Italian Institute of Culture - IIC Scholarships

What you get

You will receive 10,800 EUR in total to study, undertake vocational training or carry out research in Italy for a period of 9 months (from 1 November 2026 to 31 July 2027, which may sometimes be extended). The funds will be paid out by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) in three instalments: 5,500 EUR from November, 2,300 EUR from February and 3,000 EUR from June. Your health insurance is included for the entire period. If, instead, you enrol on a shorter 3-month intensive course in Italian language and culture, you will receive 3,600 EUR as a one-off payment. The host university may waive tuition fees, though this is not guaranteed, and you must always cover regional fees yourself.

Who can apply

• Where you go: You are studying in Italy at a state or legally recognised Italian institution. This scholarship is available exclusively for on-campus degree programmes.
• What you study: A Master’s degree, a degree in art, music or dance (AFAM), a PhD or a research project.
• Prior degree: To enrol on a Master’s programme, you need to have completed a Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification.
• Age: to 28 for master’s, art or language degree programmes; up to 30 for a PhD; up to 40 for a research project, calculated as at the application deadline.
• Nationality: The programme is open to international students residing outside Italy and to Italians residing abroad in selected countries (provided they hold Italian nationality exclusively). Greece is a partner country in the programme.
• No earlier ties to Italy: You must not have previously studied at or obtained a qualification from an Italian school, university or AFAM institution, nor must you have received a MAECI research grant in the last 5 years.
• Enrolment: You are enrolled as a full-time student in the first year of your degree programme within the standard period of study.
• Language: For courses taught in Italian, a minimum language proficiency of Level B2 in Italian is required; for courses taught in English, a minimum language proficiency of Level B2 in English is required; for the 3-month language course, a minimum language proficiency of Level A2 in Italian is required. Applicants for PhD and research positions do not need to provide a language certificate.

How to apply

You must register via the ‘Study in Italy’ portal by 26 March 2026, 14:00 Italian time and submit your application there. A selection panel will assess the applications and draw up a ranking list. Those who pass the first stage will be invited to an interview before the final list is published.

How realistic are your chances?

The scholarship is open to students from many countries and various academic disciplines, meaning that the pool of applicants is wide-ranging. However, there are strict selection criteria: age limits, a requirement that the applicant has not previously studied in Italy, and language requirements. If you clearly meet these conditions and submit a compelling application (and, in the case of a research project, a well-founded proposal with an invitation from your supervisor), your prospects are good. Selection takes place on a country-by-country basis, meaning you will only be competing against other applicants who are applying via the same Italian diplomatic mission, rather than against applicants from all over the world.