Last updated: 3 November 2026 (Asia/Karachi). Based on MAECI Invest Your Talent and Study in Italy 2026-27 calls, university scholarship pages, and HEC Learning Opportunities Abroad. Confirm eligibility on the official call pages before you apply.
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Looking for scholarships in italy for 2026-27? Start with the official MAECI and Invest Your Talent calls, then university and DSU routes. This refresh states plainly where Pakistan sits on those lists and what still works through HEC Learning Opportunities Abroad.
In this guide
Quick answer on scholarships in italy for 2026-27
- MAECI government scholarships (Study in Italy portal): Call for 2026-27 with deadline 26 March 2026 (14:00 Italian time). Pakistan does not appear on the official eligible-countries list for that call.
- Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT): 11th edition for 2026-27; online applications 20 April to 11 May 2026 (18:00 Italian time). Pakistan is not on the partner-country lists published with that edition.
- Still open paths: university merit scholarships (example: University of Padua international excellence awards), departmental awards, and regional DSU / right-to-study benefits after you are enrolled under Italian rules.
- HEC: no dedicated Italy-only live call found on HEC’s main scholarship hubs during this refresh; use Learning Opportunities Abroad for foreign-funded programmes that arrive through diplomatic channels.
MAECI Study in Italy call (2026-27) and scholarships in italy
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) published the English call for scholarships for foreign students and Italian citizens living abroad (IRE) for academic year 2026-27. Applications go only through the Study in Italy portal. The call states a deadline of 26 March 2026 at 14:00 Italian time. Master’s scholarships in the call are described as nine months and potentially renewable, with funding periods spelled out in the PDF.
Selection is based on citizenship, and applicants may apply for one country only. The companion PDF “List of eligible foreign countries” for the same deadline does not include Pakistan. That is the decisive point for Pakistani readers of older “fully funded Italy” blog posts: for this 2026-27 MAECI round, Pakistan is outside the eligible set. Do not force an application against a closed country list.
If a future MAECI call adds Pakistan, the Study in Italy portal and the new eligible-countries PDF will show it. Until then, treat MAECI government scholarships as unavailable for Pakistani nationality under the 2026-27 documents we cite.
Invest Your Talent in Italy (2026-27)
Invest Your Talent in Italy is a MAECI / ICE / Uni-Italia programme for English-taught Master’s and postgraduate courses in engineering and advanced technologies, architecture and design, and economics and management, plus a mandatory internship with an Italian company. MAECI’s IYT page states applications for 2026-27 are open with a deadline of 11 May at 18:00 Italian time. The current bando on the IYT site sets the window as 20 April 2026 to 11 May 2026, with scholarships lasting nine months from 1 October 2026.
Partner-university pages for the 2026-27 edition list eligible countries such as India, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Turkey and others. Pakistan is not among the countries named on those 2026-27 lists we checked. Insight Pakistan therefore does not tell Pakistani applicants to file an IYT form for this edition. Re-read the live IYT eligible-country list each year before you spend money on translations or courier fees.
University awards and regional DSU paths for scholarships in italy
When central MAECI tracks exclude a nationality, university and regional aid still matter:
- University of Padua publishes scholarships and benefits for international students, including the Padua International Excellence Scholarship for selected English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, plus departmental scholarships. Always read the active call on unipd.it for deadlines and nationality rules.
- Other universities publish their own merit waivers and fee reductions. Apply to the degree first through Universitaly / the university portal, then chase the scholarship call that matches your offer letter.
- Regional DSU (diritto allo studio universitario): Italian regions run means-tested benefits (fee reductions, canteen, housing contributions) for eligible enrolled students. Rules differ by region and usually require enrolment plus ISEE / equivalent economic documents. DSU is not a substitute for a MAECI monthly grant, but it is a real cost reducer once you are admitted.
| Track | 2026-27 fact used here | Pakistan eligible? |
|---|---|---|
| MAECI Study in Italy | Deadline 26 March 2026, 14:00 Italian time; apply on studyinitaly.esteri.it | No on the official eligible-countries PDF |
| Invest Your Talent | Apply 20 April-11 May 2026; 9-month award from 1 Oct 2026 | Not on 2026-27 partner lists checked |
| Padua / university awards | University publishes international excellence and departmental scholarships | Check each active call |
| Regional DSU | Means-tested student benefits after enrolment | Depends on region and student status |
Related reading on this site covers Italy work-visa policy changes, which is a different topic from student scholarships in italy: Italy work visa policy note.
Search results for scholarships in italy still recycle 2024 screenshots that list Pakistan under MAECI. Those screenshots do not override the 2026-27 eligible-countries PDF. When a blog and a ministry PDF disagree, the PDF wins.
Another practical tip for scholarships in italy hunters: start with admission, not with a scholarship WhatsApp group. Without a university offer or a clear pre-enrolment path, DSU and many merit awards cannot start.
HEC Pakistan: what exists (and what does not)
HEC’s Learning Opportunities Abroad (LOA) page explains that HEC channels foreign-funded scholarships received through diplomatic routes and asks applicants to hold valid HAT / USAT scores where required. The page names examples such as Hungarian, Commonwealth and Chinese programmes. During this refresh we did not find a live, Italy-specific HEC call sitting beside those examples. If an Italian offer arrives later through LOA, it will appear on that portal. Do not assume a standing “HEC Italy scholarship” exists when the LOA list does not show one.
Older HEC overseas PhD schemes that once mentioned European destinations are closed to new awards according to HEC’s own programme pages. Always trust the live LOA / scholarship listing over a 2024 blog screenshot.
Readers comparing Gulf work paths with study funding should not confuse a job visa with scholarships in italy. Funding packages and immigration categories are separate paperwork tracks.
FAQs
Can Pakistani students apply for MAECI scholarships in italy for 2026-27?
Not under the official eligible-countries list published with the 2026-27 Study in Italy call. Pakistan is absent from that PDF.
Is Invest Your Talent open to Pakistan in 2026-27?
The partner-country lists checked for the 2026-27 edition do not include Pakistan. Confirm on the live IYT pages before applying.
What scholarships in italy remain realistic if MAECI lists exclude Pakistan?
University merit scholarships, departmental awards, and regional DSU benefits after enrolment. Read each university and region call for nationality rules.
When was the MAECI 2026-27 deadline?
26 March 2026 at 14:00 Italian time on the Study in Italy portal, per the official English call PDF.
Does HEC currently advertise a dedicated Italy scholarship?
No dedicated Italy call was found on HEC’s LOA / international scholarship hubs during this refresh. Watch LOA for any new diplomatic offer.
Where do I start if I still want to study in Italy?
Pick programmes on university sites, complete pre-enrolment steps they require, then apply for that university’s international scholarship and, after enrolment, the regional DSU call.
Is this page legal or visa advice?
No. It summarises scholarship calls. Student visa rules are separate and must be checked with the Italian consular channel that serves you.
Sources
- MAECI: Study in Italy scholarships call 2026-27 (PDF) and eligible countries list.
- Study in Italy portal: studyinitaly.esteri.it.
- MAECI IYT: Invest Your Talent page and current bando.
- University of Padua: Scholarships for international students.
- HEC: Learning Opportunities Abroad.
Country lists change by call. Re-open the PDFs above before you apply.
