Want to Study in Italy for Free? Scholarship in italy for international students [2025]
The scholarship provides for international students to study Engineering program to Advanced Technologies. The Italy’s commitment to global scientific and cultural cooperation has made quality education available to students worldwide through this fully funded opportunity.
Let us walk you through the Italian Government Scholarship’s key aspects. You will learn about eligibility criteria, how to apply, and what pitfalls to avoid. Students under 28 pursuing a master’s degree or planning doctoral studies will find this piece valuable to understand their study options in Italy.
Understanding Italian Government scholarship in italy for international students
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) offers prestigious grants to promote global scientific and cultural alliances. Here’s a detailed breakdown of this scholarship program.
What the scholarship covers
The students are receiving a monthly allowance of €900 through Every three months payments to their Italian bank account. The program has detailed health and medical insurance coverage during the grant period. Most universities don’t charge enrolment and tuition fees, but students must pay a regional tax of €140 and a duty stamp of €16.
Types of programs available
Students can choose from five academic paths at public or legally recognized Italian institutions:
- Master’s Degree programs (“Lauree Magistrali 2° ciclo”)
- Courses of Higher Education in Arts, Music, and Dance (AFAM)
- PhD programs
- Research projects under academic supervision
- Advanced Italian language and culture courses
Each program has specific eligibility requirements. Master’s and AFAM applicants must be under 28 years old, while PhD candidates should be under 30. Research project applicants can be up to 40 years old.
Duration and funding periods
Your chosen program determines the funding duration:
Master’s degrees, AFAM courses, PhD programs, and research projects receive nine-month grants totaling €9,000. The grant period runs from November 1st through July 31st of the following year.
Italian language and culture courses last three months with €3,000 in total funding. These programs run between January 1st and September 30th.
Students receive their scholarship in three payments:
- First payment: €4,500
- Second payment: €2,500
- Final payment: €2,000
Keep in mind that MAECI grants only cover time spent in Italy. Study abroad segments within your program won’t receive funding. Students must stay enrolled and meet academic progress requirements to keep receiving support. The scholarship renewal needs a minimum of 15 University Credits (CFU).
Key Eligibility Requirements
Your first significant step to get an Italian Government Scholarship is meeting the eligibility criteria. Here’s what you need to know about qualifying.
Age and academic criteria
The scholarship has specific age limits that vary by program type:
- PhD program candidates should be 30 years or younger
- Research project applicants can be up to 40 years old
Your academic background must match your chosen program. A bachelor’s degree is needed for master’s programs. PhD candidates need an admission letter from their target Italian university before they can apply.
Language proficiency needs
Your program’s teaching language determines the requirements:
For Italian-taught courses:
- You need a B2 level Italian proficiency certification
- University department’s language teachers can certify previously enrolled students
For English-taught programs:
- B2 level English proficiency certification is required
- Students from countries where English is official might qualify with self-certification
For Italian language and culture courses:
- You need at least A2 level Italian proficiency
- PhD programs and research projects don’t need language certifications
Country-specific rules
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) sets these eligibility rules based on nationality:
- Foreign students must live outside Italy to apply
- Italian citizens living abroad (AIRE) can also apply
- Each country’s Italian Embassy sets up a selection committee
- Committees look at academic performance and personal criteria
- You must be from a country listed on the Study in Italy portal
These scholarships support academic courses in Italy only. Bachelor’s level scholarships focus on arts, music, and dance fields. Master’s program applicants need to complete M1 or an equivalent master’s degree for second-year admissions.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
The Italian Government Scholarship application needs your complete attention to detail. Let me walk you through the process step by step.
Creating your online account
Your first step is to register on the Study in Italy portal. You’ll then need to complete the pre-enrollment application on Universitaly. The next step involves uploading your qualifications and documents that your chosen Italian institution requires.
Required documents checklist
Your program type determines which documents you need to submit in PDF format (max 1MB per file):
For Master’s Degree programs:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Bachelor’s degree diploma or completion certificate
- Academic transcripts with grades
- Language certification (B2 level)
- Motivation letter
- Additional supporting documents (admission letters, recommendations)
For PhD programs:
- PhD admission letter
- Master’s degree transcripts
- Tutor’s declaration on university letterhead
- Research proposal (under 1000 words)
- CV and motivation letter
For research projects:
- Project description (max 1000 words)
- Latest academic transcripts
- Invitation letter from host institution
- CV and supporting documents
Submission timeline
These dates need your attention:
- Application opens: January 2025
- Program start: November 1, 2025
- Grant distribution: Three installments throughout the academic year
A committee from your home country’s Italian Embassy evaluates your application. They look at both your academic performance and personal criteria. Note that the Study in Italy website is the only acceptable platform for submissions.
Keep checking your application status through your online account. Successful applicants must complete extra steps within eight working days after arriving in Italy. This includes getting a residence permit (Permesso di soggiorno) from the local Police Department.
Common Application Mistakes to Avoid
Your Italian Government Scholarship application’s success depends on avoiding mistakes that could hurt your chances. Let’s look at common pitfalls to help make your application stronger.
Documentation errors
Problems with file formats can ruin applications. You need to submit all documents in PDF format with a maximum size of 1MB. Many applicants get rejected because their files are too big. Here’s what you can do:
- Use online compression tools to reduce file sizes
- Keep file names simple – just one letter (like ‘t’ for transcript)
- Combine multiple documents into a single PDF when it makes sense
There’s another reason to pay attention to document verification. Your academic papers need proper legalization and verification from CIMEA or DoV. If you don’t get these certifications early, your application might get rejected.
Missing deadlines
Time management is a vital part of the application process. The final deadline to submit is June 14, 2025, at 2 PM Central European Time. But waiting until the last minute can be risky:
- The website might slow down from heavy traffic near deadlines – this won’t excuse late submissions
- Getting documents legalized takes time
- You must complete pre-enrollment through the Study in Italy portal first
Incomplete forms
Submitting applications that aren’t complete is a common mistake you can avoid. Based on your program choice, you’ll need:
For Master’s programs:
- Complete curriculum vitae
- Bachelor’s degree diploma or completion certificate
- Full transcript of records
- Language certifications
- Detailed motivation letter
- Supporting documents (admission letters, recommendations)
For PhD applications:
- Admission letter to the doctorate program
- Master’s degree transcripts
- Tutor’s declaration on university letterhead
- Research proposal within 1000 words
Note that incomplete applications will be rejected right away. Your application won’t count if you email documents instead of uploading them to the portal. This is a big deal as it means that you should organize your documents carefully and check each requirement before you submit.
Conclusion
The Italian Government Scholarship can transform an international student’s academic journey. This piece walks you through everything – from the €900 monthly stipend to program requirements and how to apply.
Your application’s success hinges on thorough preparation. You should start collecting your documents early, especially when you have language certifications and academic credentials that need validation. The age limits differ based on program types, so check if you qualify before you dive into the process.
Take your time with the submission. Go through each document against the requirements list. Make sure your files meet size limits and submit them well ahead of the June 14, 2025 deadline. The process might look daunting at first, but good planning makes it doable.
Students who stick to these guidelines often end up at Italy’s prestigious institutions without worrying about money. This scholarship could be your path to world-class education and a chance to experience Italy’s rich cultural heritage up close.
