The University of Bologna Study Grants are a two-part funding package for international students admitted to Bachelor's and Master's programs at the University of Bologna (often shortened to Unibo). One part is a tuition-fee waiver. The other is a cash grant meant for living costs. Put together, they make studying in Italy a lot more affordable than paying full fees and supporting yourself from savings.
The catch, and it is one many applicants miss, is that the grant does not come to you automatically. You apply for your degree program first, and then you file a separate Study Grant or International Talents application before the deadline. You can read the full scholarship details on our scholarship page, and this guide walks through how the process actually works and where Pakistani students tend to slip up.
A short summary before you plan
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Funding type | Partial funding: tuition-fee waiver plus a cash living-cost grant |
| Study level | Bachelor's and Master's |
| Fields | All University of Bologna degree programs |
| Applications open | Expected January-February |
| Deadline | Typically late May or early June (confirm the exact date each year) |
| Country | Italy |
| Provider | University of Bologna |
| Official site | unibo.it |
Why a fee waiver plus a cash grant is a better deal than it sounds
A lot of university scholarships give you one thing. Either your tuition is reduced, or you get some money to live on. The Bologna package combines both, which is the main reason it is worth a Pakistani student's time. A fee waiver on its own still leaves you paying rent, food and transport in an Italian city. A living grant on its own can disappear into tuition. Having both means the money you receive is actually available for day-to-day costs.
That said, it is listed as partial funding, so be realistic. The source information does not give fixed amounts for the waiver or the cash grant, and you should not plan your budget around a figure you have heard from a friend or seen on a forum. Check the current amounts on the official website for your intake year, and assume you will still need some money of your own, whether from family or savings, to cover the gap. If you are also preparing a visa file, our guide to bank statements and proof of funds explains how Pakistani students usually document this.
The university itself
The University of Bologna was founded in 1088 and is often cited as the oldest university in the Western world. It is Italy's oldest university and has a strong academic reputation across disciplines. Bologna is a lively student city in the Emilia-Romagna region. For a student coming from Lahore, Karachi or Islamabad, that matters in a practical way: you will be in a place built around students rather than a quiet campus town.
The two-application structure
Here is the sequence, and it is simple once you see it laid out:
- Apply for admission to your chosen University of Bologna program.
- Submit the separate Study Grant or International Talents application before the scholarship deadline.
Being admitted does not put you in the running for the grant. Being in the running for the grant does not mean you have a place. They are two separate tracks, and you need to complete both. Students who submit a strong admission application and then wait for a funding email are the ones who end up with an offer and no money.
Give yourself time between the two steps. Admission paperwork can take longer than you expect, especially when you need transcripts, test scores and identity documents all in order at once. Aim to finish the admission application well before the grant window closes so you are not filing both in the last week.
The standardized test requirement
This is where the Bologna grants differ from many other Italian university funding schemes. A standardized test score is part of the process:
- Master's applicants need the GRE.
- Bachelor's applicants need the SAT or TOLC.
For Pakistani students, the GRE and SAT are the tests that need the most forward planning. Test dates, preparation time and score reporting all take weeks, sometimes longer. If you are aiming for a deadline around late May or early June, you should not be booking your first test attempt in April. Sit the test early enough that you could retake it once if your first score is weaker than you hoped, and still have the result in hand before the grant deadline.
A Master's applicant does not need the SAT or TOLC, and a Bachelor's applicant does not need the GRE. Make sure you are preparing for the right test for your level.
Who this grant is designed for
The eligibility conditions are short, but each one counts:
- You hold an educational qualification from outside the Italian education system, and it is valid for admission to your chosen program.
- You are enrolled in, or enrolling in, an eligible Unibo program.
- You have a GRE score (for Master's) or a SAT or TOLC score (for Bachelor's).
- You are generally under approximately 30 years old.
The grant is aimed at students whose qualifications come from outside Italy, which is the situation of most Pakistani applicants. Still, whether your specific qualification is valid for admission to a given program is a question for the university, so check the program's entry requirements and confirm your eligibility for your nationality on the official portal.
The age condition is phrased loosely as "generally under approximately 30", which means it is not a hard line you can rely on either way. If you are close to that age, read the current call for applications carefully rather than assuming you are in or out.
Every University of Bologna degree program is in scope, so there is no restriction to engineering, business or any particular subject.
Paperwork to gather early
The document list is short, which makes it easy to underestimate:
- Academic transcripts
- Standardized test scores (GRE, SAT or TOLC)
- Passport
- Proof of program admission
Transcripts are the item most likely to slow a Pakistani applicant down, because getting official copies and any attestation done through your board or university takes time. If you have not dealt with attestation before, our IBCC and MOFA attestation guide covers the usual routes. Check your passport validity too. Renewing it in the middle of an application cycle is stress you do not need.
Program admission proof is listed because the grant application comes after you have applied for admission. Keep a copy of every confirmation the university sends you.
When to start and when it closes
Applications are expected to open in January-February, and the deadline is typically late May or early June. These are typical windows, not fixed dates, so confirm the exact opening and closing dates on the official portal for your intake year.
Working backwards from a late May deadline, a sensible plan for a Pakistani student looks roughly like this. In the months before January, prepare for and sit your GRE or SAT (or TOLC). When applications open in January-February, start the program admission application. Once that is underway, move straight to the Study Grant or International Talents application, and aim to submit it well before the deadline rather than in its final days.
Where applicants usually go wrong
From the way this scheme is set up, a few mistakes are predictable.
The biggest is assuming the grant is automatic. It is not. If you only apply for admission, you will not be considered for the Study Grant or International Talents funding. Treat the second application as just as important as the first.
The second is leaving the standardized test too late. The GRE or SAT is not something you can book, sit and receive scores for in a fortnight with any comfort. Plan it months ahead.
The third is planning finances around an imagined number. The funding is partial, and the source does not fix the amounts, so look up the current figures on the official site and build your budget from those.
The fourth is applying to a program you are not genuinely qualified for, hoping the grant will carry the application. Your qualification has to be valid for admission. Check program entry requirements before you spend money on test fees.
Who should skip this? If you have no plans to take the GRE (for a Master's) or the SAT or TOLC (for a Bachelor's), this is not the right scheme for you. Students who need full funding with no personal contribution should also look at other options alongside it. You can compare them in our list of all Italy scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the GRE for a Bachelor's application?
No. Bachelor's applicants take the SAT or TOLC instead. The GRE is specifically for Master's applicants.
Am I considered for the grant automatically when I apply for admission?
No. You need to submit a separate Study Grant or International Talents application after you apply for program admission, and before the grant deadline.
Is the University of Bologna Study Grant fully funded?
It is classed as partial funding. It combines a tuition-fee waiver with a cash living-cost grant, but you should check the current amounts on the official website and expect to cover some costs yourself.
Can Pakistani students apply?
The grant is for students holding a qualification from outside the Italian education system that is valid for admission. Pakistani students should confirm on the official portal that their qualification and nationality meet the current conditions.
Is there an age limit?
Applicants are generally expected to be under approximately 30 years old. Because the wording is not exact, check the current call if you are near that age.
Which subjects are covered?
All University of Bologna degree programs at Bachelor's and Master's level are eligible.
Before you apply, check the latest dates and conditions on the University of Bologna official website, and keep the University of Bologna scholarship page handy for the key details.