University of Bologna (Bologna/Italy) - Tuition fee waivers

Tuition fee waivers at the University of Bologna

You can save up to approximately 5,839 EUR over the course of the academic year. If you are granted a full exemption, you will only pay the fixed fee of 157.04 EUR and will not have to pay the income-related variable portion. The exemption is valid for one academic year, and you must reapply for it every year. It is granted by the University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum) and is available to all students on a degree programme, regardless of their subject. If your income is slightly higher, you may still be eligible for a partial reduction, meaning that many students pay less even without a full exemption.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled on a Bachelor’s, single-cycle or Master’s programme at the University of Bologna in Italy. First-year students may apply before they have chosen a degree programme or completed their enrolment.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: This offer is open to both Italian and international students. Special rules apply if your income and assets are held entirely abroad. Nationals of very low-income countries or non-OECD countries may be eligible for a reduced flat-rate fee.
• Financial need: To qualify for full exemption, your household’s ISEE must not exceed 27,000 EUR. The ISEE is an official Italian measure of a family’s income and assets. Above this amount, you will receive a discount, which decreases gradually as your income rises.
• Other routes to a full waiver: You are also eligible without a means test if you have a recognised disability of 66% or more. You are also eligible if, after completing your Bachelor’s degree with top marks (110/110) within the standard duration of study, you commence a Master’s programme under the Bologna system.

How to apply

For means-tested exemptions, please submit your ISEE via the ER.GO portal by 30 October. If you earn income abroad, please upload the relevant supporting documents by a later deadline in November. The performance-based exemption for Master’s students is granted automatically; no application is required.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a competitive process with a limited number of places. If your ISEE score is below the income threshold, you are legally entitled to a full exemption, and even for higher incomes, a sliding-scale reduction is granted. The biggest risk is missing the ISEE deadline or filling in the application incorrectly. You should therefore submit your application well in advance and check your details carefully. For students who fall within the relevant income bracket and submit their application on time, the exemption is essentially guaranteed.