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GRANTS FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS AND ITALIAN CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD
AWARDED BY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT.
CALL FOR APPLICATIONS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-25.
DEADLINE JUNE 14th 2024
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) offers grants in favor of
foreign students and Italian citizens living abroad (IRE)* for the academic year 2024-25 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).
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:
https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/
Art. 1
GRANTS OPPORTUNITIES
1.1 Master’s Degree (Laurea Magistrale 2° ciclo)
Grants for Master’s Degree courses are awarded for a period of study of 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.
MAECI|3090150|17/05/2024|0000018-A - Allegato Utente 2 (A02)
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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 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.
1.3 PhD program
Grants for a PhD program are awarded for a period of study of 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 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 of 3 (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):
https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference
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 document. 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 14th 2024, 2.00 pm
CET):
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2.1 Academic qualifications
Applications must only be submitted by foreign students and Italian citizens living abroad (IRE)*
holding an appropriate academic qualification required to enroll to the Italian University/Institute
(more information on: https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/Static/ProcedureIscrizione).
2.2 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 14th 1995), 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 14th 1993), 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 14th
1983).
2.3 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.
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Art. 3
RENEWALS
Applicants who have received a MAECI grant in the Academic Year 2023-2024 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 2024-23 is mandatory.
Art. 4
FUNDING PERIOD
Grantees can benefit of the Grants of points 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 e 1.4 of this Call in a period of study starting
on November 1st, 2024 and ending by July 31st 2025.
Grantees can benefit of the Grants of points 1.5 of this Call in a period of study starting on January
1st, 2024 and ending by September 30th 2025.
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.
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Art. 6
ATTANASIO GRANTS
In memory of Ambassador Attanasio and his team members (Vittorio Iacovacci and Mustapha
Milambo), also for the adademic year 2024-25, a reserve of three 9-month 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 the Study in Italy
portal at the following link:
https://studyinitaly.esteri.it
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 14th 2024, 2 pm CET.
Applications received after the deadline will be rejected.
It is strongly recommended not to wait for the last days to apply for a MAECI Grant. Lagging of
the website, if it were to occur due to the excessive number of users connected at the same time,
will not be deemed a valid justification for failing to submit your Application.
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Art. 9
SELECTION AND AWARDING OF GRANTS
9.1 Selection of the candidates
Applications will be evaluated by a Committee set up by the competent Italian Diplomatic Mission.
9.2 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 Grant as defined at points 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 of this Call will receive a total
amount of 9,000 (nine thousand) euros, paid in three separate installments to the personal current
account, opened in his/her name, with an Italian banking institution. The first installment, of 4,500
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euros, intended to help the students settle in after the arrival in Italy, will be paid upon verification
of the Grantee’s presence on Italian territory and the completion of enrollment to the
University/Institute of choice; the second installment, of 2,500 euros, will be paid upon confirmation
of enrollment and attendance starting from February 2025; the third and last installment, of 2,000
euros, will be paid only upon verification of a satisfactory academic progress through a certificate
of the exams taken or an equivalent University certification. The MAECI will begin the disbursement
procedures at the end of each period (first university semester for the first installment, second one
for the second and third installments). The same conditions mentioned above apply to renewals.
The winner of a MAECI Grant as defined at point 1.5 of this Call will receive a total amount of 3,000
(three thousand) euros, paid in a single installment to the personal current account, opened in
his/her name, with an Italian banking Institution. The installment will be paid only upon verification
of the Grantee’s presence on Italian territory, the completion of enrollment to the
University/Institute of choice and of a satisfactory study progress.
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).
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.
NOTES
* IRE grants are offered for the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia,
Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Peru, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia, Uruguay, and
Venezuela.
