Italy has become a practical study destination in Europe for Pakistani students. Public university tuition often ranges from €150 to €4,000 per year, while many degree programs are taught fully in English. Pakistani students can also explore regional scholarships that may reduce the cost of tuition and living in Italy. With affordable public universities and different funding options, Italy can be a good choice for students looking for quality education in Europe at a lower cost.
Pakistani students can apply for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at Italian public universities. For English-taught programs, universities commonly ask for proof of English proficiency, such as IELTS or TOEFL, although the exact requirement depends on the university and course. Students should check the official admission requirements before applying. Some programs may also require an entrance test, such as TOLC, IMAT, GRE, or GMAT.
Another major reason to study in Italy from Pakistan is the availability of regional need-based scholarships. Programs offered through regional agencies such as EDISU Piemonte, ER-GO, DSU Toscana, LazioDisco, and ERSU may provide a tuition exemption, cash support, subsidised accommodation, and canteen services. Eligibility mainly depends on the student’s family economic situation and the required ISEE Parificato documents. Students should prepare their financial and family documents early because scholarship applications usually have strict deadlines.
Italy Scholarships for Pakistani Students 2026 (Bachelor’s & Master’s):
Host Country:
- Italy
Step 1: Choosing and Applying to a University
Most Italian public universities open international admission rounds between December and April for the September intake. You apply directly on the university’s own portal, not through a national system, and can usually apply to several institutions at once.
Typical Requirements
- Matric and Intermediate or O/A-Levels for a Bachelor’s degree
- A 16-year Bachelor’s degree for a Master’s degree
- IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL 79+ for English-taught programmes
- Depending on the course, an entrance test such as TOLC-E/TOLC-I for Politecnico and many economics and engineering courses
- IMAT for medicine
- GRE/GMAT for some business programmes
- Italian-taught degrees require B1–B2 Italian and, for many, a CILS or CELI certificate
If you are shortlisted, the university issues a letter of acceptance or a conditional offer. Nothing else in the process can begin without it.
Step 2: Getting Your Documents Legalised
This is where most Pakistani applications lose weeks. Since Pakistan joined the Hague Apostille Convention, the chain is:
- IBCC attestation for Matric and Intermediate certificates, or HEC attestation for degrees and transcripts.
- Apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Islamabad.
- For non-academic papers, such as NADRA birth certificate, FRC, and family registration, a MoFA apostille is also required.
You then need a recognition document proving your Pakistani qualification is comparable to an Italian one. There are two routes:
- CIMEA Statement of Comparability: Applied for online at cimea.it. It is faster, usually taking a few weeks, and is now accepted or explicitly required by many universities, including Sapienza.
- Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore): Issued physically by the Italian Embassy in Islamabad and considerably slower.
Check which one your university wants before you start. Choosing the wrong route is a common and expensive mistake.
Step 3: Universitaly Pre-Enrolment
Every non-EU applicant must submit a pre-enrolment application on the government portal Universitaly.
You upload your passport, photo, academic qualifications, and admission letter, and select your chosen course. The university then validates your application on the portal.
This is not optional and not a formality. Only students whose pre-enrolment has been validated by the university can proceed to a visa application. Validation, however, does not guarantee a visa.
Step 4: The Bank Statement – The Biggest Change for 2026
The Threshold Has Risen by Roughly 46%
For academic years 2026/2027 and 2027/2028, the MUR/MAECI circular sets the minimum means of subsistence at €10,179.85 per year, up from €6,947.33. Anyone still presenting the old figure is showing about two-thirds of what is required.
Practical Rules for Pakistani Applicants
- Funds must come from legal, traceable sources, either your own account or that of a family member up to the fourth degree of kinship.
- Show at least six months of history. A newly opened account with a sudden large deposit is the single most common red flag.
- Support the statement with the sponsor’s affidavit, FBR tax returns, salary slips or business documents, and property papers where relevant.
- A scholarship counts only if you hold an actual award letter. Mere eligibility does not.
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Step 5: Regional (DSU) Scholarships
Italy’s regional right-to-study agencies, including EDISU Piemonte, ER-GO in Emilia-Romagna, DSU Toscana, LazioDisco, ERSU in Sicily, and others, award need-based grants open to non-EU students.
A typical package combines:
- Cash stipend of roughly €2,500–€7,900 a year for students who relocate
- Full tuition exemption
- Subsidised accommodation
- Canteen access
Eligibility rests on the ISEE Parificato, an Italian calculation of your family’s global economic position.
To obtain it, you need family composition, income, property, and bank documents for all household members. These documents must be translated into Italian and apostilled, then processed by a CAF office in Italy.
Regional ISEE thresholds usually fall between €25,000 and €27,000. Applications generally close in late August or early September, and renewal depends on earning a set number of CFU credits each year.
Begin document legalisation in June. Starting in August guarantees you miss it.
Separately, the MAECI government scholarship opens each January–March on the Study in Italy portal.
Step 6: The Visa and After Arrival
You apply for a Type D national study visa through BLS-Intiana in Pakistan. For 2026/2027, the Embassy has been allocating appointments directly to students whose pre-enrolment is already validated, notifying them by email.
Bring:
- Passport
- Form A
- Admission letter
- CIMEA or Declaration of Value (DoV)
- Financial proof
- Accommodation evidence
- Health insurance with €30,000 minimum coverage
The visa fee is around €50, and processing takes anywhere from 15 to 90 days. Applications for 2026/2027 must be filed by 30 November 2026.
Once you land in Italy, apply for your permesso di soggiorno within eight working days through a post office kit. After that, complete your university matriculation.
Students may work up to 20 hours a week. This can help with expenses, but it is never enough to fund a degree alone.
Start early, keep your paperwork honest, and Italy remains one of Europe’s best-value routes.
Figures reflect the MUR/MAECI circular for 2026/2027 and 2027/2028. Always confirm deadlines and amounts on Universitaly, your university’s website, and the Embassy of Italy in Islamabad before applying.
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Good luck with your application! Make sure to review the eligibility requirements carefully before applying.
Disclaimer:
By submitting your details through the form, you agree to be contacted by our partner organization regarding study opportunities in Italy. Scholarships Corner shares this information for awareness and outreach purposes in collaboration with a partner organization.
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