Fully funded Scholarships in Italy for Pakistani Students 2025-2026!

If you are a Pakistani student thinking about studying abroad, Italy is an excellent option. Italy is rich in history, art, food and culture. On top of that, many of its universities are recognised internationally and they offer courses in English.

For Pakistani students, Italy opens the door to high-quality education at bachelor’s, master’s or even PhD levels. With fully-funded scholarships covering tuition, living costs, insurance and sometimes travel, many strong students can study in Italy without worrying about large fees.
These opportunities are especially timely for 2025-2026, because scholarship calls and deadlines are already open or announced.

What “fully funded” means in this context

When we say a scholarship is “fully funded”, we mean that most major costs are covered — tuition fees are waived, and you also receive a grant or stipend for living costs, health insurance, sometimes accommodation or travel. For example:

The Italian Government scholarship (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italy) – MAECI) for 2025-26 covers study at Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD levels.
The University of Bologna “International Talents @Unibo” scholarship covers full tuition + €6,500/year allowance for a non-EU student.

Such scholarships allow you to focus on your studies in Italy rather than paying large fees or worrying constantly about finances.

Top scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students Fully funded Scholarships in Italy (2025-2026)

Below are reputable scholarship programmes you as a Pakistani applicant should consider. Always check the official university or government site for updates, eligibility, and deadlines.

1. Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI)

The Italian Government offers scholarships to foreign students for the academic year 2025-26.

Available for Bachelor’s (1st cycle), Master’s (2nd cycle), PhD, research projects, or Italian language/culture courses.
Deadline: e.g., for many countries it is 16 May 2025 at 14:00 CET.
Cover: tuition fee waiver (depending on university), health insurance; in some cases monthly stipend ~ €900/month (though this may vary) and full/partial cost of stay.
Applicants need to apply through the “Study in Italy” portal.
For Pakistani applicants this is one of the most prestigious routes. Make sure you are eligible (check Pakistan is in the list of eligible countries).

2. University of Bologna – International Talents @Unibo Scholarship

Offered by Italy’s oldest university, the University of Bologna.

Key points:

For international students enrolling in Master’s (second cycle) programmes for academic year 2025-26.
Number of scholarships: 30 new ones announced for 2025/26.
Coverage: full tuition waiver + an annual grant of €6,500 gross.
Deadline: 30 May 2025 (12:00 CEST).
Pakistani students (non-EU) are eligible and can benefit provided they meet eligibility criteria (age under 30 at closing date, GRE test, financial assessment via ISEE equivalent).

3. University-specific & regional scholarships

There are also additional scholarships in Italy which Pakistani students can target:

Many Italian universities offer merit-based scholarships covering full or partial funding. E.g., the site OnlineVisaGuide lists that the Bocconi University in Milan provides up to ~€14,000 annual tuition waiver + some living cost support.
Regional funds such as the “Right to Study” (DSU) scholarships are available in regions like Lombardy, Piedmont, Tuscany for international students. (E.g., the University of Milan DSU Scholarship 2025/26 supports international students.

While not all of these guarantee full funding (some may be partial), they widen the options you have and increasing your chances if you apply smartly.

What Pakistani students need to keep in mind Fully funded Scholarships in Italy?

Here are key things you should do as a Pakistani applicant to maximise your chances.

Language proficiency

Many English-taught programmes exist in Italy, so you may not always need Italian language skills.
For some scholarships/universities you may need proof of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) or Italian proficiency if the programme is Italian-taught.
Some forums from Pakistani students suggest that some universities may accept a medium-of-instruction certificate in English in lieu of IELTS.

But don’t count on it — check each programme’s specific requirements.

Documents & eligibility

Academic transcripts (secondary + bachelor if applying for Master’s) must be valid and recognised.
For many scholarships you need non-Italian qualification to access Master’s programmes. E.g., University of Bologna requires a non-Italian education system qualification for admission.
Some scholarships (e.g., Bologna) require a GRE General Test score.
For financial-need based scholarships you may need to submit family income documents, ISEE equivalent (or external equivalent form). Age limits: Bologna’s scholarship places a cap of age 30 on closing date.

Deadlines & planning early

Deadlines are strict — e.g., May 16 2025 for many government scholarships.
Apply 6-9 months in advance: admission to the university, scholarship application, visa process all take time.
Applying to multiple scholarships is smart — don’t rely on a single chance.

Visa and cost of living

Once you get your scholarship/admission letter, you will need to apply for a student visa for Italy. Good documentation will help.
While scholarships help, cost of living in Italy still varies by city. Universities in big cities (Milan, Rome) may be more expensive compared to smaller cities (Padua, Turin).
Students are often allowed to work part-time (e.g., up to 20 hours/week) during term time. That can help with living costs.
Some Pakistani students on forums pointed out the visa appointment issue and recommended doing everything on your own rather than relying solely on consultants

Step-by-step guide for Pakistani applicants Fully funded Scholarships in Italy!

Here’s a simple step-by-step plan you can follow:

Choose your field & level of study – Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD. Choose the subject you are passionate about (Engineering, Business, Arts, Social Sciences, etc).
Short-list universities & scholarships – e.g., University of Bologna, Bocconi, or Italian Government scholarships. Verify they welcome Pakistani students and check deadlines.
Check eligibility requirements – academic qualifications, age limit, language test, test scores (GRE/SAT) if required.
Prepare documents early – transcripts, degrees, language test results, CV, statement of purpose (SOP), letters of recommendation, financial documents (if needed). Ensure translations and apostille/legalisation where needed.
Submit application for university admission – many scholarships require you to apply to the university first or simultaneously.
Submit scholarship application – via university portal or national portal (for MAECI) before the deadline. For example, the Italian Government scholarship for 2025-26 closes 16 May 2025.
Follow up admission & visa – once you receive admission & scholarship letter, apply for Italian student visa, find accommodation, plan travel.
Prepare for arrival – get familiar with Italy: cost of living, budgeting, part-time work rules, cultural and language adaptation.

Special tips for Pakistani students Fully funded Scholarships in Italy!

Start early: From Pakistan, attesting degrees, getting translations, taking tests like GRE/IELTS may take time.
Focus on strong academics & SOP: For these scholarships, competition is high. Your GPA, test scores, and statement of purpose matter a lot.
Apply to more than one scholarship/university: Don’t put all your hopes in one application.
Be realistic about cost of living: Even if tuition is waived, you still need to budget for living costs unless stipend covers everything fully.
Learn basic Italian: Even if your course is in English, knowing some Italian helps with everyday life, local integration, part-time jobs.
Check visa appointment status and embassy updates: Some Pakistani students report delays. It’s best to monitor the embassy website and book early.
Beware of consultancy promises: Some forum posts warn that consultants may exaggerate appointment success or visa ease. It’s safer to rely on official university/embassy information.

Final thoughts

Studying in Italy on a full scholarship is a very real possibility for Pakistani students in 2025-26. With the right planning, strong application and timely submission, you can access world-class education without the burden of large fees.
Key take-aways:

Italy’s scholarships (national and university level) are open now for 2025-26.
The main scholarships for your level (Bachelor’s / Master’s / PhD) include: Italian Government scholarship (MAECI), University of Bologna scholarship, university-specific & regional awards.
As a Pakistani student you are eligible for many of these, provided you meet requirements.
Make sure you focus on eligibility, meet deadlines, prepare documents well, apply early, and consider multiple options.

If you like, I can pull together a full list of 10+ scholarships specifically open to Pakistani students for Italy 2025-26, with exact deadlines, links, and eligibility – would you like me to do that?