Author: Hammad Ishaq & AI
Last verified on: September 23, 2025

Overview: What the program(s) are, and who runs them

The University of Milan offers several scholarships and financial support programs. Two that are highly relevant for international applicants are:

• Excellence Scholarships for international students admitted to the first year of a Master’s Degree programme. These are entirely or partially funded incentives (tuition fee exemptions, monetary grants) aimed at attracting top students globally. (University of Milan)

• Regional / DSU Scholarships under the “Diritto allo Studio Universitario” (Right to University Study) framework, supported by the Lombardy Region, the Ministry of University and Research (MUR), and European funds (Next Generation EU). These include tuition fee exemptions, grants, meals/refectory service, and other benefits. (University of Milan)

These scholarships are run by UniMi’s Financial Support / InformaStudenti office, in coordination with regional authorities. The Excellence Scholarships are directly administered by the University of Milan. The DSU / regional scholarships depend also on income/asset brackets, merit, and attendance/credits. (University of Milan)

Benefits / Funding: Amounts, duration, what is / isn’t covered

Here are the benefits for the 2025-2026 cycles, as known from official sources:

What is not clearly covered or not included:

• Living expenses beyond meal service are generally not covered fully by Excellence Scholarships (except via the €8,000 portion which helps with costs). (University of Milan)

• Accommodation / housing assistance is part of regional/DSU in some cases, but varies. The University page does not always guarantee housing.

• Health insurance / visa costs are not clearly mentioned in official benefit lists. As of last verification, the official page does not specify inclusion of health insurance or visa‐support fees.

Eligibility: Citizenship, academic level, fields, ineligibilities

From the official University of Milan pages:

• Citizenship / Residency: Open to international students. Those with income/assets abroad are treated specifically under fee and benefit calculations. Students holding international protection (refugee status, subsidiary, etc.) may have separate opportunities. (University of Milan)

• Academic Level:

  • Excellence Scholarships: for students admitted to first year of a Master’s Degree programme at UniMi for the given academic year. (University of Milan)

  • Regional/DSU: for students regularly enrolled in university programmes; usually full-time enrolment; first year or subsequent years (but must meet credit/merit requirements) for renewal or continuation. (University of Milan)

• Fields of Study: All Master’s degree programmes (open-access and limited-access) are eligible for Excellence Scholarships. No field is explicitly excluded in the published rules. (University of Milan)

• Ineligibilities / Conditions:

  • Applicants who do not apply by the Master’s admission deadline (for Excellence) are not considered. (University of Milan)

  • For DSU/regional, part-time students or students re-enrolled in a degree level they already completed are typically not eligible. (University of Milan)

  • Some DSU benefits are lost if merit/credits are not maintained. (University of Milan)

Timeline & Deadlines

Here are the key dates from the official material for AY 2025-2026. The 2026-2027 cycle dates are not yet fully published as of last verification.

How to apply (step-by-step)

Here is a step-by-step guide based on official instructions (for AY 2025-2026). For 2026-2027, follow the equivalent pattern and check updated calls.

1. Choose your Master’s programme at UniMi and check its admission call, requirements, open / limited access.

2. Submit your Master’s admission application by the deadline for Excellence Scholarships eligibility (for 2025-26 this was May 31, 2025). If you miss that, you cannot be considered for Excellence in that cycle. (University of Milan)

3. Wait for admission decision. If admitted, you will be automatically considered (for Excellence) – no separate application is needed for Excellence Scholarships. (University of Milan)

4. For DSU / regional scholarships & University scholarships, when the call opens (usually mid-July), log in to the UniMi Online Service Desk (Benefici / Diritto allo Studio) portal. (University of Milan)

5. Register / activate your "Carta La Statale" (student card) so that any benefit payments, services (refectory, etc.) can be delivered. (University of Milan)

6. Upload required documents, fill in the scholarship application form via the Service Desk between mid-July and the deadline (≈ end of September for regional/University scholarships) for AY 2025-2026. (University of Milan)

7. Monitor your email and the UniMi portals (ranking lists, provisional / final) for selection results. Accept or confirm enrollment where required. (University of Milan)

Required Documents Checklist

Based on the published calls and the Summary call document (for AY 2025-26), these are typically required:

• Official academic transcripts from previous degrees (Bachelor’s) including grades.

• Degree certificate (or proof of pending graduation if relevant deadline).

• Proof of admission offer to UniMi (Master’s programme) if applying for Excellence.

• Passport or national ID.

• Proof of income / assets (especially for regional / DSU scholarship calls) – for applicants with family residing abroad or abroad incomes.

• Language proficiency proof (Italian or English) if required by the programme. For Excellence, the programme doesn’t always require IELTS if your previous studies were in English, but check programme-specific rules. (University of Milan)

• Personal statement / motivation letter (sometimes), CV.

• Any documents required for enrolment at UniMi or university fees etc.

Translations (to Italian or English) may be needed; also scans must be legible. Provide certified / recognized documents where required.

Selection Criteria & What Reviewers Look For

From official sources:

• Academic merit: GPA / grades in previous degree. Top performance increases chances. (University of Milan)

• Ranking within programme: Among all applicants to that Master’s programme. For open-access programmes a ranking is done; for limited-access, the ranking may involve selection tests etc. (University of Milan)

• Timely application: Meeting admission deadlines (esp. for Excellence: Master’s admission by end of May in 2025) is mandatory. Late applications are not considered. (University of Milan)

• Income / financial situation: For DSU/regional scholarships, income and asset thresholds affect eligibility and benefit size. Merit + financial need often combined. (University of Milan)

• Credit / attendance / performance retention: To maintain regional/DSU benefits, students have to meet credit or exam thresholds within certain time frames. Failure may lead to losing or returning funds. (University of Milan)

Practical Tips to Strengthen an Application

To increase the probability of success:

• Start early: Admission deadlines and scholarship deadlines are early. For Excellence, May 31 in past cycle; DSU calls open around July. Gather transcripts, translations, income documents ahead of time.

• Maintain excellent grades: Emphasize strong undergraduate performance. If possible, justify challenging coursework or high marks in relevant subjects.

• Clear, strong CV and motivation: Highlight research, internships, relevant projects. For Master’s programs with competitive access or limited seats, prior experience matters.

• Polish document translations: If your documents are in another language, ensure translations are accurate and certified.

• Check language requirements programme-by-programme: Even if IELTS is not strictly required everywhere, some Master’s require proof of English or Italian. Present any accepted alternative evidence (certificate, prior English-medium instruction).

• Income documentation: For DSU/regional, detailed, up-to-date proof of earnings, family income, assets is essential. If abroad, ensure you understand what is accepted, whether legalisation or translation is required.

• Use the Carta La Statale: Activate it early; it's essential for collecting benefits and verifying identity for services.

• Monitor university announcements: Sometimes there are “scrolls” – additional rounds for Excellence Scholarships if initial recipients decline. Also appeals or corrections to provisional rankings are sometimes accepted. (University of Milan)

• Keep email updated and check periodically: University will notify via email for many steps. Missing an email could mean losing the chance.

Official Links & Apply Now

• University of Milan – International Scholarships (“Excellence Scholarships”) page: official description, eligibility, what is available. University of Milan – International Scholarships (Excellence) page (https://www.unimi.it/en/study/financial-support/international-scholarships) (University of Milan)

• University of Milan – Regional Scholarships / DSU (Diritto allo Studio): includes University Scholarships and benefits. Regional Scholarships page (https://www.unimi.it/en/study/financial-support/regional-scholarships) (University of Milan)

• Summary of the Call for Applications A.Y. 2025-26: contains detailed deadlines, income/merit thresholds, procedure. Summary of the Call PDF (https://www.unimi.it/sites/default/files/2025-07/Summary%20of%20the%20Call%20for%20Applications%20A.Y.%2025-26.pdf) (University of Milan)

• Fees, Scholarships & Opportunities – International Students: general information on fee systems, benefits for non-Italian students. Fees & Opportunities page (https://www.unimi.it/en/international/coming-abroad/fees-scholarships-and-opportunities) (University of Milan)

• Apply via UniMi Online Service Desk (Benefits / Diritto allo Studio portal): for DSU / regional applications. The “Online Service Desk” link is embedded from the Regional Scholarships page; registering and applying is done there. As of last verification, the call for regional scholarships AY 2025-26 uses the portal “studente.unimi.it/dirittoallostudio/” for submitting applications. (University of Milan)

FAQ

Q1: Is the Excellence Scholarship “fully funded” (i.e. covers all costs including living)?
A1: Not fully in the sense of all living expenses. It exempts or covers tuition fees (all-inclusive tuition fee) and provides a grant (for 60 of the incentives: € 8,000) that helps with costs. It does not explicitly cover full accommodation, health insurance, or full living expenses. Check the programme’s estimated cost of living.

Q2: Can I apply for both Excellence Scholarships and DSU / regional scholarships?
A2: Yes- possibly. These are different schemes. Excellence is merit-based for Master’s admissions; DSU / regional scholarships are income/merit based, for enrolled students. If you meet criteria for both, in some cases you may receive benefits from both, but there might be rules about not holding overlapping or duplicate grants. Always check the specific call’s rules.

Q3: Do I need an IELTS or other standardized test for English / language requirements?
A3: It depends on the Master’s programme. For many programmes, proof of English medium instruction or other acceptable evidence is sufficient. Some may require specific tests. For Excellence Scholarships, the official page says: “Language proficiency … as required by the programme.” As of last verification, IELTS is not universally required. (ScholyHub)

Q4: What happens if I don’t reach the required credits or grades after my first year?
A4: For DSU / regional scholarship recipients, failing to meet merit / credit thresholds can lead to the scholarship being revoked or having to repay some portion of benefits. (University of Milan)

Q5: When will information for the 2026/2027 academic year be available?
A5: The University typically publishes calls in mid-year (around summer), for the following academic year. For example, Excellence Scholarships calls for 2025-26 had deadlines in May 2025. So for 2026-27, watch for calls in spring / early summer 2026. Always check the official UniMi pages (International Scholarships; Regional Scholarships) for updates.

Call to Action

If you are interested:

• Visit the University of Milan International Scholarships – Excellence page and review the eligibility and details.

• Also set reminders for when the next call opens (likely in mid-2026 for academic year 2026-27).

• Keep all documents (transcripts, income proof, language proof) ready in advance.

Apply now once the next Excellence Scholarships call or DSU / Regional call is active via UniMi’s portals:
University of Milan – International Scholarships (Excellence) (https://www.unimi.it/en/study/financial-support/international-scholarships)
University of Milan – Regional Scholarships / DSU (https://www.unimi.it/en/study/financial-support/regional-scholarships)

Disclaimer: Dates, amounts, and eligibility criteria are based on the latest official information for academic year 2025‐2026, as of September 23, 2025. For academic year 2026-2027, UniMi may adjust some deadlines, amounts, or requirements. Always verify the latest call documents on the official University of Milan website before applying.