BANCA D'ITALIA - Scholarship “DONATO MENICHELLA"

What the Banca d'Italia "Donato Menichella" scholarship gives you

You will receive 27,000 EUR gross (before tax) for one academic year abroad, paid in four instalments. This amount covers your travel and health insurance. In addition, the Banca d’Italia (the Italian central bank) will cover your tuition fees separately. Your accommodation costs will also be covered, provided you submit the relevant supporting documents. The scholarship funds a postgraduate specialisation course lasting at least 9 months at an internationally renowned university. After the first year, you may apply for an extension for a second academic year, which the Bank will decide on a case-by-case basis. Two scholarships are awarded per round of applications.

Who can apply

• Degree: You hold an Italian ‘Laurea Magistrale’ (Italian Master’s degree), which you obtained on 20 November 2023, with a grade of 110/110.
• Field: Your degree programme focuses on the intersection between economics and law, for example exploring how growth and the legal system interact, how regulation affects the economy, or what legal implications digital assets and artificial intelligence have for the economy.
• Where you study: You will study at a leading foreign university as part of a study programme that is relevant to your degree course and this specialisation in law and economics.
• Nationality: You are a national of Italy or another EU country, or you hold another nationality recognised under Italian law (Article 38 of Decree-Law 165/2001).
• Language: You have a very good command of the language of instruction at your chosen university.
• No double funding: This grant cannot be combined with other grants or paid scholarships (funded study or research positions).

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Banca d’Italia portal by 21 November 2025, 16:00 Italian time. Your lecturers must submit their letters of recommendation directly before the deadline. A panel of academics will assess your research proposal, your dissertation, your CV and your references. The winners will be notified in writing, and the award ceremony is expected to take place in the first half of February 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a scholarship with strict selection criteria: only two will be awarded. You must hold an Italian Master’s degree with a perfect mark of 110/110, as well as a study plan that focuses clearly on the subject of law and economics. As a result, whilst the pool of eligible applicants is small, the requirements are high, and each candidate is assessed on the quality of their final thesis and their research proposal. If you can demonstrate top marks, a clearly defined project in this specific field and a place at a prestigious university, you stand a real chance.