here funds just two students through a genuinely structured four-year journey: a Foundation Year first, then progression into a three-year undergraduate degree taught in Italian. This isn’t simply a discounted first year; it’s a deliberate onramp, designed to give students from non-European schooling systems the language proficiency, subject grounding, and cultural familiarity to succeed in an Italian degree programme from day one, rather than being thrown directly into Italian-language coursework without preparation.

University of Brescia STAR Scholarships Summary

What the Foundation Year Actually Involves

The Foundation Year runs 600 total hours across three components:

• 240 hours of Italian language and culture instruction
• 288 hours of subject-specific lessons, delivered in Italian, in one of three tracks: Economics and Law, Engineering and Sustainable Agricultural Systems, or Medicine
• 72 hours of additional Italian language strengthening, on top of the initial 240

You need to pass every required exam from this Foundation Year by September of the following year to progress into your chosen three-year undergraduate degree. This isn’t a formality — failing to clear these exams means you don’t advance into the degree programme the scholarship is ultimately built around.

Eligibility Requirements

• You need citizenship and residence in a developing country, as defined under Italian Ministerial Decree, or be from one of the specifically named priority countries: Cuba, Egypt, El Salvador, Jordan, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Tunisia, or the Palestinian Territories — with one of the two scholarships specifically reserved for candidates from African countries
• You need to have been born in 2000 or later
• You need to be enrolling at an Italian university for the first time
• You need a valid secondary-school diploma that was obtained after at least 12 years of schooling, grants access to undergraduate study in your issuing country, is broadly comparable to EQF level 4, comes from a non-EU education system, and is issued by an officially recognised institution
• If your schooling totalled only 11 years rather than 12, you can still qualify by providing proof of one additional year of higher or post-secondary education, with all exams passed
• You need proof of Italian language proficiency at a minimum of A1 level (CEFR)
• You cannot already hold an undergraduate degree
• If you’re still completing your final year of secondary school at the time of application, you can still apply, provided you obtain your diploma before a set cutoff — for this cycle, that fell around early July 2026

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What The University of Brescia STAR Scholarship Covers

• €6,132.10 as a direct financial grant
• Full waiver of Foundation Year tuition fees
• A renewable full waiver of undergraduate tuition fees, once you progress — though this doesn’t extend to the regional tax and stamp duty, which typically comes to around €156
• Free accommodation in a shared double room within university residences, though a deposit is required upfront
• Subsidised university canteen services
• A discounted public transport pass
• €500 reimbursement toward enrolment in the Italian National Health Service, or a private health insurance policy, reimbursed once you submit your receipts

All of these benefits are renewable across your four years, provided you continue to meet the university’s specific renewal conditions each year — this isn’t an automatic guarantee locked in from your first acceptance.

What Documents You Need to Prepare

• A valid ID, preferably your passport
• Your secondary-school diploma and academic transcript
• An Italian or English translation of your diploma and transcript, if required
• An Italian language course certificate, confirming at least A1 level under the CEFR framework
• A current CV, capped at two pages
• An optional reference letter, or contact details for a teacher who can serve as a reference
• If your diploma hasn’t yet been issued: a certificate of enrolment confirming you’re in your final year, alongside a transcript from your previous year of study
• If your prior schooling totalled only 11 years: proof of one additional year of higher or post-secondary education, with all exams passed

What the Application Process Requires

1. Gather every required document in advance, including any necessary translations
2. Complete your application through the University of Brescia’s PICA online platform
3. Clearly indicate which specific undergraduate degree you intend to enrol in once your Foundation Year concludes, choosing from the university’s approved list
4. Print, sign, scan, and upload your completed application form as part of the online process
5. Submit everything before the deadline — for this cycle, that was 15 March 2026, 12:00 Italian time
6. Applications submitted after the deadline, or through any channel other than the official PICA platform, are automatically rejected

Application Deadline

• Application deadline: 15 March 2026, 12:00 (noon) Italian time — now closed
• Diploma completion cutoff for students still finishing secondary school: early July 2026
• Final ranking published: By 15 May 2026, on the University of Brescia’s official website
• Foundation Year begins: Academic year 2026/27
• Progression to undergraduate degree: Academic year 2027/28, contingent on passing all required Foundation Year exams by September 2027
• Next expected cycle: Based on the university’s consistent annual pattern, expect the 2027/28 call to open with a similar mid-March deadline

What to Do Before the Next Cycle Opens

• Start building your Italian language proficiency toward A1 level now if you haven’t already, since this is a hard eligibility requirement, not something you can pick up entirely during the Foundation Year itself
• Confirm your secondary school diploma genuinely meets the 12-year schooling and EQF level 4 comparability requirements well ahead of applying, since this technical eligibility detail catches out applicants from certain schooling systems
• If you’re from one of the specifically named priority countries, or from Africa specifically, understand you may be competing for a scholarship position with additional reserved consideration built in
• Draft your two-page CV and prepare a strong reference contact early, since with only two scholarships awarded, competition is genuinely tight
• Watch the University of Brescia’s official calls and notices page directly from later in the year for the next cycle’s exact opening date

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the University of Brescia STAR Scholarship still accepting applications for 2026/27?

No. The deadline was 15 March 2026, 12:00 Italian time, and the final ranking was published by 15 May 2026.

How many bachelor’s-track STAR scholarships are awarded each cycle?

Just two, making this one of the more competitive scholarships covered in this series relative to its applicant pool.

Do I need to already speak Italian fluently to apply?

No. You only need A1-level proficiency, the most basic CEFR level, at the point of application — the Foundation Year itself is specifically designed to build your Italian to a level sufficient for full undergraduate study.

What happens if I don’t pass my Foundation Year exams?

You won’t be able to progress into the three-year undergraduate degree the scholarship is built around, since passing all required exams by September of the following year is a firm condition of advancing.

Can I apply if I haven’t received my secondary school diploma yet?

Yes, provided you’re in your final year and can obtain your diploma by the university’s specified cutoff date, generally around early July of the enrolment year.

Disclaimer: All scholarship details and figures in this post are verified from official University of Brescia sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official University of Brescia calls and notices page. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with the University of Brescia.

Official Application Portal