Sapienza Scholarships for International Students
Sapienza University of Rome is Europe's largest university by enrolment and offers one of the most generous undergraduate scholarship schemes for international students at a public Italian institution. The Sapienza International Students Scholarship pays €8,000 in the first year and adds a tuition fee exemption for the duration of the Bachelor's (renewable based on academic progress). Selection is automatic during admission — every eligible applicant is ranked, and top candidates are awarded. Sapienza has strong English-taught Bachelor's options in Engineering Sciences, Bioinformatics, Business Management, Statistics, Architecture, and Classical Civilisation — a useful pathway for Sri Lankan A/L students who want a European Bachelor's at lower cost than UK/US options.
Sapienza University of Rome
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
First-Year Cash
€8,000
Tuition
Full Fee Exemption Across Bachelor's
Annual Awards
Around 200 for International Students
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Non-EU Citizen Outside Italy
Reserved for non-EU/EEA citizens residing outside Italy at the time of application. Sri Lankan passport holders applying from Sri Lanka qualify automatically.
Admitted to a Sapienza Bachelor's or Single-Cycle
You must apply for and be admitted to a Bachelor's degree (Laurea Triennale) or a Single-Cycle Master's degree (Laurea Magistrale a Ciclo Unico — e.g. 5-year Pharmacy, 5-year Architecture, 6-year Medicine). Programmes are taught in Italian or English depending on the course.
Strong Academic Record
Selection ranks applicants by secondary-school grades plus admission-test performance (where relevant). Sri Lankan applicants with strong A/L results (3As / 3 distinctions in relevant subjects) present competitively against the global field.
Language Proficiency
Italian-taught programmes require B2 Italian (CILS/CELI/PLIDA). English-taught programmes require IELTS 5.5-6.0 or equivalent. The English-taught Engineering Sciences, Bioinformatics, and Business Management Bachelor's are the most popular international options.
account_tree Application Process
Apply via Universitaly + Sapienza portal
Submit your pre-application via Universitaly.it (the Italian Ministry's central portal) AND the Sapienza online application. Pre-applications via Universitaly typically open in spring and close in mid-summer.
Academic + admission test
Some programmes (e.g. Engineering, Medicine) require an admission test. Many English-taught Bachelor's at Sapienza use the TOLC-I or TOLC-S online test, which can be taken from Sri Lanka. Submit transcripts, A/L results, and English/Italian certificate.
Automatic scholarship ranking
Once admitted, your academic profile is automatically considered for the scholarship — no separate application form. Rankings are published on the Sapienza international students scholarship page.
Renewal each year
The €8,000 is paid in year 1 only. The tuition exemption is renewable for years 2 and 3 (and 4-6 for single-cycle degrees) contingent on earning a minimum number of ECTS at a minimum grade — typically 40 ECTS at 24/30 average each year.
Why Sapienza?
Sapienza is Italy's largest and one of its oldest universities — founded in 1303 — and consistently ranked in the global top 100 for several disciplines (Classics, Physics, Archaeology, Architecture). Rome offers significantly lower cost of living than Milan, and Sapienza's central campus puts students minutes from the Colosseum, Vatican, and the city's cultural core.
#134
QS World Ranking 2026
1303
Founded (Oldest in Italy)
#1 world
QS Classics & Ancient History
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Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
Politecnico di Milano International Merit Scholarship
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Politecnico di Milano International Merit Award
Politecnico di Milano (Italy)
Italian Government Bilateral Scholarship (MAECI)
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation