Disclaimer
This article is a simplified summary for informational purposes. The official "Bando di Concorso per l'attribuzione di borse di studio 2026/2027," published on www.ersucatania.it, is the only legally binding source. Always verify dates and requirements there before making decisions.
What Is the ERSU Catania Scholarship 2026/2027?
The ERSU Catania scholarship 2026/2027 — officially the "Bando di Concorso per l'attribuzione di borse di studio, altri contributi economici e servizi per il diritto allo studio universitario" — is Sicily's most comprehensive student financial aid package, administered by the Ente Regionale per il Diritto allo Studio Universitario of Catania.
It covers students enrolled at the University of Catania, the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Catania, ABADIR, and the Istituto Musicale Vincenzo Bellini. For international students — particularly those studying Medicine at the University of Catania — this scholarship can cover a significant portion of annual living costs through a combination of cash, free housing, and daily meals.
A fuori sede student with ISEE below €12,500 can receive up to €8,246 in cash per year — plus free housing in ERSU residences and free daily meals at university canteens.
The 2026/2027 bando was approved on 22 June 2026 and the online portal opened on 24 June 2026. It is co-funded by regional tuition fees, the national Fondo Integrativo Statale (FIS), and EU NextGenerationEU/PNRR resources. Key updates for this year include:
- A +1.4% increase in all scholarship amounts (MUR Decree n. 175, 10 Feb 2026)
- +15% bonus for students with ISEE ≤ 50% of the limit (≤ €12,500)
- +40% increase for students with serious disability or ≥66% invalidity
- +20% increase for female students in STEM courses
- +20% increase for students enrolled simultaneously in two degree programmes
- Autonomy income threshold raised from €6,500 to €9,000 per year
- Extended disability reserve to include persons recognised under art. 3, comma 1, L. 104/92
- Housing benefit extended by one additional trimester for bachelor's and master's students
Who Can Apply for the ERSU Catania Scholarship 2026/2027?
You are eligible if you are enrolled — or plan to enrol — for the 2026/2027 academic year at one of the following types of institutions within ERSU Catania's territory:
Universities
- ›University of Catania (all faculties)
- ›Decentralised sites in Ragusa, Siracusa, Troina
AFAM Institutes
- ›Accademia delle Belle Arti di Catania
- ›Accademia ABADIR, Sant'Agata Li Battiati
- ›Istituto Musicale "Vincenzo Bellini"
Programme Types
- ›Laurea triennale / magistrale biennale
- ›Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico (incl. Medicine)
- ›Specialisation schools (unpaid only)
- ›Research doctorates (unpaid only)
block You Cannot Apply If...
- ›You already hold a degree of equal or higher level to the one you are enrolling in
- ›You are enrolled part-time or in single-course programmes (corsi singoli)
- ›You have already received a scholarship for the same year of the same degree elsewhere
- ›You have unpaid debts towards ERSU from previous years
- ›You enrol at your university after 23 April 2027
- ›You have applied for benefits at another Italian university welfare body for A.Y. 2026/2027 without declaring it
Medicine Students (University of Catania)
Students enrolled in Medicine and Surgery (laurea magistrale a ciclo unico) at the University of Catania — including those entering via the new propedeutic course (ex semestre filtro) — can apply within the ordinary deadline of 10 August 2026. Students enrolling at another university for the propedeutic semester before transferring to Catania should watch for a specific addendum to be published by ERSU.
ERSU Catania Scholarship 2026/2027 — Key Deadlines
These are the critical dates for the ERSU Catania scholarship 2026. All deadlines are firm — no late applications are accepted under any circumstances.
| Date | What You Must Do |
|---|---|
| 24 Jun 2026, 19:00 | Application portal opens at studenti.ersucatania.it |
| ⚠️ 10 Aug 2026, 14:00 | FINAL deadline — submit your application online (all benefits) |
| 11 Sep 2026 | Provisional participant lists published (scholarships & housing) |
| 12–22 Sep 2026 | Data correction / integration window (rettifica/integrazione dati) |
| ⚠️ 22 Sep 2026, 14:00 | Deadline — ISEE parificato upload for housing rankings (international students) |
| 22 Sep 2026 | Deadline — transfer requests from other welfare bodies (with housing) |
| By 1 Oct 2026 | Housing service rankings published |
| 21 Oct 2026 | Deadline — transfer requests (scholarship only, no housing) |
| By 30 Oct 2026 | Scholarship rankings published (1st year and subsequent years) |
| ⚠️ 30 Nov 2026, 14:00 | Document regularisation deadline — permit of stay, disability cert, ISEE parificato for scholarships |
| 30 Nov 2026 – 31 Jan 2027 | Lease declaration (dichiarazione di locazione) submission window |
| By 11 Dec 2026 | Scholarship assignment rankings published (designazione assegnatari) |
| By 31 Dec 2026 | First instalment (50% acconto) paid to recipients |
| 10 Aug 2027 | Upper-year students: credits deadline for scholarship confirmation |
| 10 Aug 2027 | First-year students: 15 CFU checkpoint for second instalment |
| ⚠️ 30 Nov 2027 | First-year students: absolute 20 CFU deadline — or all benefits are revoked and must be repaid |
ERSU Catania Scholarship 2026/2027 Amounts: How Much Can You Get?
The ERSU Catania scholarship amount depends on your housing status (in sede, pendolare, or fuori sede) and your ISEE. All amounts shown are gross — the value of meals and housing used is deducted, and what you receive in cash is the remainder. International students whose family lives abroad always receive the fuori sede rate.
| ISEE Range | Fuori Sede | Pendolare | In Sede |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to €12,500 (+15% bonus) | €8,246.78 | €4,819.32 | €3,323.68 |
| €12,500 – €16,666 (100%) | €7,171.11 | €4,190.71 | €2,890.16 |
| €16,667 – €18,333 | €3,554.00 | €3,171.64 | €2,001.14 |
| €18,334 – €19,999 | €2,836.89 | €2,752.57 | €1,712.12 |
| €20,000 – €21,666 | €2,119.78 | €2,333.50 | €1,423.11 |
| €21,667 – €23,333 | €1,402.67 | €1,914.43 | €1,134.10 |
| €23,334 – €25,000 | €685.56 | €1,495.36 | €845.08 |
Students with ISEE above €25,000 or ISPE above €60,000 are not eligible. Scholarship winners also receive a refund of the regional study tax (tassa regionale) automatically.
Bonus Increases & Reductions
In Sede, Pendolare, or Fuori Sede?
Your housing classification determines your ERSU Catania scholarship bracket. The difference between "in sede" and "fuori sede" is over €4,000 per year — getting this right is critical.
In Sede
You live in Catania or one of the immediate surrounding municipalities (Gravina, Mascalucia, Misterbianco, San Giovanni La Punta, etc.).
€845 – €3,324
Pendolare
You live in a municipality that allows daily commuting (Acireale, Belpasso, Paternò, Giarre, Mascali, Nicolosi, etc. — see Tab. 11 of the bando).
€1,495 – €4,819
Fuori Sede ⭐
You live more than 30 km from campus (or 50+ minutes by public transport) and rent accommodation locally for ≥10 months. All international students with family abroad qualify automatically.
€685 – €8,247
info Lease Declaration Matters
To be classified as fuori sede through a private lease, you must submit the dichiarazione di locazione between 30 November 2026 and 31 January 2027 through the ERSU student portal. Your lease must be registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate and cover at least 10 months (1 September 2026 – 31 October 2027). Missing this window means no housing supplement and no fuori sede bracket — even if you genuinely live away from home.
International students whose family does not reside in Italy are always considered fuori sede regardless of a lease, under art. 13.3 of the DPCM 9 April 2001.
ISEE Requirements for ERSU Catania 2026/2027
To qualify for the ERSU scholarship, your family's ISEE must be below €25,000 and your ISPE (patrimony indicator) must be below €60,000. You need a specific ISEE calculated for university study purposes — an ordinary ISEE is not accepted.
| Indicator | Maximum Threshold |
|---|---|
| ISEE (Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente) | €25,000 |
| ISPE (Indicatore della Situazione Patrimoniale Equivalente) | €60,000 |
tips_and_updates ISEE Parificato for International Students
International students with family assets abroad cannot use a standard Italian ISEE. They must obtain an ISEE parificato (equalised ISEE) through the specific CAF authorised by ERSU Catania — listed on the official website. Other CAF offices are explicitly rejected.
If you don't have your ISEE parificato at the time of application, you can submit your tax code number and provide the values during the data correction window by 22 September 2026. Missing that deadline means suspension from scholarship rankings.
Academic Credit Requirements
First-Year Students
No prior university credits are required to submit your application. Your ranking is based purely on income. However, to keep your scholarship after the first instalment:
15 CFU
by 10 Aug 2027
→ Required for second instalment (saldo)
20 CFU
by 30 Nov 2027
→ Minimum to keep any benefits at all
0 CFU
by 30 Nov 2027
→ All benefits revoked, must repay everything
Disability note: First-year students with serious disability or ≥66% invalidity have reduced thresholds: 9 CFU by 10 August 2027 and 12 CFU by 30 November 2027.
Upper-Year Students
Students enrolled in years 2 and beyond must meet specific credit thresholds by 10 August 2026 to qualify, and again by 10 August 2027 to confirm the scholarship. The exact number of credits required depends on your course type and year of first enrolment:
| Course Type | Enrolled 2025/26 (2nd yr) | Enrolled 2024/25 (3rd yr) | Enrolled 2023/24 (4th yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurea Triennale | 25 CFU | 80 CFU | 135 CFU |
| Laurea Magistrale Biennale | 30 CFU | 80 CFU | — |
| Laurea Magistrale a ciclo unico | 25 CFU | 80 CFU | 135 CFU |
tips_and_updates The Bonus Credit System
If you fall slightly short of the required CFU, you can use a one-time bonus: up to 5 credits for 2nd-year access, 12 credits for 3rd-year access, or 15 credits for 4th year and beyond. The bonus can only be used once in your career. It cannot be combined (a 3rd-year student gets 12 credits, not 17). Any unused portion carries forward to future years.
ERSU Catania Housing & Canteen Services
ERSU Catania manages six university residences across its territory. Eligible fuori sede students are assigned a free bed. If no bed is available and you submit a valid lease declaration, you receive a housing cash supplement instead.
| Residence | Location |
|---|---|
| Cittadella | Via Passo Gravina 183, Catania |
| Verona | Via Carrata (corner Via Oberdan), Catania |
| Gala | Via Enrico Pantano 1, Catania |
| S. Marzano | Via Generale di S. Marzano, Catania |
| Giudecca | Vicolo 3° e 4° di Via della Giudecca, Siracusa |
| Casa Castillett | Corso Mazzini 260, Ragusa Ibla |
bed Housing Service
- ›349 total beds: 308 in Catania, 16 in Ragusa, 25 in Siracusa
- ›Free for scholarship winners and eligible idonei
- ›Available from acceptance until 29 July 2027
- ›Closed 22 Dec 2026 – 7 Jan 2027 (Christmas)
- ›If no bed available: €1,700 housing supplement instead
restaurant Canteen Service
- ›Two canteens in Catania: Cittadella (Via Santa Sofia) and Vittorio Emanuele
- ›Fuori sede scholarship winners: up to 2 free meals/day (360/year)
- ›Pendolare / in sede: up to 1 free meal/day (180/year)
- ›Access via the ERSU Catania smartphone app (SPID login)
- ›Available until 31 October 2027
ERSU Catania Scholarship 2026/2027: Payment Schedule
Once your application is approved and you appear in the assignment rankings, your scholarship is paid in two instalments. Make sure your IBAN is declared in the student portal — benefits will be automatically revoked after one year if no IBAN has been provided. Post office savings books (libretti postali) are not accepted.
All Students (1st + subsequent years)
- 1st instalment (acconto — 50%)by 31 Dec 2026
- 2nd instalment (saldo — 50%)by 30 Jun 2027
First-year students receive the acconto as pendolare/in sede by default. The fuori sede uplift is added with the saldo once a lease declaration or housing acceptance is confirmed.
Important Payment Notes
- ›Payment is credited directly to your bank account or prepaid card (must be IBAN-enabled)
- ›Any amounts owed to ERSU (unpaid rents, damages) are deducted automatically
- ›Payment status is visible in your personal area on the student portal
- ›If you need to repay benefits in instalments (up to 10 rates), this must be paid via PagoPA
ERSU Catania Scholarship for International Students
International students can absolutely apply — and in many cases receive the best possible scholarship bracket. But the process differs in several important ways depending on your situation.
Automatic Fuori Sede Status
Under art. 13.3 of the DPCM 9 April 2001, international students whose family does not reside in Italy are automatically classified as fuori sede regardless of where they live in Sicily. This means the highest scholarship bracket applies without needing to prove a private lease. For the 2026/2027 A.Y., this means up to €8,246.78 if your ISEE is below €12,500.
ISEE Parificato — What You Need
Portal Access for Non-Residents
Italian residents log in with SPID or CIE. International students not residing in Italy — and minors — access the portal with credentials issued directly by ERSU Catania. Register for these credentials on your first visit to studenti.ersucatania.it.
warning Start Early — Document Processing Takes Time
Getting certified income documents from your home country, having them translated and legalised, and submitting them to the authorised CAF can take several weeks. Start the process in June or early July at the latest. The 10 August 2026 deadline will not be extended.
7 Mistakes That Can Cost You the ERSU Catania Scholarship
ERSU Catania Scholarship 2026/2027 — FAQ
Do I need to be enrolled before applying? expand_more
No. You can apply before formally enrolling at your university. The application can be submitted by prospective students (diplomandi and laureandi). However, you must be regularly enrolled by 23 April 2027 at the latest, or your benefits will be revoked.
Is the ERSU Catania scholarship compatible with other scholarships? expand_more
The ERSU scholarship is incompatible with other income-based scholarships from public or private bodies. However, if you receive another scholarship, you are entitled to the difference between the two amounts (conguaglio) — you must declare the other scholarship to ERSU and request the adjustment. The housing service is incompatible with housing benefits from other public bodies.
What if I don't meet the credit requirement? expand_more
Upper-year students who fail to confirm the required credits by 10 August 2027 will have their benefits revoked and must repay all scholarship money, the value of meals consumed, and the housing rents (calculated at €170/month). First-year students have until 30 November 2027 — after which the same applies. If you fall slightly short, the bonus credit system (up to 15 CFU) may bridge the gap if requested at application time.
Can I transfer my application from another Italian welfare body? expand_more
Yes. Students who previously applied at another Italian welfare body can transfer their application to ERSU Catania. For transfers including housing, the original body must send the application to ERSU by PEC by 22 September 2026. For scholarship-only transfers (no housing), the deadline is 21 October 2026. The original application must have been submitted within the ERSU deadline of 10 August 2026.
How do I contact ERSU Catania? expand_more
All official communications are published in the Notifiche section of your personal student portal — this constitutes official legal notification. You can also reach ERSU via: URP office (urp@ersucatania.it, open Mon/Fri 9:00–12:00, Wed 15:30–18:00), Scholarships unit (assegnazione@ersucatania.it), Housing and canteen (uo2@ersucatania.it), or phone (095 7517911). An online ticketing system is available through the institutional website. Technical support is guaranteed until 13:00 on the day of each deadline.
What is the "prize of graduation" (premio di laurea)? expand_more
The premio di laurea is an additional payment equal to 50% of your scholarship amount, awarded to scholarship recipients who graduate within the statutory duration of their programme. It is only disbursed after the main scholarship ranking is exhausted and subject to available funds. You must apply online through the ERSU portal by 31 May 2028. The ranking is based on your final graduation grade (with 0.5 points for a distinction/lode), then ISEE in ascending order.
Locomotive Resource
Beyond ERSU Catania: Every Scholarship Available to Medical Students in Italy
ERSU Catania 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, ISEE documentation, and university choice.
Official links: ersucatania.it · studenti.ersucatania.it · universitaly.it