Scholarships for International Students in Italy with Low CGPA (2025 Update)

Scholarships for International Students in Italy with Low CGPA

Italy is a dream of many foreign students to study in. Whether it is one of the oldest and historical universities such as the University of Bologna or a contemporary and state-of-art university with world-class research opportunities, Italy keeps inviting thousands of scholarly-minded students all around the world annually.

The country offers high quality education, beautiful landscapes and a rich culture and this attracts many. But what say the scenario where your CGPA is not so high? It means that it is the end of your dream to study in italy? Another misconception of many students is that getting a scholarship or even a chance of being accepted is impossible when one has a low CGPA.

This is just not so. As a matter of fact, Italy is a country which has a number of universities and scholarship programs which view more than grades. They also focus on motivation, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters and your own achievements. Therefore, do not despair, because Italy offers a great number of opportunities to you.

Here in this 2025 guide, we will tell you how you can win scholarships in Italy even with a low CGPA, the universities that you should consider and how you can smartly secure your chances.

Why Italy Remains a Top Destination in 2025

Italy would make an excellent destination alternative to international students, that is due to the low tuition costs, low living costs, historic cities to visit and hundreds of scholarship opportunities.

It is also providing the varied programs; teaching English at undergraduate level, graduate level and a doctorate level, thus, students across the globe do not have to study the Italian language before they can pursue their studies in this institution.

Above all, Italy does not limit itself to looking at your CGPA or academic performance when it is time to grant you a scholarship. They tend to examine at your entire background, such as motivation, country, life story, financial conditions, and occasionally career planning or objectives. This implies that provided your grades are not the best, you still have quite a chance to obtain funding and implement your dream of studying in Italy.

What is Considered a Low CGPA in Italy?

Low CGPA In most instances, anything less than 2.5 (on a 4.0 grading scale) or 60 percent (in percentage systems) is low. Do not let this deter you though. Most scholarships concentrate more on monetary need, motivation letters or quotas on nationality rather than grades.

Scholarships for International Students in Italy with Low CGPA 2025

1. DSU Regional Scholarship (Diritto allo Studio Universitario)

This is the most popular scholarship among international students who want to study in Italy. Our region governments like Tuscany, Lazio and Lombardy offer it. This is the best part of this scholarship because it depends more on your family income level rather than your academic results or CGPA. This helps most international students to be eligible and get financial aid in their studies.

Benefits:

• Free meals
• Free accommodation or rent support
• Annual allowance (€2,000 – €5,200)
• Tuition fee waiver

Who can apply:

• Low-income background students
• Undergraduate or postgraduate University students
• CGPA not the focus

Pro Tip: Apply early. Prepare your ISEE-equivalent income certificate from your home country.

Scholarship application website.

2. Invest Your Talent in Italy

Scholarships are available for Master’s degree students from countries like Nigeria, Ghana, India, Vietnam, and many others. This scholarship helps talented students from these countries get quality education abroad without having to worry about the costs.

Benefits:

• Monthly allowance of €900
• No tuition fee (in most cases)
• Internship opportunity in Italian companies

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (any class may apply)
• Motivational letter
• Online interview

Low CGPA students have succeeded through strong motivation letters and relevant experience.

Scholarship application website.

3. University of Bologna – Unibo Action 2 Scholarship

Students with average grades will have a chance to be considered for this scholarship because country quotas will give them a chance to apply. People with leadership, volunteer experience, and talent can also be considered for this scholarship.

Benefits:

• Tuition waiver
• €11,000 yearly stipend

Tip for low CGPA applicants:

• Apply with proof of volunteering, internships or strong passion for the course.

Scholarship application website.

4. Italian Government (MAECI) Scholarships

This scholarship targets students from developing nations looking to study overseas. The selection process heavily weighs your country of origin, the quality of your motivation letter, and in some cases, includes an interview to gauge your enthusiasm and readiness.
They don’t always look at your grades. This gives many students a fair chance to prove themselves and get financial support for their studies.

Benefits:

• €900 monthly allowance
• Health insurance
• Tuition fee coverage

Good news: They hardly ask about your CGPA, especially for arts, humanities and development-related courses.

5. Politecnico di Milano Financial Aid

This top university provides free grants on a need basis to students who may not have the means to fund their studies. They will examine your family’s financial situation and determine the amount of assistance you will get.

It’s not about your grades but to ensure that talented students regardless of background can afford good education. This means most people can study in a top university without being burdened by the financial weight.

Tips:

• Apply for fee reductions first
• Then apply for DSU or merit scholarships
• Submit income documents

Note: If you can show your financial hardship, low CGPA can be ignored.

Scholarship application website.

6. University of Padua Fee Waivers

Padua offers partial and full waiver of tuition fees so students can afford their studies. They also have merit-based scholarships where students with good grades can be offered a scholarship but some of these waivers are given because they are financially poor. This means yours may not have the best academic profile and yet you can qualify if you can show you really need the help. It’s a great chance to study in a reputable university without thinking too much about the price.

Documents required:

• CV
• Motivation letter
• Proof of income

Low CGPA? Be sure to tell your story—why you want the program and how it can benefit you.

Scholarship application website.

How to Get a Scholarship in Italy with Low CGPA

Having low CGPA is not the end. Here are the steps:

1. Write a strong motivation letter

Explain:

• Why you have low CGPA (if necessary)
• How you’ve grown since then
• Why you want to study in Italy
• Your future goals

2. Add certificates

Online courses, training, volunteer work and jobs all matter.

3. Apply early

Most Italian scholarships open between March and August every year. Early birds get priority.

4. Prepare documents properly

Incorrect or missing documents cause many rejections. Make sure your transcripts, income documents and passport are valid.

Italian Universities Where You Can Apply with Low CGPA

Here are some universities that look beyond your grades:

Mistakes to Avoid

• Thinking CGPA is everything
• Skipping motivation letter
• Not applying for DSU because it’s regional
• Assuming you won’t get selected

FAQs on Scholarships in Italy with Low CGPA

With a second class lower/third class will I be able to apply to an Italian scholarship?

Answer Yes, such scholarships as DSU, MAECI, and Invest Your Talent in Italy do not pay particular attention to your degree-level or CGPA. They consider other factors such as your nationality, whether you fare under financial need, your motivation and even where you plan to be or do in future. This means you can easily get these scholarships in Italy up to a very high probability even though you may not have recorded the best grades and this means you can study in Italy without being so worried about your past academic performance.

What documents do I need to apply?

• Valid passport
• Motivation letter
• Academic transcript
• Proof of income
• English proficiency (sometimes optional)

Do I have to be speaking Italian?

Not always. Most of the Master programs and scholarships in Italy are taught in English and therefore you may not be required to know the Italian language in order to study there. But a little bit of knowledge in the Italian language will make your life much easier, you will gain access to locals and more job opportunities as there are part-time jobs. It even respects the culture. Even the university will have free or cheap language classes teaching international students about Italian.

Does it have an age limit?

The average age limit allowed on most scholarships in Italy is between 28-30 years of age, but this is actually dependent on the given scholarship program. Older applicants may be acceptable in some of the scholarships aimed at doing a Masters or a Doctorate course, particularly in case of a working experience. Check the official requirements at the web page of the specific scholarship. Even if you are over 30 years, you still may have special programs or grants to which you may apply.

What amount of money do you need to have to get you started once you have gotten the scholarship?

All expenses related to your education are covered by a fully-funded scholarship. You may only need about €300 to €500 each month for personal expenses like food, transport, and recreation.

Conclusion

Nothing should come in between your success in the scholarship; ensure you have good grades. Italy is one of the most open to students with low CGPA if you know how to do it. Tell them you care and grow outside grades by using your personal story. Apply as soon as you can, since many scholarships are first-come-first served.

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