International students planning a Master’s degree in Italy have a compelling new option this year. The Azienda Regionale per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario della Basilicata, known as ARDSU Basilicata, has opened a call for applications offering 12 scholarships to foreign students enrolling in Master’s degree programs at the University of Basilicata for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The scholarships are distributed across three departments, DAFE, DiSBA, and DIUSS, and cover accommodation, meals, and a one-time cash contribution toward travel and visa costs. Applications close at 12:00 PM Italian time on July 21, 2026.
This guide breaks down exactly what the scholarship includes, who can apply, which Master’s programs are eligible, and how to put together a complete application before the deadline.
Why ARDSU Basilicata Is Worth Your Attention
Most regional scholarship schemes in Italy focus on covering tuition. ARDSU Basilicata takes a different approach. Tuition at Italian public universities is already relatively low for foreign students, and this program instead concentrates funding on the two costs that usually break a student’s budget: housing and food. That focus is worth noting if you’re comparing this scholarship against other Italian regional options.
What You Actually Receive, and When
Unlike many scholarship calls that offer only a lump sum, this program is built around three concrete benefits that start on October 1, 2026, and run for a full 12 months.
- Free accommodation at an ARDSU residence in Potenza or Matera
- Free board through two meal vouchers per day, usable at university canteens from Monday to Friday
- A one-time cash grant to help cover travel, visa, and insurance costs, calculated according to how far the student’s home country is from Italy
How the Travel Grant Scales With Distance
The one-time grant amount depends on your distance from Italy, using the Erasmus+ distance calculator as the reference tool.
| Distance from Place of Origin | One-Time Contribution |
|---|---|
| 500 to 1,499 km | €1,500 |
| 1,500 to 2,999 km | €2,000 |
| 3,000 to 5,999 km | €2,500 |
| 6,000 to 8,999 km | €3,500 |
| Over 9,000 km | €4,000 |
This contribution is paid in two instalments. You’ll receive 50% by October 31, 2026, once enrolment is verified, and the remaining balance by December 31, 2026, once regular class attendance is confirmed.
Departments and Eligible Master’s Programs
The 12 scholarships are split evenly, four per department, across three departments at the University of Basilicata. Each department offers a distinct set of Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale) programs.
Department of Agricultural, Food, and Environmental Sciences (DAFE-UNIBAS)
- Agricultural Sciences and Technologies (LM-69)
- Food Sciences and Technologies (LM-70)
- Forestry and Environmental Sciences (LM-73)
Department of Basic and Applied Sciences (DiSBA-UNIBAS)
- Biotechnologies for Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Veterinary Diagnostics (LM-9)
- Geology, Environment and Risks (LM-74)
- Mathematics (LM-40)
- Chemical Sciences (LM-45)
Department for Humanistic, Scientific and Social Innovation (DIUSS-UNIBAS)
- Archaeology and History of Art (LM-2/LM-89)
- Economics and Management (LM-56)
- Classical and Modern Philology (LM-14/LM-15)
- Anthropological and Geographical Sciences for Cultural Heritage and Territorial Enhancement (LM-1/LM-80)
- European History and Civilizations (LM-86)
Applicants should check the Manifesto degli Studi (Study Guidelines) for their chosen program, since curricular requirements are set at the individual course level and are essential for eligibility.
Also Check: EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships 2026
Full Eligibility Checklist
To be considered for one of these scholarships, candidates need to meet a specific set of academic and administrative requirements at the point of enrolment.
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree in a field consistent with the chosen Master’s program, obtained by August 1, 2026 (or provide a self-certification of the expected award date)
- Meet the curricular requirements specified in the relevant department’s Manifesto degli Studi
- Be no older than 26 years old on the application deadline
- Have achieved a weighted GPA of at least 70% of the maximum score in their Bachelor’s system
- Submit a pre-enrolment application through the Universitaly portal, or commit to doing so by August 31, 2026, if the Bachelor’s degree is not yet completed
Foreign grades are converted into the Italian system using a linear transformation formula, so candidates from any grading system can be fairly assessed. Two of the 12 scholarships are reserved as a priority for students of Lucanian origin, meaning those with relatives up to the third degree born in Basilicata, provided they still meet the minimum age and GPA requirements.
Documents to Prepare in Advance
Every application must be submitted as a complete set of PDF files. Missing documents lead to exclusion, so it’s worth preparing this checklist well ahead of the deadline.
- Application form completed in English, signed by the candidate (Annex 2)
- Copy of a valid passport
- Bachelor’s degree certificate or equivalent, or a self-certification of expected completion
- Official Transcript of Records listing all exams, credits, and grades
- Self-certification of curricular requirements (Annex 3)
- Self-declaration of Universitaly pre-enrolment, or a commitment to submit it by August 31, 2026
- Official grading scale statement from the home university (hours per credit, Vmin/Vmax)
- Optional: documentation proving Lucanian origin, for the reserved scholarships
- Optional: recommendation letter from a professor at the home institution
Degree certificates and transcripts can be submitted in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese.
How the Application Process Works
Applications must be sent by email, not through an online portal, directly to the Sole Procedure Manager (RUP), Dr. Antonio Luongo, at antonio.luongo@ardsubasilicata.it. The email should be copied to the ARDSU secretariat at info@ardsubasilicata.it and to the relevant department’s teaching secretariat (dafe.didattica@unibas.it, disba.didattica@unibas.it, or diuss.didattica@unibas.it, depending on the chosen program). The subject line must read exactly: “Call for scholarships for foreign students, Candidate: Name Surname.”
Applications must arrive by 12:00 PM Italian time on July 21, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Also Check: KAAD Scholarships for Master’s, PhD, and short research stays in Germany
Pitfalls to Avoid With This Application
Because this is an email-based submission rather than an online portal, a few mistakes come up more often than you’d expect:
- Sending only to one address. All three required recipients (the RUP, the ARDSU secretariat, and the relevant department secretariat) need to be included, or the application may not be logged correctly.
- An incorrect subject line. The exact wording matters for how these applications are sorted and tracked.
- Incomplete grading documentation. The grading scale statement is easy to overlook, but without it, your GPA cannot be converted for evaluation.
- Waiting until the deadline day. Since this is a manual email submission with no portal receipt confirmation, applying a few days early gives you time to fix any missing attachments.
Also Check: KAAD Scholarships for Master’s, PhD, and short research stays in Germany
Frequently Asked Questions:
Is the scholarship enough to cover tuition fees?
The scholarship covers accommodation, meals, and a one-time contribution toward travel, visa, and insurance costs, but tuition fees are handled separately. Foreign students benefit from flat-rate tuition fees based on their country of origin, and everyone must pay a regional tax of €150 regardless of any fee waiver.
What happens if I haven’t finished my Bachelor’s degree yet?
You can still apply. You’ll need to submit a self-certification stating the expected date of your degree, which must not be later than August 1, 2026, along with a commitment to complete the Universitaly pre-enrolment by August 31, 2026.
Can I combine this scholarship with Erasmus+?
Yes. This scholarship is compatible with Erasmus, Erasmus+, and other internationally funded programs, but it is incompatible with any other scholarship funded by the Italian government or Italian public bodies for the same purpose.
When will I know if I’ve won a scholarship?
The provisional merit ranking will be published on the ARDSU website, with the final ranking published by August 1, 2026. Only successful candidates receive individual email notification.
Do I need health insurance?
Yes. All non-EU students must hold health insurance valid for the entire scholarship period, including coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation. EU students are advised to carry a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
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