How much does a PhD pay?

Short answer: The national minimum is €16,243 gross a year. Many universities raised it for the 2026/27 cycle to between about €18,400 and €25,200 gross.

University	Gross per year, 2026/27 cycle	Source
National minimum	€16,243	University of Parma decree
University of Milan (Statale)	about €18,400	Orizzonte Scuola
University of Brescia	at least €18,432.84	University of Brescia
University of Parma	€56,256 for three years (€18,752 a year)	University of Parma decree
University of Trento	€18,345 to €25,200, by program	University of Trento

Take home pay: "gross" means before your share of the INPS pension contribution. Income tax is not charged on PhD scholarships, but the contribution is. As a rough guide, expect about €1,200 a month on the minimum and about €1,350 on €18,400. These are estimates; check your payslip. P18 covers the rules on payment and combining income.

This page explains official rules in plain language. I am not an immigration adviser and I do not give visa advice. For that, always use official government sources. Rules change: confirm with your university, the embassy and VFS before you act.