Grants for Foreign Citizens and Italian Citizens Living Abroad Awarded by The Italian Government 2025-2026

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) offers grants in favour of foreign citizens living abroad and Italian citizens living abroad (IRE) for the 2025-2026 academic year, in order to foster international cooperation in cultural, scientific and technological fields, to promote the Italian language and culture and to support Italy’s economic system in the world (According to the Italian law 288/55 and its subsequent changes and additions).

ELIGIBILITY 

Applications must be sent exclusively through the Study in Italy portal (https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/) by May 16th 2025 at 14.00 (CET). Applicants must be in possession of a valid passport or identity document and they must upload a legible copy of this document at the time of registration, under penalty of exclusion. Furthermore, applicants must satisfy the following requirements by the deadline of this Call:

2.1 Academic qualifications

• Applications can only be submitted by foreign students living abroad and Italian citizens living abroad (IRE)* holding the academic qualification required for enrollment at the chosen Italian university/institution (for more information: https://studyinitaly.esteri.it/Static/ProcedureIscrizione). When applying for the MAECI grant, students who will take their Esame di Stato at the Italian high schools mentioned in Article 7 must only certify their attendance of the final year of upper secondary school; they will have to submit their high school diploma (Diploma di maturit‡) when applying for their visa at the relevant Italian diplomatic mission.

2.2 Age requirements

• Applicants for Master’s Degree programmes, Higher Education for Fine Arts, Music, and Dance (AFAM) programmes or Italian Language and Culture advanced courses must be of age and shall not exceed the age of 28 by the deadline of this Call (born after May 16th 1996), with the sole exception of renewals.
• Applicants for PhD programmes must be of age and shall not exceed the age of 30 by the deadline of this Call (born after May 16th 1994), with the sole exception of renewals.
• Applicants for Research projects under academic supervision must be of age and shall not exceed the age of 40 by the deadline of this Call (born after May 16th 1984). Applicants for Bachelor’s Degree (Laurea Triennale, 1° ciclo) or Single Cycle Degree (Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico) programmes must be of age by the deadline of this Call and shall not exceed the age of 23 (born after May 16th 2002).

2.3 Language proficiency

2.3.1 Italian-taught courses

• In order to enroll in an Italian-taught course, applicants must provide a certificate of 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 Italian course at the University may submit a language certification issued by a language teacher of the University department.

2.3.2 English-taught courses

• In this case applicants must provide a language certificate of their proficiency in English Language. The minimum level required is B2 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
• Proof of proficiency in Italian is not required for courses entirely taught in English.
• Self-certification may be valid for candidates from countries where English is an official language and who are applying for courses held entirely in English.

2.3.3 Italian language and culture courses

• For Italian language and culture courses, applicants must provide a certificate 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 Italian course at the University may submit a language certification issued by a language teacher of the University department.

RENEWALS

3.1 Applicants who have received a MAECI grant in the Academic Year 2018-2019 may apply through ordinary procedures to continue or complete a multi-year degree course. Renewals are granted only to applicants who prove satisfactory academic progress.

3.2 Applicants are eligible to attend a Single Cycle Degree Program (Corso di Laurea a Ciclo Unico) for the academic year 2019-2020 only if they have received a MAECI grant for the same course in the Academic Year 2018-2019. Renewals are granted only to applicants who prove satisfactory academic progress.

TERMS OF GRANT

• Grantees will receive a Euros monthly allowance on a quarterly basis, which will be paid on their Italian bank account.
• The first installment of the grant can be received only after the completion of University enrollment and the submission of all the documents requested according to the necessary administrative procedures.
• The MAECI will begin the disbursment procedures at the end of each quarter. Individual payments will therefore commence after that period.
• The last installment of the grant will be paid only upon verification of satisfactory academic progress

TUITION FEES

• Grantees may be exempted from the payment of enrollment and tuition fees depending on the policy of each University.
• Exemptions are not granted for courses in Italian language and culture, for which enrollment fees are due.

HEALTH AND MEDICAL INSURANCE

• Grantees will be covered by a health and medical/accident insurance contracted by MAECI for the entire duration of the grant.
• Insurance coverage will not apply to events derived from pre-existing physical and pathological conditions.