Applications are now open for the Italian Government Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year. The programme is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) and offered to foreign citizens as well as Italian citizens living abroad (IRE). The idea behind it is fairly direct: strengthen international cooperation in cultural, scientific, and technological fields while giving students a reason to spend serious time inside Italian universities and research institutes.
In memory of Ambassador Attanasio and his team members (Vittorio Iacovacci and Mustapha Milambo), a reserve of three scholarships will again be offered for candidates from Morocco, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These awards support students pursuing studies connected to international relations, development cooperation, humanitarian and human rights law. Preference is given to programmes such as LM-38 (Modern languages for communication and cooperation), LM-52 (International relations), LM-62 (Political sciences), LM-81 (Development cooperation sciences), and LM-87 (Social services and social policies).
This Government Scholarships support study, training, and research activities at public or legally recognized Italian institutions. One detail applicants sometimes overlook: the scholarship is designed for programmes physically attended in Italy. Selection takes place through committees formed by the relevant Italian diplomatic missions, which review applications and invite shortlisted candidates to interviews before final rankings are published.
MAECI grantees from the African continent who speak African languages may also participate in the WikiAfrica Higher Education Initiative. The project encourages students to contribute reliable academic content about Africa online. The initiative is developed by the Moleskine Foundation together with the Wikimedia Foundation and the Aurora Foundation.
Program Details
- Host Institution: Public or legally recognized educational institutions in Italy.
- Eligible programs: Master’s Degree programmes, Higher Education in Arts Music and Dance (AFAM), PhD programmes, research projects under academic supervision, and Italian language and culture courses.
- Number of awards: Not specified.
- Duration: Most scholarships last 9 months. Italian language and culture courses last 3 months.
- Target group: Foreign citizens and Italian citizens living abroad (IRE) from eligible countries.
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Italian Government Scholarship Benefits
Selected candidates for this Europe scholarship receive the following support:
- Possible exemption from enrollment and tuition fees, depending on the regulations of the host university. Regional fees may still apply and must be paid by the student.
- Health and accident insurance coverage for the entire duration of the scholarship provided by MAECI. Pre existing medical conditions and dental treatments are not covered.
- A total scholarship amount of 10,800 euros paid in three instalments to an Italian bank account. Payments are generally distributed as 5,500 euros after arrival and enrollment verification, 2,300 euros during the academic year, and a final 3,000 euros after verification of satisfactory academic progress.
Note: Scholarships for Italian language and culture courses last 3 months and provide a total grant of 3,600 euros, paid in a single instalment after verification of enrollment and participation.
Eligible Countries for the MAECI Scholarship
The MAECI Scholarship is open to Italian citizens living abroad (IRE) and foreigners in Italy holding one of the following countries’ citizenship: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Croatia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Russian Federation, Philippines, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Japan, Jordan, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Myanmar,
Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Syria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, South Korea, South Sudan, Sudan, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Hungary, Uruguay etc. Please click here to download the full list.
IRE grants are offered to the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Peru, United Kingdom, Senegal, Spain, South Africa, Tunisia, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Scholarships reserved for Italian citizens living abroad are available to applicants residing in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Other Opportunities
Types of Programs Available for the Italian Government Scholarship
I – Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale 2° ciclo)
Scholarships for Master’s Degree programmes are awarded for 9 months and may be renewed depending on academic progress. Applicants must already hold a Bachelor’s degree equivalent to an Italian Bachelor’s degree.
II – Courses of Higher Education in Arts, Music, and Dance (AFAM)
Scholarships for AFAM programmes are also granted for a period of 9 months. Admission requirements are determined by the selected institution and may involve entrance examinations.
III – PhD program
Scholarships for PhD programmes are awarded for 9 months. Candidates must obtain admission to a PhD programme at an Italian university before the scholarship can be confirmed.
IV – Research under academic supervision (Progetti in co-tutela)
Grants for research projects are awarded for up to 9 months. Applicants must present a research proposal together with an invitation letter from an academic supervisor at an Italian university, research institute, museum, or archive.
V – Italian culture and language courses
Scholarships for Italian language and culture courses last 3 months. Applicants must demonstrate Italian language proficiency at least at A2 level according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Note: For some Master’s Degree programmes and AFAM courses, admission tests or pre enrollment procedures may be required through the portal universitaly.it.
Italian Government Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants who meet the following requirements by the deadline may apply for a grant.
- Academic qualifications: Applicants must hold the academic qualification required for admission to the selected programme at the Italian institution.
- Age requirements :
- Applicants for Master’s Degrees, AFAM programmes, and Italian language courses must be under 28 years old by the application deadline.
- Applicants for PhD programmes must be under 30 years old by the application deadline.
- Applicants for research projects under academic supervision must be under 40 years old by the application deadline.
- Language proficiency :
- Italian taught courses: Applicants must provide proof of Italian language proficiency at minimum B2 level according to the CEFR.
- English taught courses: Applicants must provide proof of English language proficiency at minimum B2 level. Applicants from countries where English is an official language may submit a self declaration.
- Italian language and culture courses: Applicants must provide proof of Italian proficiency at minimum A2 level.
- PhD programmes and research projects: Proof of language proficiency is generally not required for these categories.
How to Apply for this Italian Government Scholarship
Eligible candidates who want to apply for this government scholarship must submit their application online through the official Study in Italy portal.
Applications must be submitted through the Study in Italy platform after registration. Applicants must upload a valid passport or identity document during registration.
Note: The scholarship cannot be combined with other scholarships funded by the Italian Government or Italian public institutions. However, it may be compatible with international programmes such as Erasmus or Erasmus+ when the study period remains in Italy.
Applicants are advised to register with an active email address they check regularly, since all official communication regarding the selection process will be sent through the portal.
The application deadline is . Applicants should submit their materials well before the closing time to avoid last minute technical issues. Please visit the official page for more details on the Italian Government Scholarship.
Dear Scholarship Committee,
I am writing to express my interest in applying for the [Scholarship Name] to pursue [Degree/Program Name] at [University Name]. I am a highly motivated student from Somalia, recently graduated from high school/university, with a strong passion for [your field, e.g., healthcare, technology, or public policy].
My goal is to achieve academic excellence and professional growth while contributing to the development of my community. I believe the [Program Name] at your institution offers the perfect platform to enhance my knowledge and skills in [specific field of study].
Throughout my academic journey, I have maintained a strong record of [mention GPA, achievements, or relevant experiences]. My dedication and commitment have prepared me for the challenges and opportunities of higher education.
I have attached all the required documents to support my application, including:
I am eager to discuss my application further and would appreciate the opportunity for an interview if required. Please do not hesitate to contact me for additional information.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your esteemed institution.
I am trying to apply for MAECI Scholarship, unfortunately, the portal is not working. I receive a error message like a webpage error. could you please help me?
Please I applied for the scholarship though but do I have to apply for admission to the universities I selected or the awarding body will do that for me?