ESN Italia - Scholarship "Il tuo Erasmus con ESN"

Scholarship "Il tuo Erasmus con ESN"

You will receive a one-off cash grant of 500 EUR, which is in addition to your existing Erasmus+ grant for studying or undertaking a work placement abroad. One winner will receive 1,000 EUR instead. The money comes from the Erasmus Student Network Italy (ESN Italia), a student-run voluntary organisation. Every year, it distributes a total of 8,000 EUR amongst 15 winners. You will retain your full regular Erasmus+ funding; this amount is simply added on top.

Who can apply

• Your university: You are studying at an Italian higher education institution that holds the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education and has a local ESN group taking part in the competition.
• Erasmus+ grant: You already have an Erasmus+ grant. For study exchanges, this must be 2026/2027; for work placements, it may be 2025/2026 or 2026/2027.
• Field of study: Open to all disciplines.
• Nationality: Any nationality, provided you are studying in Italy and going abroad as part of the Erasmus+ programme.
• Age: No age limit.

How to apply

Register via the online form on the ESN Italia website. The registration deadline for the 2026 round is 27 June 2026, 23:59 CEST. Winners will be selected on the basis of a written essay on Europe, the EU and student mobility. You will sit the exam in person at your university on 7 July 2026. You will only be told the topic at the start of the exam and will have three hours to write the essay (four hours if you have a certified disability or learning difficulty). You may write in Italian or English. The final ranking will be published on 10 October 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This is an essay competition with only 15 winners, and in previous rounds over 3,000 entries were received – so the competition is really fiercely contested. Meeting the entry requirements merely secures you a place on the exam. The outcome depends on how well you write about Europe and mobility under time pressure. Think of it more as a worthwhile attempt with slim chances of success rather than a scholarship that you are guaranteed to receive simply by qualifying.