08 - Italy - Financial support for students
University tertiary education
The main legislative source for the regulation of support and services destined to students is Law no.
390 of 2 December 1991 establishing what follows:
The State is responsible for policy, co-ordination and planning of interventions concerning the right to
University studies. Every three years, a Prime Minister's Decree indicates the criteria to evaluate the
students' outcomes and their financial conditions, the selection procedures to benefit from the services
destined to praiseworthy and less prosperous students as well as the gradual re-qualification of the
financial resources. Presidential Decree of 9 April 2001 indicated the criteria for allocating services not
destined to all students (grants, loans, accommodations and contributions for international mobility) for
three years starting from academic year 2001/02; study courses for which benefits are granted;
selection procedures; criteria to determine financial and merit conditions and fees and contribution
exemption; interventions in favour of non European foreign students, disable students and students
enrolled in Afam institutes .
The Regions are responsible for implementing interventions established by art. 117 of the Italian
Constitution and of the Decree of the President of the Italian Republic no. 616 of 1997: general
services (canteen, transports, accommodations, etc.); grant; health service; loans; etc. These
measures are implemented by a specific body with management and administration autonomy in every
single University. Law no. 549 of 1995 introduced the regional tax for the right to University studies in
order to provide grants and loans.
Universities are responsible for the organisation of their own services, including guidance and tutoring.
They run libraries, laboratories, language courses, distance learning courses, courses for working
students, students' part-time jobs, university guidance, etc. Universities can totally or partially exempt
students from fees payment according to their study results and incomes. Furthermore, Universities
provide grants to attend post-graduate courses, Diploma di specializzazione courses and grants for
Doctorate (in this case the financial support is not necessarily provided by the University).
In order to grant scholarships to all eligible students, a national 'supplementary fund' has been set up
starting from 1997. This fund must be allotted to the Regions.
Law no. 390 of 1991 provides Italian and foreign students, as well as stateless and political refugee
students with the same services and supports. These regulations have been reconfirmed by Law no.
40 of 1998.
For non-resident students, a detraction of 19% of the costs for accommodation has been established in
order to guarantee their right to study.
Postgraduate level
Real financial aids are not foreseen, at least not from the state. Each university can take into
consideration the economic circumstances of students at the time of their enrolment in the Doctorate
courses and at the time of of scholarships assignment, or as far as attendance to courses for the
Diploma di specializzazione is concerned.
The financial Law for the year 2008 has provided for an additional State fund of 40 million euros aimed
at increasing the allowance for Doctorates.
Institutions:
Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR)
Ministry of University and Research
Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe
Date: 2009
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