Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
According to UIS data, the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education in Italy was 75.95% in 2021. In the same year, initial government funding per tertiary student was 23.87% of GDP per capita, while initial household funding per student stood at 1.99% of GDP per capita.
Tuition-free status
While Articles 33 and 34 of the Constitution (1947) guarantee free primary and secondary education, higher education is not explicitly stated as free.
Governance
The primary funding body for higher education in Italy is the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). It allocates funding to public universities through the Fondi di Finanziamento Ordinario (FFO), which covers institutional and operational costs, such as staff salaries. The MUR also provides funding to legally recognised private universities through a specific annual contribution, as established by Law 243/1991.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
Subnational funding mechanisms
The administrative system of higher education is centralised. Funds are directly allocated from the central government (Ministry of University and Research) to higher education institutions, both public and private.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Italy provides public funding to private universities; however, it is limited, non-automatic, and not universal. Funding to public universities is regulated by Law 243 of 1991, and private universities may receive support only if they operate in the public interest, meet national quality standards, and fill gaps in territorial coverage where no public university exists. Additionally, the private university must be legally recognised by the State and agree to oversight and reporting obligations.
Allocation and equity
The Ministry of University and Research allocates funding to public higher education institutions through a financial mechanism called the Fondo per il finanziamento ordinario delle università (FFO) (L. 537/1993). In 2010, Law 240/2010 introduced an equity component to the FFO, known as Costo Standard (Standard Cost). This component establishes a fixed cost per student that takes into account the type of course, as well as economic, territorial, and infrastructure factors. As a result, universities in disadvantaged areas with vulnerable student populations incur higher fixed costs, leading to increased state investment.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
There are no specific admission quotas or channels for vulnerable groups. Admission generally requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and some universities may require an entrance test. Vulnerable students receive financial and technical support where tests are required. Students with disabilities are granted additional time, assistive tools—such as a human reader or non-scientific calculator for those with dyscalculia—and personalised study plans with flexible measures. Students with international protection status or asylum seekers may benefit from free enrolment in individual courses. Additionally, both students with disabilities and those with protected status are exempt from admission fees.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The Diritto allo Studio, established by Decree n.68 of 2012, is a scholarship scheme for higher education students administered by the Ministry of University and Research (MIU). It supports students based on merit and financial need, with eligibility determined by academic performance and household income, measured through ISEE (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator) and ISPE (asset indicator). For the 2025/2026 academic year, families needed an ISEE not exceeding €27,948.60 and an ISPE below €60,757.87. The scholarship includes equity measures, such as full tuition coverage for students with disabilities and full or partial tuition fee coverage for students from conflict-affected or low-income countries.
Fondo StudioSI, part of the National Plan PON Ricerca e Innovazione, offers interest-free loans of up to €50,000 through Intesa Sanpaolo and the Iccrea Cooperative Banking Group. The programme targets students from or studying in Southern Italy, covering tuition and living costs for selected postgraduate fields (e.g., Aerospace, Sustainable Mobility). No personal guarantees are required, promoting regional equity.
The Fondo per il credito ai giovani (also known as Fondo Studio), managed by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, provides state-guaranteed loans up to €25,000 for students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds. Repayment begins 30 months after the last instalment, with no personal or third-party guarantees required. Following a 2024 reform (Law 106/2024), the Fund introduced a state-backed last-resort guarantee to offer more favourable conditions to academically deserving but economically vulnerable students.
4. Support for students’ living costs
The Fondo StudioSi programme also covers living expenses related to studying, including transportation, accommodation, and textbooks.
