ER.GO Scholarship 2026/2027:
The Complete Guide for International Students
Up to €7,171 per year in cash, subsidised housing, and free daily meals — everything you need to know about the ER.GO "Bando Benefici DSU 2026/2027" at UNIBO, UNIFE, UNIMORE and UNIPR, explained step by step.
Official Locomotive Resource
ER.GO Bando DSU 2026/2027 — Official PDF
Download the full official bando — all 338 pages, every rule, every table. Save it and refer back whenever you need it.
Disclaimer
This article is a simplified summary for informational purposes. The official "Bando di Concorso Benefici DSU 2026/2027," published on www.er-go.it, is the only legally binding source. Always verify dates and requirements there before making decisions.
What Is the ER.GO Scholarship 2026/2027?
The ER.GO scholarship 2026/2027 — officially the "Bando di Concorso Benefici DSU 2026/2027" — is one of the most comprehensive student financial aid packages in Italy, available to students enrolled at universities and arts/music institutions (AFAM) across Emilia-Romagna. ER.GO (Azienda Regionale per il Diritto agli Studi Superiori) administers benefits on behalf of the region, covering universities in Bologna, Ferrara, Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Parma.
For international students at UNIBO's Medicine programme or any other Emilia-Romagna institution, this scholarship can cover a major portion of your annual living costs. The ER.GO scholarship 2026 package includes cash, housing, meals, international mobility contributions, and even a fee waiver from your university.
A "fuori sede" student with ISEE below €16,667 can receive up to €7,171 in cash per year — plus a full university fee waiver, subsidised housing, and free daily meals.
For 2026/2027, the ER.GO benefits package includes:
- A cash scholarship ("borsa di studio") based on income and merit
- Subsidised university housing in ER.GO residences across Emilia-Romagna
- Free daily meals at university canteens (or a prepaid cash equivalent up to €600)
- A contribution for international mobility (Erasmus and exchange programmes)
- Total university fee waiver ("esonero totale") linked to the scholarship
- Reimbursement of the regional study tax (€140) for all eligible students
- Extraordinary grants for special circumstances
- Disability support services and additional contributions
Who Can Apply for the ER.GO Scholarship 2026/2027?
You are eligible if you are enrolled — or plan to enrol — at one of the following types of institutions in Emilia-Romagna for the 2026/2027 academic year:
Universities
- ›UNIBO (Bologna + Romagna)
- ›UNIFE (Ferrara)
- ›UNIMORE (Modena & Reggio E.)
- ›UNIPR (Parma & Piacenza)
AFAM Institutes
- ›Accademie di Belle Arti
- ›Conservatories (all sites)
- ›ISIA Faenza
- ›SSML San Pellegrino Rimini
Programme Types
- ›Laurea / Laurea magistrale
- ›Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico (e.g. Medicine)
- ›Specialization (≥2 years, non-medical)
- ›Dottorato di ricerca
block You Cannot Apply If...
- ›You already hold a degree of equal or higher level to the one you're enrolling in
- ›You have already received benefits for the same year of the same degree course elsewhere
- ›You are enrolled in single-course ("corsi singoli") programmes
- ›You have active unpaid debts towards ER.GO from previous years
- ›You have previously made false declarations to ER.GO (permanent ban)
Medicine Students (UNIBO)
Students entering Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, or Veterinary Medicine under the new access modalities (L. 14 marzo 2025, n. 26) can still apply within the ordinary deadlines. ER.GO will issue specific provisions once ministerial guidance is updated. You should apply now and follow compilation instructions in the portal.
ER.GO Scholarship 2026/2027 — Key Deadlines
These are the critical dates for the ER.GO scholarship 2026. All deadlines are firm — no late applications are accepted under any circumstances.
| Date | What You Must Do |
|---|---|
| 23 June 2026 | Application portal opens at er-go.it (all benefits) |
| ⚠️ 6 August 2026, 16:00 | FINAL deadline — housing applications for existing assignees (CONFERME) and new upper-year/PhD applicants |
| ⚠️ 24 August 2026, 16:00 | FINAL deadline — scholarship (borsa di studio), housing for new first-years, international mobility, disability services, part-time collaborations |
| 20 October 2026 | Provisional scholarship rankings published |
| 27 October 2026 | Deadline to submit appeals against provisional scholarship rankings |
| 17 November 2026 | Post-appeal scholarship rankings published |
| 3 November 2026, 16:00 | Deadline to submit domicile self-declaration (for "fuori sede" or "pendolare" scholarship status) |
| 14 January 2027 | Deadline to upload domicile contract/documentation to Dossier Utente |
| 1 Oct – 1 Dec 2026 | Extraordinary contributions application window |
| 15 Sep – 10 Dec 2026 | Training grants (assegni formativi) application window |
| 20 Jan – 8 Mar 2027 | Disability contributions application window |
| 28 February 2027 | Credits checkpoint — required to unlock 2nd/3rd scholarship installment |
| ⚠️ 10 August 2027 | Upper-year students: credits deadline for final scholarship installment (saldo) |
| ⚠️ 30 November 2027 | First-year students: absolute credit deadline — or all benefits are revoked and must be repaid |
ER.GO Scholarship 2026/2027 Amounts: How Much Can You Get?
The ER.GO scholarship amount depends on your housing status (in sede, pendolare, or fuori sede) and your ISEE. All amounts include an optional portion convertible into a prepaid canteen card (up to €600). Winners also receive a €140 regional tax reimbursement.
| ISEE Range | Fuori Sede | Pendolare | In Sede |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to €16,666 | €7,171.11 | €4,190.71 | €2,890.16 |
| €16,667 – €18,333 | €4,661.22 | €2,723.96 | €1,878.61 |
| €18,334 – €20,818 | €3,872.40 | €2,262.98 | €1,560.69 |
| €20,819 – €25,000 | €3,585.56 | €2,095.36 | €1,445.08 |
Students with ISEE above €25,000 or ISPE above €50,000 are not eligible for the scholarship. All values include the optional canteen prepaid component.
Bonus Increases
In Sede, Pendolare, or Fuori Sede?
Your housing classification determines your ER.GO scholarship bracket. The gap between "in sede" and "fuori sede" is more than €4,000 per year — getting this right is critical.
In Sede
Public transport travel time under 45 minutes to your course, OR you live in one of the listed "in sede" municipalities.
€1,445 – €2,890
Pendolare
Travel time between 45–90 minutes by public transport, OR you live in a "pendolare" listed municipality.
€2,095 – €4,191
Fuori Sede ⭐
Travel time over 90 minutes AND you rent paid accommodation near the university for at least 10 months.
€3,586 – €7,171
info Domicile Documentation Matters
To qualify as "fuori sede," you must submit a self-declaration of domicile by 3 November 2026 and provide your lease contract or equivalent documentation by 14 January 2027. Missing these deadlines means automatic reclassification as "in sede," with no option to appeal. A 5% penalty applies if documentation arrives late but is still accepted.
Students who are classified as "independent" (resident away from family for ≥2 years with ≥€9,000 annual income) automatically receive the fuori sede rate, regardless of travel time.
ISEE Requirements for ER.GO 2026/2027
To qualify for the ER.GO scholarship, your family's ISEE must be below €25,000 and your ISPE (patrimony indicator) must be below €50,000. You must hold a specific ISEE for university study purposes — a standard "ordinary" ISEE is not accepted.
| Benefit | Max ISEE | Max ISPE |
|---|---|---|
| Scholarship, housing, mobility, extraordinary grants | €25,000 | €50,000 |
| Disability personal assistance, contributions | €28,000 – €32,000 | €62,000 |
| Training grants (assegni formativi) | €40,000 | €62,000 |
tips_and_updates Important: the ISEE Protocol Number
Your ISEE certificate must carry a valid INPS protocol number (format: INPS-ISEE-2026-XXXXXXXXX-00). Allow up to 10 days from submitting your DSU to receive it. Don't wait until the last week of August to request your ISEE — it may arrive too late to complete your application.
Academic Credit Requirements
First-Year Students
If you're a matricola (first-year), your initial ranking is based purely on income. No credits are needed to receive the first and second scholarship installments. But to keep the full scholarship:
Credits
earned by 28 Feb 2027
→ Unlocks 3rd installment (10%)
Credits
earned by 10 Aug 2027
→ Unlocks final installment (40%)
None
by 30 Nov 2027
→ All benefits revoked, must repay everything
Note: Exact CFU thresholds for each year and institution are published in the "Tabelle Requisiti di Merito" in the official bando. Consult those tables for your specific course. A "bonus" credit system is available to bridge small gaps — but it must be requested during your initial application and cannot be added afterward.
Upper-Year Students
Students enrolled in years 2+ must meet specific credit requirements at 10 August 2026 (for scholarship access) and again at 10 August 2027 (for scholarship confirmation). The credits needed vary by institution, course type, and year — check the official merit tables. Specialization and PhD students face no credit requirements: they need only to pass their annual review exam.
ER.GO University Housing & Canteen Services
ER.GO manages student residences across Bologna, Cesena, Ferrara, Forlì, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia and Rimini. Housing is available to "fuori sede" students who qualify on both merit and income grounds. Accommodation costs are deducted directly from your scholarship — it's not an additional expense on top of your grant.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Housing period | 16 September 2026 – 15 September 2027 (minus Christmas and August closures) |
| Christmas closure | 23 December 2026 (10:00) – 7 January 2027 (08:00). Some residences remain open. |
| Summer closure | 31 July 2027 (10:00) – 1 September 2027 (08:00). Some residences remain open. |
| Canteen meal credit | Up to €600/year, converted from your scholarship into a prepaid card at canteen entry points |
| Eligible for housing | Fuori sede students only, based on combined merit and income ranking |
apartment Other Housing Types
ER.GO also offers agevolated-rate housing for students enrolled in double-degree international programmes, students completing post-graduation internships, and ITS students, under special conventions. Additionally, short-term "libero accesso" accommodation is bookable online at tourist-style rates for researchers and recent graduates.
ER.GO Scholarship 2026/2027: Payment Schedule
Once your application is approved and you appear in the final rankings, your scholarship is paid in installments linked to credit milestones. Make sure your IBAN is entered in your Dossier Utente — ER.GO does not accept international IBANs outside the SEPA area, and is not responsible for errors due to incorrect IBANs provided by students.
First-Year Students (Laurea / Ciclo Unico)
- 1st installment (20%)by 10 Nov 2026
- 2nd installment (30%)by 31 Dec 2026
- 3rd installment (10%)from March 2027
- Final saldo (40%)from June 2027
Upper-Year & Master's Students
- 1st installment (50%)by 31 Dec 2026
- 2nd installment (10%)from March 2027
- Final saldo (40%)from June 2027
Housing rents are deducted from each installment. If the remaining cash amount is below €100, it rolls into the next installment.
ER.GO Scholarship for International Students
International students can absolutely apply for the ER.GO scholarship — but the income documentation process differs significantly depending on your country of residence. Getting this right early is essential.
If Your Family Lives Outside the EU
If Your Family Lives in the EU
EU-resident students are treated like Italian citizens for documentation purposes and can self-declare their income. However, they must still upload supporting documents (translated state of family, income evidence) to the Dossier Utente by the same deadlines.
tips_and_updates Start the Document Process Early
Gathering certified income documents from your home country, having them translated and legalised, can take several weeks to months. Start the process in June or July at the latest. The 24 August 2026 deadline won't wait — and ER.GO explicitly warns against using agencies or intermediaries who charge money for this service.
warning Login for Non-Residents
Students without Italian residence cannot obtain SPID, CIE or CNS. They must log in with university credentials (released by their Ateneo). Students who log in with university credentials may face additional identity verification and their benefit assignment may be suspended until verification is complete — even if they meet all requirements.
8 Mistakes That Can Cost You the ER.GO Scholarship
ER.GO Scholarship 2026/2027 — FAQ
Do I need to be enrolled before applying? expand_more
No. You can apply before enrolling at university. However, enrollment must be completed by the specific institutional deadlines listed in Art. 13 of the bando (typically November–March depending on the institution). Failure to enrol on time results in automatic benefit revocation.
Can I apply if I'm transferring from another Italian university? expand_more
Yes, but merit is calculated from your original year of first enrolment — not from the year you transfer into. If you enrolled at another university in 2024/2025 and transfer to UNIBO in 2026/2027, ER.GO treats you as a 3rd-year student for merit threshold purposes, even if you're formally entering the 2nd year. Make sure your credits are sufficient under this stricter calculation.
Is the ER.GO scholarship compatible with Erasmus? expand_more
Yes. Erasmus+ and similar international mobility grants are explicitly compatible with the ER.GO scholarship. ER.GO also offers a separate international mobility contribution on top of the base scholarship. If you hold university housing and go abroad, housing rents are suspended for the duration of your exchange, and the period counts toward your 10-month domicile requirement.
What if I don't meet the credit requirement? expand_more
Upper-year students who fail to confirm credits by 10 August 2027 must repay all scholarship money and the value of services received (housing, canteen). First-year students have until 30 November 2027 — after which the same repayment obligation applies. The bonus credit system can help bridge a small gap if requested at application time.
How do I communicate with ER.GO? expand_more
All official communications happen through the Dossier Utente at dossier.er-go.it. This is ER.GO's legally official channel — notifications published there are considered valid even without postal notice. You can also reach operators via the SCRIVI mail-ticketing service inside the Dossier, or by phone at 051 19907580 / 051 0185268 (Mon & Wed 14:00–16:00; Tue & Thu 10:00–12:30). For international students without SPID, CIE or CNS: email ergoid@er-go.it.
What is the "bonus" credit system? expand_more
The bonus is a pool of additional "virtual" credits that can be added to your actual credit count to reach the minimum threshold. Its value grows the longer you wait to use it: 5 credits available from year 2, 12 from year 3, and up to 15 from year 4 onward. Unused bonus carries forward to future years. It must be explicitly requested in your application — ER.GO does not apply it automatically. Students cannot rely solely on bonus credits to meet requirements (you must have earned at least some real CFU).
Locomotive Resource
Beyond ER.GO: Every Scholarship Available to Medical Students in Italy
ER.GO is one of many funding sources. Locomotive has compiled every scholarship, grant, and financial aid option for international medical students in Italy — across all regions.
Preparing for Medicine in Italy?
Locomotive helps international students prepare for the IMAT and navigate every step of studying medicine in Italy — including scholarship applications, income documentation, and university choice.
Official links: er-go.it · dossier.er-go.it · universitaly.it
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