The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation offers these scholarships for study, training, and research at public or legally recognised private institutions in Italy. The scheme covers Master’s and AFAM programmes, PhD study, supervised research, and intensive Italian language and culture courses; Bachelor’s and single-cycle routes are limited to specified renewals.
Awards require in-person attendance in Italy. The 2026–2027 call closed on March 26, 2026, and no date for the next call has been announced.
Benefits & funding
- Nine-month routes provide €10,800 in three instalments of €5,500, €2,300, and €3,000, subject to presence, enrolment, and academic-progress checks.
- The three-month intensive Italian course route provides €3,600 in one instalment after the funding period and verification checks.
- MAECI provides health insurance for illness or accident during the scholarship period, excluding pre-existing conditions and dental care.
- Tuition exemption depends on the institution; regional fees remain payable, and intensive Italian language and culture courses always charge enrolment and tuition fees.
Eligibility
- Applicants must compete through one country on the official eligible-country list; because the list covers well over one hundred countries and territories, it is not reproduced here.
- The IRE route is for sole Italian citizens resident in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Peru, the United Kingdom, Senegal, Spain, South Africa, Tunisia, Uruguay, or Venezuela.
- Applicants must be adults. The maximum age is 28 for Master’s, AFAM, intensive-language, and specified Bachelor’s renewal routes; 30 for PhD; and 40 for research projects, with renewal exceptions stated in the call.
- Applicants need the qualification required by their chosen institution; Master’s applicants normally need a first-cycle degree, while PhD applicants need admission or, pending that, a supervisor invitation followed by the final admission letter.
- Italian-taught Master’s and AFAM routes require Italian at B2; English-taught routes require English at B2; intensive Italian courses require Italian at A2; PhD and research routes have no MAECI language-proof requirement.
- New applicants must not be enrolled in or have obtained the listed school or higher-education qualifications in Italy and must apply for the first year of the chosen programme; renewals follow separate rules.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
High School · Bachelor · Master · Bachelor Enrolled · Master Enrolled · PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Check the eligible-country list, select one scholarship route, and separately verify admission or pre-enrolment requirements with the chosen Italian institution.
- 2Register on Study in Italy using identity details and a valid passport or identity document; declare and document Italian citizenship when applicable.
- 3In the application wizard, choose up to three course options of the same programme type and upload the route-specific PDF documents.
- 4Submit exclusively through Study in Italy; the 2026–2027 deadline was 14:00 Italian time on March 26, 2026.
Program timeline
March 26, 2026, 14:00 Italian time
Application deadline for the 2026–2027 call
Deadline for supplementary documents when expressly requested
July 1, 2026, 14:00 Italian time
Nine-month scholarships start
November 1, 2026
Nine-month scholarships end
July 31, 2027
Permitted period for a three-month intensive Italian course
January 1–September 30, 2027