PhD Scholarships in Italy for 2025 – A Golden Opportunity for Pakistani and Gulf Students

If you’re a student from Pakistan or the Gulf region aspiring to pursue a fully funded PhD in Europe, Italy is one of the best choices in 2025. Italian universities are currently offering hundreds of English-taught PhD positions, most of which come with full tuition waivers, monthly stipends (~€1,200–1,380/month), and additional research/travel funds. Many of these scholarships are open to international applicants from outside the EU, and no Italian language is required in most cases.

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Let’s explore the most active universities, scholarship benefits, eligibility, and how you can apply.

University of Bologna offers 14 PhD programs with 5–10 fully funded spots per program. These include fields like Engineering, Economics, Cultural Heritage, and Global Politics. The stipend starts at €16,243/year and can go higher depending on the funding source. All students enjoy a fee waiver, and those doing research abroad get an extra 50% stipend boost. No IELTS is required if you can be evaluated in English, and there’s no application fee. Applications are submitted online and evaluated via documents + interview. The second call is expected by June 2025.

University of Milan offers around 170 scholarships across 31 programs, including Social Sciences, Medicine, and Philosophy. The stipend is approximately €16,200, with extra funds for conferences. Pakistani students can apply without nationality restrictions. Most calls close by May or early June.

University of Milano-Bicocca runs two rounds (Spring and Summer) with PhD programs in STEM, Education, and Economics. Each program offers 5–10 funded positions. The scholarship covers stipend, tuition, and a research allowance. You can apply to multiple programs. Online interviews are available for overseas students.

University of Verona is offering a notable 109 fully funded PhD scholarships in 20 fields ranging from Computer Science and Nanoscience to Law and Humanities. The stipend is €16,243/year. The 2025 application closed in May, but similar calls are expected next year. English is the main language, and Pakistani students are welcome.

University of Urbino has about 40 funded seats in areas like Global Studies, Biomolecular Sciences, and Humanistic Studies. Students benefit from tuition-free study, monthly stipends, and sometimes free student housing. Many programs don’t require IELTS if you pass the interview. 2025 deadline: 10 June.

Politecnico di Milano offers 95 PhD positions, including 79 fully funded across Engineering, Architecture, AI, and Design. The stipend is slightly higher: €16,500/year. International mobility support and housing aid are available. Deadline: 30 May 2025.

Other top universities like Florence, Turin, Pavia, and Sapienza Rome are also open for applications. Each offers dozens of fully funded PhD seats. Most deadlines fall between April and June 2025. Visit each university’s doctoral page (“Dottorato 41° ciclo”) for updated calls.

IMT Lucca and GSSI L’Aquila are prestigious doctoral schools that offer fully-funded, English-medium PhD programs. Fields include Data Science, Astrophysics, and Cultural Heritage. Scholarships cover monthly stipends and free on-campus housing. IMT’s call closed in June; GSSI has different deadlines per field.

Also, the Italian Government (MAECI) Scholarship offers €900/month, tuition exemption, and insurance for one year (renewable). Students from Pakistan are eligible if they already hold or are applying to a PhD program in Italy. The application is made via studyinitaly.esteri.it. Deadline for 2025 was 16 May.

Quick Summary for Applicants from Pakistan and Gulf Countries:

Most scholarships are fully funded: €16,200+ annual stipend + fee waiver
No IELTS needed if you can be assessed in English
All fields available: STEM, Social Sciences, Humanities, Law, Medicine, etc.
Apply via university websites – no central platform
Deadlines: Mostly between April and June 2025
Documents Required: Master’s degree, research proposal, CV, transcripts, passport, references

If you’re serious about applying, start early. Prepare your research proposal, gather your documents, and apply to multiple universities to maximize your chances. Italy offers a rich academic experience, generous funding, and a warm international environment.

Need help applying? Contact Pak Euro Links for expert support on university selection, document preparation, and timely submission.

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