MAECI Government Scholarships / Study in Italy

MAECI Government Scholarships for study in Italy

You get 10,800 EUR for a 9-month study, training or research programme in Italy, paid in three instalments (5,500 + 2,300 + 3,000 EUR). If you take a shorter Italian language course instead, you get 3,600 EUR as a single payment for 3 months. Both options include group health insurance for the whole period. Many public universities also waive their tuition fees for scholarship holders, though you still pay regional taxes yourself. The scholarships come from Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). The money is for on-site study in Italy only.

Who can apply

• What you can study: A Master's degree (Laurea Magistrale), a fine arts, music or dance programme (AFAM), a PhD, a supervised research project, or an Italian language course. Regular Bachelor's degrees and single courses are not funded.
• Where you study: A public or officially recognised Italian institution, attended in person in Italy.
• Nationality and residence: You are a foreign student living outside Italy, or an Italian citizen living abroad (IRE), in one of about 20 listed countries such as Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Morocco or Tunisia. You must not already be enrolled or studying in Italy.
• Age at the deadline: Up to 28 for Master's, AFAM and language courses; up to 30 for PhD; up to 40 for research projects. No age limit for renewals.
• Language: At least B2 Italian for Italian-taught programmes, or B2 English for English-taught ones. Language courses need at least A2 Italian. PhD and research projects need no language certificate.
• No double funding: You cannot combine this with another Italian state scholarship, but you can combine it with Erasmus+. Staff of the Italian public administration and their children cannot apply.

How to apply

You register and apply online through the Study in Italy portal. You upload your passport, qualifications and any required language certificate or admission letter. The Italian embassy in your country pre-selects candidates by comparing applications. Shortlisted applicants are then invited to an interview before the final ranking is published. The 2026-2027 deadline (26 March 2026) has passed, and the next cycle for 2027-2028 has not yet been announced.

How realistic are your chances?

Applications are judged separately per country, so you compete only against other applicants from your own country. This keeps the field smaller than a single global pool. Your prospects depend on meeting the age, degree and language rules exactly and making a strong case at interview. If you clearly fit the requirements and apply as soon as the next cycle opens, your chances are solid.