Particularly poor countries 2026/27: the list for Italian scholarships
For 2026/27 the Italian Ministry of University and Research lists 46 particularly poor countries, including Bangladesh and Nepal, in Ministerial Decree 176 of 24 February 2026 read on 31 October 2026. In most of the 2026/27 DSU calls we read, students whose family lives there bring a certificate from the Italian embassy instead of the ISEE parificato.
Countries on the 2026/27 list: 46
Source: MUR, Ministerial Decree no. 176 of 24 February 2026 (particularly poor countries 2026/27). Read on 31 October 2026.
Not legal or immigration advice. This page reports what the Italian ministries and the regional scholarship calls said on the date we read them. The consulate decides on your visa, and the agency or university decides on your scholarship after checking your documents. Always read the official call before you apply.
The list
- Afghanistan
- Angola
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- North Korea
- DR Congo
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gambia
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Niger
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Yemen
- Zambia
Source: MUR, Ministerial Decree no. 176 of 24 February 2026 (particularly poor countries 2026/27). Read on 31 October 2026.
What the calls ask instead
A certificate from the Italian diplomatic representation in your country stating that you do not belong to a family “notoriamente di alto reddito ed elevato livello sociale” (well known for its high income and social standing). The calls of ER.GO, DSU Toscana, DiSCo Lazio, Politecnico di Milano, ERSU Palermo, ERSU Catania, ADISU Campania mention the list; ERSU Palermo and ERSU Catania also keep some scholarships for these students and for refugees. The University of Milan places students from every country outside its Annex 1 in the first band, and the University of Padua's call does not mention the list. DiSCo and Politecnico di Milano also accept it from a university in your country that has an agreement with the Italian one; Politecnico di Milano and ADISU Campania accept it, for first-year students, from Italian institutions that act as guarantors and would repay it if it is revoked. The certificate must arrive by the call's deadline.
Sources: ER.GO, Bando di concorso benefici DSU a.a. 2026/2027; DSU Toscana, Bando borsa di studio e posto alloggio 2026/2027; DiSCo Lazio, Bando Diritto allo Studio 2026/2027; Politecnico di Milano, Bando Diritto allo Studio a.a. 2026/2027; ERSU Palermo, Bando di concorso a.a. 2026/2027; ERSU Catania, Bando di concorso a.a. 2026/2027; ADISU Campania (ADiSURC), Bando di concorso borse di studio, posti alloggio e mobilità internazionale a.a. 2026/2027. Read on 31 October 2026.
The Ministry draws up the list every year with the Foreign Ministry, starting from the OECD list of countries that receive development aid. If your family lives in a country that is not on it, you need the ISEE parificato. ER.GO also accepts the certificate from students coming from areas affected by conflict or humanitarian crises not on the list.
Questions people ask
Which countries are particularly poor for Italian scholarships in 2026/27?
46 countries listed in MUR Ministerial Decree 176 of 24 February 2026, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Senegal and Afghanistan. India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Iran are not on the list.
What changes for students from a particularly poor country?
In most calls, instead of documenting the family's income and assets, you bring a certificate from the Italian embassy in your country saying that you do not belong to a family that is well known for its high income and social standing. Some calls also accept it from a partner university or a guarantor institution.
Is Pakistan on the particularly poor countries list?
No. Students whose family lives in Pakistan document their income and assets and get an ISEE parificato. The same applies to India, Nigeria and Iran.