Location: Italy
Program: Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD Degrees)
Eligibility: International Students
Duration: 3 to 9 months
Deadline: March 26, 2026
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The Italian Government MAECI Scholarship is one of the world’s most comprehensive and internationally respected government scholarship programmes, offered by Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to foster international cooperation in cultural, scientific, and technological fields, promote the Italian language and culture worldwide, and support Italy’s global academic and economic engagement. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the scholarship provides a total financial grant of €10,800 paid in three quarterly instalments of €900 per month directly into the recipient’s Italian bank account, covering study periods from November 2026, along with exemption from university tuition and enrolment fees at most participating institutions (recipients pay only a regional tax of €140 and a stamp duty of €16), and comprehensive health and accident insurance for the entire duration of the stay in Italy. All scholarship programmes are for on-site study in Italy only, and online or distance learning programmes are not eligible.
Italy offers international students access to some of the world’s oldest and most distinguished universities, including the University of Bologna (founded in 1088), Sapienza University of Rome, the University of Padua, and the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, along with world-class AFAM institutions in fine arts, design, music, and fashion, and leading public research organisations in science and technology. Special scholarship categories for 2026/2027 include the three Attanasio Grants in memory of Ambassador Luca Attanasio, Vittorio Iacovacci, and Mustapha Milambo, reserved for students from Morocco, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo pursuing degrees in international relations and development, and the Costruiamo il Futuro grants for students from Italian high schools in Africa pursuing STEM, economics, or healthcare degrees.
Benefits of the Scholarship
This scholarship will provide the following to its recipients:
- Total financial grant of €10,800 paid in 3 quarterly instalments of €900 per month into an Italian bank account
- Exemption from university tuition and enrolment fees at most participating institutions (recipients pay only €140 regional tax and €16 stamp duty)
- Comprehensive health and accident insurance for the full duration of the stay in Italy
- Scholarship potentially renewable for Master’s, AFAM, and PhD programmes subject to satisfactory academic progress
- Special grants
- Other benefits
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Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following:
- Must be a foreign student or Italian citizen residing abroad (IRE), from a country listed among the eligible beneficiary countries in the official call for applications
- Must hold the academic qualification required for enrolment in the chosen Italian programme; for Master’s programmes, must have completed a Bachelor’s equivalent to the Italian Laurea Triennale
- Age requirements by March 26, 2026: Master’s, AFAM, and Italian language advanced courses: must not be over 28 years old; PhD programmes: must not be over 30 years old; Research projects: must not be over 40 years old (renewal applicants are exempt from age limits)
- For Italian-taught Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes: must hold Italian proficiency at B2 level or above under the CEFR; for Italian language and culture courses: minimum A2 level; for PhD programmes and research projects: no Italian language proof required
- Must apply exclusively through the Study in Italy portal at studyinitaly.esteri.it before 14:00 Italian time on March 26, 2026; applications submitted via email or other platforms are not valid
- For PhD programmes: must attach an admission letter from the Italian university; for research projects: must attach a research proposal and an invitation or admission letter with supervisor name and contact
- Must arrive in Italy before mid-November 2026 to receive the full scholarship payment
- Indian citizens must additionally register their application on the website of the Indian Ministry of Education
Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements
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Selection Criteria
The MAECI scholarship selection process is conducted by the competent Italian diplomatic missions in each applicant’s country of origin, with applications evaluated on the basis of academic merit, the quality of the application documents, and alignment with the eligibility requirements and priorities of the scholarship category applied for. Academic performance is fundamental, with strong applicants demonstrating excellent academic records combined with clear motivation for studying in Italy, a well-chosen programme that aligns with their academic background, and all required documents submitted correctly and completely through the Study in Italy portal. The ranking list of successful grantees is published on the website of the competent Italian diplomatic mission in the applicant’s country, and applicants are also notified through the Study in Italy portal, with incomplete or ineligible applications automatically excluded from the ranking.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to visit the official webpage and submit your application.
