Italy’s ISU Bocconi Scholarship 2026–27: Who Qualifies, What You Get and How to Apply

International students admitted to an eligible Bachelor’s, Law, Master of Science or PhD programme at Bocconi University may qualify for the ISU Bocconi Scholarship 2026–27 if their family income and assets fall within the prescribed limits.

The scholarship can combine a cash stipend, meal support, regional-tax reimbursement and, for certain categories, full or partial tuition exemption. However, admission to Bocconi and financial eligibility do not automatically guarantee that every applicant will receive the cash award.

ISU Bocconi Scholarship 2026–27 at a Glance

Who Is This Scholarship For?

The ISU Bocconi Scholarship is mainly for students who have limited financial resources and are admitted to an eligible Bocconi degree.

Students from outside Italy can apply, but they must satisfy both Bocconi’s admission requirements and the scholarship’s financial-document rules. The scholarship is available for students enrolled in:

• Bachelor of Science programmes
• The Integrated Master of Arts in Law
• Master of Science programmes
• Eligible PhD programmes
• Later years of an eligible Bocconi degree

Applicants normally cannot receive the scholarship if they already hold a degree at the same or a higher academic level. Previous enrolment in another programme at the same level may also affect eligibility, even when that earlier degree was not completed.

Certain partner-selected Double or Joint Degree students and students enrolled in the World Bachelor in Business are generally excluded.

How Much Money Does the Scholarship Provide?

The cash stipend of ISU Bocconi Scholarship ranges from €1,124 to €7,229, depending on the applicant’s financial bracket and residential classification.

Eligible students may also receive:

• €829 in meal support
• Reimbursement of the regional education tax
• Preferential-rate meals
• Possible tuition exemption
• Possible support for international mobility or internships

The highest cash award is reserved for a qualifying non-resident student in the lowest financial bracket. It should not be assumed that every international student will receive €7,229.

What Are the ISU Financial Brackets?

The amount awarded depends partly on the student’s ISEE or ISEEU value.

Students with a lower qualifying financial indicator generally receive a higher scholarship amount.

Is the ISU Bocconi Scholarship Fully Funded?

It can provide a near-fully-funded package for some students, but it is not automatically fully funded for everyone.

The scholarship does not guarantee free accommodation, full living expenses and complete tuition exemption for every recipient. Tuition treatment depends on the student’s programme and admission category.

First-year international Master of Science students who qualify under the applicable rules may receive full exemption from Bocconi academic tuition and fees.

First-year Bachelor’s and Law applicants normally need to follow the relevant Bocconi4Access procedure for tuition support. First-year Master of Science students classified as Bocconi or Italian applicants may also need to use Bocconi4Access for their tuition benefit.

Eligible students in years after the first generally receive full tuition exemption. Students in their first year beyond the regular programme duration may receive only a 50% exemption.

This distinction is important because standard Bocconi tuition can reach approximately:

• €17,000 per year for first-year Bachelor’s and Law programmes
• €18,550 per year for first-year Master of Science programmes

Applicants should therefore check whether they qualify only for the ISU stipend, only for tuition relief, or for a combination of both.

What Income Limits Apply?

Applicants must have an ISEE or ISEEU not exceeding €26,887.93 and an ISPE or ISPEU not exceeding €58,452.06.

These are two separate tests:

• ISEE or ISEEU measures the family’s overall economic position.
• ISPE or ISPEU measures the family’s asset and property position.

A student can fail the scholarship test even when family income is low if the declared property or financial assets exceed the permitted limit.

What Is an ISEEU Parificato?

International students whose families live outside Italy must obtain an ISEEU Parificato through the CAF partnered with Bocconi University. A general income certificate from the applicant’s home country is not enough by itself. The ISEEU calculation may examine:

• Family income
• Bank balances and investments
• Land and property ownership
• Family composition
• Business ownership
• Company assets
• Other financial resources

Applicants may need officially issued, translated and legalised documents from their country of residence. Families that own businesses can be asked for certified business or financial statements. International applicants should begin collecting these documents well before the scholarship deadline. Missing, inconsistent or incorrectly translated financial records can lead to rejection.

Can You Apply as an Independent Student at ISU Bocconi?

Simply living away from your parents does not normally make you financially independent for ISU purposes.

An applicant usually needs to prove both:

• Residence outside the family home for the required period in accommodation not owned by the family
• Sufficient independently earned and properly declared employment income for the required previous years

When both conditions are not met, Bocconi normally assesses the income and assets of the student’s parents or family household.

Is a Minimum GPA Required for Scholarship at ISU Bocconi?

There is no separate previous-GPA cut-off for first-year ISU applicants because their initial ranking is mainly based on financial need.

Bocconi admission remains competitive and is assessed separately from the scholarship. After enrolment, students must maintain sufficient academic progress to keep the award. First-year students must normally obtain:

Students who fail to earn the required credits can lose the stipend, meal benefit and related assistance. They may also be required to repay amounts already received. For students in later years, both completed credits and academic average can affect ranking position.

What Does “Eligible Non-Recipient” Mean?

An eligible non-recipient meets the scholarship rules but does not initially receive the cash stipend because available funding has been exhausted.

This is one of the most important terms international applicants need to understand. A final result may show one of three outcomes:

An eligible non-recipient may receive the stipend later if additional funds become available. However, students should not sign an expensive rental contract on the assumption that financial eligibility guarantees immediate cash funding.

Does Bocconi Require IELTS?

The ISU scholarship itself does not require IELTS, but the degree programme may require proof of English proficiency.

For many English-taught Master of Science programmes, applicants may submit the admission application before providing the final English certificate. The language requirement must then be satisfied before completing enrolment.

Commonly accepted B2-level scores include:

Applicants may also qualify through an accepted previous qualification completed in English or an eligible university English examination. Some specialised, global-experience and double-degree programmes require C1 English. Students should check the exact requirement for their selected course rather than assuming IELTS 6.5 applies to every Bocconi programme.

Can You Apply Without IELTS on ISU Bocconi Scholarship?

Yes. You can apply for the ISU Bocconi Scholarship without IELTS because the scholarship itself does not require an English-language test. However, you must satisfy the English-language requirement of your chosen Bocconi degree before completing enrolment.

For most English-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes, Bocconi accepts IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component, which corresponds to CEFR B2. However, some specialised programmes—including CEMS MIM, IM Global Experience, Finance Global Experience and selected double-degree programmes—require CEFR C1 English, meaning applicants may need a higher IELTS-equivalent level.

If your previous degree was taught entirely in English, Bocconi may accept an eligible English-medium qualification or another recognised English-language certificate instead of IELTS. However, a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter is not automatically accepted for every programme, so applicants should verify the language requirements for their specific course before relying on it.

In short: No IELTS is required to apply for the ISU Bocconi Scholarship itself, but you cannot complete admission to an English-taught Bocconi programme without meeting its approved English-language requirement.

Is There an Application Fee to Apply for ISU Bocconi Scholarship?

The ISU scholarship procedure does not list a separate scholarship fee, but Bocconi normally charges €100 for each degree admission application.

The admission and scholarship applications are separate. Paying the €100 admission fee does not mean that the student has applied for ISU funding. Likewise, receiving a Bocconi admission offer does not automatically place the applicant in the scholarship ranking.

Does the ICU Bocconi Scholarship Include Free Accommodation?

No. The scholarship does not automatically provide a free room.

Bocconi residence places and preferential-rate accommodation are separate, limited benefits. A student seeking the higher non-resident stipend must normally prove that they are paying for qualifying accommodation near the university for the required period.

Acceptable evidence may include:

• A registered rental contract
• A Bocconi residence assignment
• A qualifying housing-provider statement
• Valid rent-payment documentation

A student living abroad is not automatically classified as non-resident. Without acceptable accommodation evidence, the applicant may be treated as a commuting student and receive a lower stipend.

Is the Scholarship Enough to Live in Milan?

The scholarship can reduce living costs considerably, but even the maximum award may not cover a full year in Milan. A private single room in Milan can cost approximately €600 to €1,100 per month. Over ten months, rent alone may reach €6,000 to €11,000. Students should also budget for:

• A rental deposit
• Utilities
• Food not covered by the meal benefit
• Public transport
• Health insurance
• Residence-permit charges
• Study materials
• Personal expenses

The timing of payments creates another challenge. The first instalment may not arrive until around the end of December. First-year students may have to wait until after their academic credits are checked before receiving the second instalment.

Applicants should arrive in Italy with enough money to cover initial rent, deposits and several months of living expenses.

Can International Students Work in Italy?

Yes. An Italian study residence permit normally allows international students to work up to 20 hours per week and 1,040 hours per year. Part-time work can help with food, transport and personal expenses, but students should not rely on finding immediate employment.

The ability to work does not guarantee:

• A job after arrival
• English-speaking employment
• Enough income to cover Milan rent
• Acceptance of future earnings for visa financial proof

Italian-language ability can significantly improve access to retail, hospitality, administration and customer-service work.

Bocconi may also offer limited university work-study opportunities, but these positions are competitive and should not be treated as guaranteed income.

Can You Receive Another Scholarship at the Same Time?

The ISU scholarship normally cannot be combined with another similar financial award for the same academic year.

Students offered two incompatible scholarships may have to choose one.

Certain awards for international mobility, overseas study or excellence may be treated differently. Applicants should disclose all funding and request written clarification before accepting overlapping benefits.

How to Apply for the ISU Bocconi Scholarship?

Applicants must submit a separate ISU application and provide every required financial document within the deadline for their category.

Follow this order:

1. Apply for an eligible Bocconi degree.
2. Pay the applicable admission application fee.
3. Complete the enrolment steps required for the relevant admission session.
4. Collect family-income, property, bank and business documents.
5. Request an ISEEU Parificato through Bocconi’s partner CAF if the family lives abroad.
6. Complete the online ISU scholarship application.
7. Download, sign and upload the required application form.
8. Submit every supporting financial document.
9. Provide accommodation evidence when requesting non-resident status.
10. Check the provisional ranking and request correction within the appeal period if necessary.

Failure to submit the signed form or even one compulsory document can result in disqualification.

ISU Bocconi Scholarship Deadline

The normal 2026–27 application periods have closed for most applicants, but a restricted second window will run from August 24 to September 4, 2026.

Should You Apply or Skip?

Apply if you are admitted to an eligible Bocconi programme, satisfy both financial limits, can produce complete verifiable documentation and still have access to a valid application window.

The scholarship is particularly valuable for international Master of Science students and continuing students who may qualify for both tuition exemption and living support.

Skip the 2026–27 application if you missed the ordinary deadline and do not fall within the restricted second-window financial range. Preparing early for the next cycle will be more useful than submitting an application Bocconi cannot accept.

The strongest applicant is not simply the student with the highest grades. It is the student who qualifies financially, follows the correct application route, submits every document on time and has a realistic plan for covering Milan expenses before the scholarship instalments arrive.