Student loans in Italy: guide 2026
Student loans in Italy can help cover the cost of a degree, Master’s programme or post-secondary education path. However, not all financing options work in the same way. Before choosing a solution, it is important to understand eligibility requirements, funding limits, disbursement timing and repayment terms.
There are several ways to finance education in Italy. One of the main state-backed options is the Fondo Studio, a solution designed to support students who meet specific academic and personal requirements. Alongside this option, banks also offer standard education loans and student financing products.
In this guide, we explain how the Fondo Studio works, who can apply and which alternatives may be worth considering if you do not meet the required criteria. We will also look at how Habacus can support students and families when comparing different student loans in Italy.
Habacus is a credit brokerage company supervised by the OAM. It provides free informational guidance and support to students and families, helping them check eligibility requirements and compare offers from partner banks. Habacus facilitates access to credit but does not directly provide loans.
What Are Student Loans in Italy?
Student loans in Italy are financing solutions designed to cover education-related expenses. They can be used, for example, to pay university tuition fees, Master’s programme fees, ITS courses, postgraduate studies or living costs during the academic path.
However, not all options have the same features. Some solutions are linked to merit requirements and state guarantees. Others follow traditional banking credit rules and may require a guarantor or income assessment.
As a result, the right choice depends on the student’s profile, the type of course, the amount needed and how quickly the funds must be available.
Fondo Studio: What It Is and How It Works
The Fondo Studio, also known as Nuovo Fondo Studio, is an Italian state-backed guarantee applied to loans for post-secondary education. Through this mechanism, the State guarantees up to 70% of the amount granted by participating banks.
This guarantee reduces the risk for credit institutions. As a result, banks may offer more favourable conditions than standard personal loans, while still applying their own internal checks.
The Fondo Studio is not a direct payment from the State to the student. Instead, it is a public guarantee designed to make access to credit easier through participating banks.
State Guarantee of Up to 70%
The state guarantee covers up to 70% of the loan. This means that a significant portion of the risk is absorbed by the Fund, making it easier for students to access financing.
However, the bank still has the right to carry out its own credit assessment. For this reason, final approval and the actual amount granted always depend on the chosen institution.
No Additional Personal Guarantees
One of the most important features of the Fondo Studio concerns guarantees. Banks cannot request additional personal guarantees, such as a parent’s payslip or the signature of a co-obligor.
The student must therefore prove that they meet the requirements set by the Fund. In this way, the loan remains linked to institutional eligibility and the education path, rather than to the availability of a family guarantor.
Main Features of Loans Backed by the Fondo Studio
Loans connected to the Fondo Studio follow specific rules. These rules are designed to protect students and make the repayment process more sustainable.
Annual Instalment Disbursement
The funds are not paid out all at once. Instead, they are divided into annual instalments, based on the duration of the course and the remaining years of study.
This structure helps reduce the risk of over-indebtedness. It also links future disbursements to the student’s regular academic progress.
Grace Period of at Least 30 Months
The grace period is one of the most important protections offered by the Fondo Studio. Students benefit from a period of at least 30 months after receiving the final instalment before they must begin repaying the capital.
During this phase, the interest rates applied may vary depending on the bank. For this reason, it is useful to compare the conditions offered by different institutions carefully.
Flexible Repayment Over Time
The capital is repaid in instalments. Depending on the conditions set by the chosen bank, the repayment period can range from a minimum of 3 years to a maximum of 15 years.
This flexibility allows students to spread the cost of the loan over time. However, it remains essential to assess the overall cost of credit before signing the agreement.
Available Amounts for Student Loans in Italy
When comparing student loans in Italy, the amount available is one of the first elements to consider. The Fondo Studio sets a minimum amount and specific maximum limits. The minimum amount that can be requested is €3,000, while the maximum depends on the remaining years of study and the location of the course.
For courses in Italy, students can request between €3,000 and €15,000 for each remaining year of study. The total maximum amount can reach €50,000.
For courses abroad, the yearly limit remains between €3,000 and €15,000. However, the overall maximum can increase up to €70,000.
It is important to remember that the bank may approve the maximum amount requested or a lower amount. The final decision depends on the institution’s internal checks and the limits set by the Fund.
Requirements to Access the Fondo Studio
Eligibility requirements for the Fondo Studio are divided into age and residence requirements, enrolment requirements and merit requirements. The initial eligibility check can be completed online through the official portal using SPID or CIE.
Age, Residence and Course Enrolment
To apply for the loan, students must be between 18 and 40 years old. They must also be legally resident in Italy and enrolled in an education course recognised by the MUR, either in Italy or abroad.
This requirement is essential because the Fund is designed to support recognised post-secondary education paths. For courses abroad, it is therefore important to check whether the educational institution falls within the required parameters.
Merit Requirements for Bachelor’s Degrees and ITS Courses
For Bachelor’s degrees, single-cycle Master’s degrees and ITS courses, the initial merit requirement concerns the high school final grade. The student must have achieved at least 75/100.
If the high school final grade is below this threshold, access to the Fondo Studio for this type of education path is not possible. In that case, standard student financing options may be considered.
Merit Requirements for Master’s Degrees, Postgraduate Programmes and PhDs
For Master’s degrees, first- and second-level postgraduate Master’s programmes and PhDs, the merit requirement is based on the university graduation grade. In these cases, a minimum grade of 100/110 is required.
As a result, a student who does not meet the requirements during a Bachelor’s degree may become eligible later. For example, this may happen after completing a Bachelor’s degree with a grade above the required threshold.
Requirements to Maintain Future Instalments
The Fondo Studio does not only assess initial access. It also monitors the student’s academic path over time. To receive future instalments, students must meet certain conditions.
Regular Enrolment Status
Students who are behind schedule in their studies are not eligible for the Fondo Studio. This rule applies both when first applying and when maintaining access to later disbursements.
For this reason, regular academic progress is a decisive factor. Students who expect to fall behind schedule should carefully consider alternative financing options.
Tuition Fees, Attendance and Ongoing Merit
Students must be up to date with university fees and class attendance. They must also have obtained at least 50% of the university credits required by their study plan for the relevant academic year.
These conditions are intended to connect the loan to the actual progress of the education path. Otherwise, future instalments may not be released.
The Role of Habacus in Choosing a Student Loan
Bureaucracy and the comparison of interest rates applied by different banks can be confusing. For this reason, Habacus supports students and families in checking eligibility requirements and comparing available offers for student loans in Italy.
Habacus supports the academic verification process for students’ requirements. In addition, as a credit brokerage company recognised by the OAM, it provides a free guidance and informational support service.
This support may include document collection, sharing information with partner banks, comparing offers and monitoring future disbursements.
It is important to clarify that Habacus does not provide personalised financial advice and does not directly grant credit. These activities remain the responsibility of the lending banks.
Alternatives to the Fondo Studio for Students
Not all students meet the requirements to access the Fondo Studio. For example, this may happen if the high school final grade is below the required threshold or if the student is behind schedule in their studies.
In other cases, the issue is not eligibility but practical needs. Some students may require faster disbursement, a different amount or a lump-sum payment.
In these situations, traditional market-based education loans can be considered. However, these solutions follow different criteria from the Fondo Studio.
Required Guarantees
The Fondo Studio does not require additional personal guarantees. By contrast, standard loans often require a parent’s signature, a payslip or other forms of guarantee.
As a result, the assessment shifts from academic merit to traditional creditworthiness. This can be a decisive factor for students without their own income.
Timing and Disbursement Method
The Fondo Studio provides annual instalment disbursements. Standard financing solutions, on the other hand, may more often be paid out as a lump sum and within shorter timeframes.
This difference can be important for Master’s programmes, private courses or education paths that require immediate tuition payment. However, faster access to funds may come with less favourable financial conditions.
Grace Period and Repayment
With the Fondo Studio, a grace period of at least 30 months before capital repayment is mandatory. In standard loans, this period may be absent or much shorter.
For this reason, it is useful to consider not only the amount that can be obtained, but also when repayment will begin and how much it will weigh over time.
How to Choose Between the Fondo Studio and a Standard Student Loan
The choice between the Fondo Studio and a standard student loan depends on several factors. First, students need to check whether they meet the age, academic and enrolment requirements set by the state guarantee.
Next, it is useful to evaluate the amount needed, the course payment deadlines, the availability of a possible guarantor and how quickly the funds are required.
In general, the Fondo Studio may be suitable for students who meet the requirements and are looking for favourable conditions, no additional personal guarantees and a longer period before capital repayment begins.
Alternatively, a standard loan may be useful when faster timing, different amounts or greater flexibility in disbursement are needed. However, it may require guarantees and involve higher costs.
Conclusion on Student Loans in Italy
Student loans in Italy can be useful tools for investing in university education, Master’s programmes and other post-secondary courses. However, each solution has specific requirements, advantages and limits.
The Fondo Studio offers important protections, such as the absence of additional personal guarantees and the mandatory grace period. At the same time, it requires compliance with specific criteria related to age, residence, merit and regular academic progress.
Market-based solutions may offer greater speed and flexibility. For this reason, it is important to compare the available alternatives before making a decision. Habacus can help students and families understand the different options for student loans in Italy and identify the path that best fits their needs.
To better understand which option may be more suitable, you can also read our guide with student stories and loan scenarios, designed to show practical examples and different student situations.
