Italian Government Scholarships 2023/2024 for Bachelors, Masters & Ph.D.study in Italy ( 900 Euros per month)

Application Deadline: June 9th, 2023

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) offers grants in favor of foreign citizens* and Italian citizens living abroad (IRE)** for the academic year 2023-24 in order to foster international cooperation in cultural, scientific and technological fields, to promote Italian language and culture and to support Italy’s economic system in the world (according to Law 288/55 and its subsequent changes and additions).

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Grants are offered to complete study courses and research/training programs in public or legally recognized Italian educational institutions.

Scholarships are available to attend academic courses onsite on the Italian territory only.

The list of eligible foreign countries can be found on the website Study in Italy:

Art. 1

GRANTS OPPORTUNITIES

1. Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale 2° ciclo)

Grants for Master’s Degree courses are awarded for a period of study of 6 (six) or 9 (nine) months.

Admission to the first year of a Master’s Degree course in Italy requires the completion of a Bachelor’s degree; admission to the second year is granted to applicants who can prove satisfactory academic progress with their first year exams.

Please Note: For some Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale) courses, enrollment is possible only after passing admission tests. Applicants are urged to verify this or other requirements with the University of their choice. Pre-enrollment through the portal https://www.universitaly.it/ might also be mandatory.

1.2 Courses of Higher Education in Arts, Music and Dance (AFAM) 

Grants for Courses of Higher Education in Arts, Music and Dance (AFAM) are awarded for a period of study of 6 (six) or 9 (nine) months.

To be admitted to an Italian AFAM Institute, applicants need to meet the entry requirements and academic qualifications established by the relevant Institute.

Please Note: For some AFAM courses, enrollment is possible only after passing admission tests. Applicants are urged to verify this or other requirements with the AFAM Institute of their choice. Pre-enrollment through the portal https://www.universitaly.it/ might also be mandatory.

3. PhD program

Grants for a PhD program are awarded for a period of study of 6 (six) or 9 (nine) months.

To be admitted to a PhD in Italy, applicants need to meet the entry requirements and academic qualifications established by the University.

They are also required to provide the admission letter to the PhD from the relevant Italian University. 

1.4 Research projects under academic supervision (Progetti in co-tutela)

Grants for a research under academic supervision are awarded for a period of study of 6 (six) or 9 (nine) months.

This type of grants can be awarded to research projects carried out at Italian Research Institutions  (i.e. Italian Research Council – CNR, Italian National Institute of Health – ISS, Italian National Institute for Nuclear Physics – INFN, Italian National Institute for Astrophysics – INAF, The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research – ISPRA, and others), public or recognized Universities, Museums and Archives.

Applicants must submit a research project, with the name and contacts (e-mail address) of their supervisor, and provide the invitation/acceptance letter from the host University/Institute.

1.5 Italian language and culture advanced courses 

Grants for Italian language and culture courses are awarded for a period of study of3 (three) months. They are dedicated to those students who can already certificate the possession of basic 

skills in Italian.

Applicants must provide a certification regarding their proficiency in Italian language. The minimum level required is A2 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR):

Art. 2

ELIGIBILITY

Applications must be sent exclusively through the Study in Italy portal. Applicants must be in possession of a valid passport or identity card. They must upload a legible photocopy of the document at the time of registration, under penalty of exclusion. Applicants must also be in possession of the following requirements by the deadline date of the call (June 9^th 2023, 2.00 pm CET):

1. Academic qualifications

Applications must only be submitted by foreign and Italian students living abroad (IRE)* holding an appropriate academic qualification required to enroll to the Italian University/Institute (more information on: https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/en/Recognition-of-qualification).

1. Age requirements

Applicants for Master’s Degree/Higher Education in Arts, Music, and Dance (AFAM) Programmes/ Italian Language and Culture advanced Courses should have attained the age of majority and shall 

not exceed the age of 28 years by the deadline of this call (born after June 9^th 1994), with the sole exception of renewals.

Applicants for PhD Programmes should have attained the age of majority and shall not exceed the age of 30 years by the deadline of this call (born after June 9^th 1992), with the sole exception of renewals.

Applicants for Research Projects under academic supervision should have attained the age of majority and shall not exceed the age of 40 years by the deadline of this call (born after June 9^th 1982).

1. Language proficiency

2.3.1 Italian-taught courses

In order to enroll in an Italian-taught course, applicants must provide a certification regarding their proficiency in Italian language. The minimum level required is B2 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Candidates who were enrolled in an Italian-taught course or in an Italian language course at University may submit a language certification, issued by the person in charge of the above mentioned courses, certifying the Italian language level required. 

2.3.2 English-taught courses

In order to enroll in an English-taught course, applicants must provide a language certification regarding their proficiency in English Language. The minimum level required is B2 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

A self-certification may be accepted for candidates from countries where English is an official language. Candidates in possession of an English-taught Bachelor’s degree may submit a document certifying that the study program of their Bachelor’s degree was entirely held in English.

No proof of proficiency in Italian is required for courses entirely taught in English. 

2.3.3 Italian language and culture advanced courses

For Italian language and culture courses, applicants must provide a certification of their proficiency in Italian language. The minimum level required is A2 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Candidates who were enrolled in an Italian language or Italian-taught course at the University or Italian Cultural Institute may submit a language certification issued by the person in charge of the above mentioned courses, certifying the Italian language level required. 

2.3.4 PhD programs and Research projects under academic supervision

No proof of language proficiency is required for PhD programs and Research under academic supervision.

Art. 3

RENEWALS

Applicants who have received a MAECI grant in the Academic Year 2022-2023 may apply through ordinary procedures to continue or complete a multi-year degree course (Master’s Degrees and PhD programs) according to the legal duration of the course. Any renewal of the scholarship is granted only to regularly enrolled applicants who can prove satisfactory academic progress with a minimum of 15 University Credits (CFU) required. For Phd programs it will be necessary to provide a positive evaluation letter from the tutor. 

In order to receive the grant, a full-time regular enrollment (“iscrizione in corso”) to the Academic Year 2023-24 is mandatory.

Art. 4

FUNDING PERIOD

Grantees can benefit of the grant in a period of study starting November 1^st, 2023 and ending by October 31^st 2024.

The number of months assigned to the winners and the exact starting date of the grant will be notified by sending the “Dichiarazione di assegnazione di borsa di studio” (Awarding Letter) by the competent Italian diplomatic mission. This document represents the official act awarding the grant. The grantee will have to initiate the university enrollment procedures and, if necessary, the VISA application procedures before the starting date of the grant. 

Art. 5

INELIGIBILITY

Italian Public Administration employees and their first-degree descendants cannot apply for grants.

Grants cannot be awarded to attend: Single Cycle Degree Programs; Bachelor’s Degree courses (first cycle or “lauree triennali”) – except for AFAM first cycle courses which are allowed –; First-level/Second-level Postgraduate courses (“Master Universitari”); single courses or one-year university and specialization courses.

Grants cannot be awarded to attend courses in foreign Institutions based in Italy or abroad, nor in private Institutes, Research Centres or Labs not recognized by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).

Grants cannot be awarded to candidates that are being either enrolled beyond the prescribed legal duration of the course (it: “fuori corso”) or enrolled part-time.

Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be considered.

Art. 6

ATTANASIO GRANTS

In memory of Ambassador Attanasio and his team members (Vittorio Iacovacci and Mustapha Milambo), also for the adademic year 2023-24, a reserve of three scholarships will be provided for candidates coming from Morocco, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who aim to start or pursue their course of studies in the fields of international relationships, cooperation for development, international humanitarian law and human rights, with a preference for Master’s Degrees classified LM-38 (Modern Languages for communication and cooperation), LM-52 (International relations), LM-62 (Political Sciences), LM-81 (Cooperation for development Sciences), LM-87 (Social services and social policies).

Art. 7

WIKIAFRICA EDUCATION – HIGHER EDUCATION INITIATIVE

In collaboration with the Aurora Foundation, MAECI grantees from the African continent, speakers of African languages, ​​are offered the opportunity to take part in the WikiAfrica Higher Education Initiative. The program promotes the active participation of students with the aim of making specialized information on Africa available online. The initiative is developed by the Moleskine Foundation in partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation and the Aurora Foundation.

Art. 8

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Applicants must submit the application online, available upon registration on Study in Italy platform at the following link: 

We recommend to register on the Study in Italy portal through a frequently used email address, as further communications will be sent to the chosen email address.  

Applications must be received by June 9^th  2023, 2 pm CET.

Applications received after the deadline will be rejected. 

Art. 9

SELECTION AND AWARDING OF GRANTS

1. Selection of the candidates 

Applications will be evaluated by a Committee set up by the competent Italian Diplomatic Mission. 

1. Awarding procedures

Grants will be awarded on the basis of a comparative assessment of applications according to the entry requirements and other criteria of merit related to applicant’s cv.

9.3  Publication of the Ranking List

The competent Diplomatic Mission will publish on its website the list of grantees and any reserve candidates. The ranking list is final. Only the successful candidates will be notified of the assignment of the scholarship through the Study in Italy portal. Exclusion of the name of a candidate in the list of winners and reserves published by the diplomatic mission implies that the candidate has not been awarded the grant. If, for privacy and/or security reasons, the publication of the ranking list is not possible, the successful candidates will be notified individually.

Art. 10

TUITION FEES

Some Universities exempt Grantees from the payment of enrollment and tuition fees depending on the policy of each University in line with the regulations on the autonomy of academic institutions. The Grantees have to contact their University of choice to ascertain they can be exempted. Regional Fees are due anyway.

The exemption is not applied for Italian language and culture advanced courses, for which the payment of registration and tuition fees is required.

Art. 11

HEALTH AND MEDICAL INSURANCE

Grantees will be covered by a collective health and medical insurance, contracted by MAECI, in case of illness or accident. The insurance is valid exclusively for the duration of the grant.

Illnesses depending on pre-existing physical or pathological conditions and dental care are excluded from the insurance coverage. Grantees coming from EU countries are advised to get the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

Art. 12

TERMS OF GRANT

The winner of a MAECI scholarship, based on the starting date of the grant and the number of months indicated in the “Dichiarazione di assegnazione di borsa di studio” (Awarding Letter), will receive a monthly amount of 900 euros paid periodically every two or every three months to the personal current account, opened in his/her name, with an Italian banking Institution.

The installment of the grant can be received, in conformity with the administrative procedures required, only after the completion of enrollment in the University/Institute and the submission of all the documents requested (Italian Tax code and IBAN).

The MAECI will begin the disbursement procedures at the end of each period of two or three months. Individual payments will therefore commence after that period.

The last monthly installment will be paid only upon verification of a satisfactory academic progress.   

Art. 13

INCOMPATIBILITY

The grant is incompatible with any other grant offered by the Italian Government or any other Italian public institution, including the scholarships provided by educational regional authorities and agencies.

The Grant is compatible with other European programs, such as Erasmus and Erasmus+, and other scholarships offered by international institutions, but it will not be paid for the periods of study outside Italy. In order to receive the monthly amount the Grantee must have been staying in Italy

for more than half of that particular month.