Politecnico di Milano International Merit Scholarship
The Politecnico di Milano International Merit Scholarship is the university's targeted merit award for the strongest non-EU Master's applicants — distinct from the broader International Merit Award in that it pairs cash funding (€5,000-€11,000 per year) with a full tuition fee waiver, applied across the two-year Master's. Around 50 awards are issued each year across all programmes. Selection is automatic during admission review — no separate application required. Polimi is Italy's #1 university for engineering, design, and architecture, and consistently top-10 in Europe for these fields. Sri Lankan applicants in engineering (Moratuwa graduates particularly strong), design, or architecture are competitive — Polimi has admitted growing Sri Lankan cohorts in recent years.
Politecnico di Milano
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Cash Award
€5,000-€11,000/year
Tuition
Full Fee Waiver (~€4,000 saved)
Awards/Year
Up to ~50 Across Programmes
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Strong Bachelor's Degree
Competitive applicants present an upper-second or first-class Bachelor's in a related field. The Polimi admission committee converts your Sri Lankan GPA to the Italian 110-point scale — typically 100/110 and above is competitive.
Non-EU Passport + Non-EU Bachelor's
Reserved for applicants holding a non-EU passport AND a Bachelor's degree obtained outside the European Union. Sri Lankan citizens with Sri Lankan undergraduate degrees qualify automatically.
Admitted to a Polimi Master's
You must apply for one of Polimi's 50+ English-taught (or Italian-taught) Master's programmes in engineering, design, or architecture. The Merit Scholarship is awarded to the top-ranked applicants in each programme.
English Proficiency
Most international Master's at Polimi are taught in English. IELTS 6.0+ or equivalent is the minimum; 6.5+ is competitive. Italian-taught programmes require B2 Italian.
account_tree Application Process
Apply via Polimi Apply portal
Submit your Master's application via apply.polimi.it. Upload transcripts, English certificate, CV, and a motivation letter. The €170 application fee is non-refundable but covers all your programme choices in that round.
Automatic merit ranking
No separate scholarship form — every eligible international applicant is ranked automatically. The admission committee uses your transcripts, CV, and academic profile to determine your merit tier.
Combined offer
Admission and scholarship outcomes are issued together within 6-10 weeks of the round deadline. Your offer letter specifies the cash award amount and confirms the tuition fee waiver.
Renewal in year 2
The scholarship is renewable for the second Master's year contingent on academic progression — typically you must earn at least 40 ECTS in year 1 with a 25/30 weighted average.
Why Politecnico di Milano?
Polimi is consistently ranked the #1 university in Italy for engineering, design, and architecture, and among Europe's top 10 in these fields. Milan is Italy's design and finance capital, with strong industry partnerships with Ferrari, Pirelli, Fendi, Alessi, and other Italian flagship brands. Polimi alumni dominate the European design and luxury-engineering sectors.
#111
QS World Ranking 2026
#7 EU
Engineering & Technology
50+
English-Taught Master's
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Politecnico di Milano International Merit Award
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Italian Government Bilateral Scholarship (MAECI)
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