A.R.D.S.U. Basilicata - Scholarships

ARDSU Basilicata study grant

You will receive a grant of 1,050 to 7,726 EUR per year, which is paid out in monthly instalments averaging around 417 euros. The amount depends on how far you live from your university and how low your family income is. Students who move more than 50 km away from home receive the highest grant. Students who live nearby receive less, but from their second year of study onwards they also receive one free meal a day in the canteen. In addition, your regional tuition fees will be reimbursed, and you can apply for a subsidised place in a student hall of residence. The funding comes from ARDSU Basilicata, the student support organisation for the Basilicata region in southern Italy. It supports students who have the ability but not the financial means to study.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at the University of Basilicata, a music conservatoire or another eligible higher education institution in the Basilicata region (Potenza or Matera).
• Level: Bachelor’s degree, single-cycle degree programme, Master’s degree, PhD or a degree from a university of applied sciences. You must not already hold a qualification at the same level.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. If your family lives abroad, you must provide certified proof of income.
• Age: You are 35 years old or younger (born on 1990 or later). There is no age limit for PhD students.
• Financial need: Your family’s ISEE (an Italian standard measure of household income) is no more than 27,948 EUR, and your ISPE (a measure of household wealth) is no more than 60,757 EUR. If either of these thresholds is exceeded, you are ineligible to take part.
• Grades: After your first year of study, you must earn a specified number of credit points (at least 20 ECTS in the first year). If you do not achieve this number, you will have to repay the scholarship.

How to apply

Applications must be made online via your personal account on the ARDSU Basilicata website and submitted by certified email. The application deadline for the year 2025/2026 is 25 September. A separate application period in February and March applies to medical students in their screening semester.

How realistic are your chances?

You must be studying in the Basilicata region and meet strict income and asset limits, meaning that the pool of eligible applicants is significantly smaller than for open national scholarships. This is means-tested funding rather than a competition for a handful of scholarships. If you clearly meet the income limits and achieve your academic targets, your prospects are good. Apply in good time and ensure you have your ISEE certificate to hand well in advance.