University for Foreigners Perugia (Perugia/Italy) - Scholarship “Meredith Susanna Cara Kercher”

What the Meredith Kercher scholarship gives you

You will be awarded a fully funded two-month stay in Perugia, Italy, to take part in a course in Italian language and culture. You will not receive any cash. Instead, everything will be covered for you: course fees, a room in a student hall of residence, meals in the canteen and your return flight from London to Perugia. The scholarship is awarded jointly by the City of Perugia, a university in Perugia that teaches international students, and the regional student support agency ADISU. It was established in memory of Meredith Susanna Cara Kercher, a British student who was murdered in Perugia in 2007.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You must be a British citizen. That is the only mandatory requirement.
• Status: You are a student.
• Field of study: Any topic is suitable. The course is aimed at beginners and those with some knowledge of Italian, so no prior knowledge is required.
• Where you go: You’ll be spending the two months on a study trip to Perugia, Italy.

How to apply

Please send your application by email to the Italian Embassy in London. The Embassy will conduct the selection process and draw up a ranking list of applicants. The deadline for applications is 15 June, and the winner will be announced by the end of June. You must complete the two-month stay by the end of the same calendar year.

How realistic are your chances?

Only one place is awarded each year, which is open to all British students; this single place is therefore shared across the whole of the United Kingdom. On paper, this makes the scholarship a highly competitive opportunity. However, due to the very specific nature of the programme – a short Italian language course in a small town – the actual pool of applicants is smaller than for more well-known scholarships. If you are genuinely passionate about the Italian language and culture and apply well in advance of the June deadline, you stand a good chance.