FAQ
No, there are no costs associated with submitting the Application. Participation is free.
The List of Eligible Countries for MAECI Grants is published in the Grant section, on the page Call.
If your country is not included in the list, you will not be able to apply for the grants.
No. No. Applying for a MAECI Grant and enrolling at the University or Institution of choice are two separate and different procedures.
For foreign students, pre-enrollment may be necessary via the portal Universitaly.
For some courses, admission is subject to passing admission tests.
Candidates are required to check with University or Institution of choice whether an entrance test is required and whether pre-enrollment is required via the Universitaly portal before submitting an Application.
You can submit your Application exclusively through the Study in Italy website, after completing the sign-up procedure.
It is recommended that you consult the Website guidelines before signing up and submitting your Application.
Applications submitted through any other means of transmission will not be accepted.
The Renewal is the awarding of a new MAECI Grant to the beneficiaries of the previous Call who submit a regular Application for the continuation of the course of choice through regular enrollment in the academic year indicated in the Call.
The Renewal of the grant is possible only if you were a MAECI Scholar in the academic year preceding the one indicated in the Call, and only for the continuation or completion of a multi-year course of study (Master's Degree, AFAM Course and Doctorate and Bachelor’s Degree/Single-cycle Master’s Degree) provided that the legal duration of the programme is not exceeded.
In this case, in the Course Data section of the Application, under: Have you already benefited from a MAECI Grant in the previous academic year? You must tick the Yes box. If you were not a MAECI Grantee in the previous academic year you must tick the No box.
In the Course Data section of the Application it is necessary to select the course in Italy for which you wish to apply for a scholarship by choosing Course Type from the drop-down menu.
You can choose between:
- Master's Degree
- Higher Education for Fine Arts, Music and Dance (AFAM)
- PhD
- Research project under academic supervision
- Advanced course in Italian language and culture
- Bachelor’s Degree/Single-cycle Master’s Degree to students who will obtain their high school diploma (Diploma di maturità) at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year from the Italian high schools mentioned in Article 7.
You must enter the name of the Italian Institution/University you want to enroll in, the name of the Course you have chosen and the Italian City where the Course will be held.
You can indicate a maximum of three Course options, even in different Institutions or Universities, by clicking on + Add a New Course.
If you are awarded the grant, you will need to confirm one of the options you indicated in the Application.Please note: the three Course options must all be of the same Type. For a list of available Courses, you can visit the Universitaly portal
In the Documents section of the Application, based on the Type of Course for which the grant is requested (Master's Degree, AFAM, PhD, Research project under academic supervision and Advanced course in Italian language and culture, Bachelor’s Degree/Single-cycle Master’s Degree), it is necessary to submit some documentation.
Please note: the documents must be uploaded exclusively in PDF format;
Master's Degree:
For each entry only one file can be uploaded, but it is possible to merge, if necessary, multiple documents into a single file;
the size of each file must not exceed 1 MB.
Below a list of the Documents required for each Type of Course.Higher Education for Fine Arts, Music and Dance (AFAM)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Qualification for enrollment: Bachelor’s Degree Diploma or equivalent qualification, with graduation grade (if present).
If you have completed your studies but have not yet received the Diploma, you must upload a Certificate from your University/Institution certifying the completion of your studies.- Transcript of Records: the list of exams taken in the Bachelor’s Degree Course, with the grades (if present).
If you are already enrolled in a Master's Degree Course in Italy and ask for a grant to attend the second year, you must also upload the list of exams taken in the first year.- Language certification: see the FAQ What language certifications are required?
- Motivation Letter: see the FAQ What should I write in the Motivation Letter?
- Other Documents: any useful element that can be positively evaluated.
If you have received a Letter of Admission to the Course of your choice or a Letter of Recommendation, you can upload them here.PhD
- Curriculum Vitae
- Qualification for enrollment: Upper Secondary School Diploma or equivalent qualification for access to a three-year First Cycle Course or three-year First Cycle diploma or equivalent qualification for access to a two-year Second Cycle Course, with vote (if present).
If you have completed your studies but have not yet received the Diploma, you must upload a Certificate from your University/Institution certifying the completion of your studies.- Transcript of Records: the Records of the Upper Secondary School Course or the list of exams taken in the First Cycle Three-Year Course, with the grades (if present).
If you are already enrolled in an AFAM course in Italy and ask for a grant to attend a year following the first, you must also upload the list of exams taken in previous years.- Language certification: see the FAQ What language certifications are required?
- Motivation Letter: see the FAQ What should I write in the Motivation Letter?
- Other Documents: any useful element that can be positively evaluated.
If you have received a Letter of Admission to the Course of your choice or a Letter of Recommendation, you can upload them here.Research project under academic supervision
- Curriculum Vitae
- Qualification for enrollment: Letter of Admission to the PhD - Doctorate.
- Transcript of Records: the list of exams taken in the Master's Degree Course, with the grades (if present).
If you are already enrolled in a PhD - Doctorate in Italy and ask for a grant to attend a year following the first, you must also upload an Enrollment Certificate to the PhD - Doctorate.- Tutor's Declaration: a Declaration with which the Tutor or Supervisor of the Doctoral Thesis declares to be aware of the Application and gives his/her availability, in case of assignment of the grant, to send reports on the academic progress of the Candidate upon request.
The Declaration must be printed on the headed paper of the relevant University or Institution and signed by the Tutor.- Motivation Letter: see the FAQ What should I write in the Motivation Letter?
- Other Documents: any useful element that can be positively evaluated.
If you have received a Letter of Admission to the Course of your choice or a Letter of Recommendation, you can upload them here.Advanced course in Italian language and culture
- Curriculum Vitae
- Research Project: a brief description of the project for which the grant is requested. It can be written on plain paper and must not exceed 1000 words.
- Transcript of Records: the list of exams taken in your most recent Course.
- Invitation Letter: a Letter of Invitation from the University or Institution that will host the research activity. The Letter must indicate the name of a Tutor or Supervisor, who is available, in the event of the scholarship being awarded, to send reports on the research progress of the Candidate upon request. The Letter, must be printed on the headed paper of the relevant University or Institution and signed by the Tutor.or by the Head Department of the University or Institution.
- Motivation Letter: see the FAQ What should I write in the Motivation Letter?
- Other Documents: any useful element that can be positively evaluated.
If you have received a Letter of Admission to the Course of your choice or a Letter of Recommendation, you can upload them here.Bachelor’s Degree/Single-cycle Master’s Degree
- Curriculum Vitae
- Language certification: see the FAQ What language certifications are required?
- Motivation Letter: see the FAQ What should I write in the Motivation Letter?
- Other Documents: any useful element that can be positively evaluated.
If you have received a Letter of Admission to the Course of your choice or a Letter of Recommendation, you can upload them here.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Language certification: see the FAQ What language certifications are required?
- Diploma/Certificate of attendance of the last year of Italian school
- Motivation Letter: see the FAQ What should I write in the Motivation Letter?
- Other Documents: any useful element that can be positively evaluated.
If you have received a Letter of Admission to the Course of your choice or a Letter of Recommendation, you can upload them here.
If you meet the requirements (see FAQ What does Renewal mean?), you can submit a regular Application for the Renewal of your MAECI Grant.
Renewal of the scholarship is only possible for the following Types of Courses: Master's Degree, AFAM, PhD and Bachelor’s Degree/Single-cycle Master’s Degree.
The documents required are the same as an ordinary Application to attend a year following the first (see FAQ. What documents do I need to submit in order to apply for the grant?).
Please note: remember to tick the Yes box under: Have you already benefited from a MAECI Grant in the previous academic year? In the Course Data section of the Application.
Italian-Taught Bachelor’s Degree Programmes, Master’s Degree Programmes, Higher Education for Fine Arts, Music, and Dance (AFAM) Programmes
When applying for a MAECI grant to enroll in an Italian-taught programme, applicants must attach a certificate proving their proficiency in the Italian language. The minimum level required is B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) .
Alternatively, applicants who were enrolled in a university-level Italian-taught programme or Italian language course may attach a language certificate, issued by the person responsible for the above mentioned courses, proving the required level of proficiency in Italian. Applicants who will take their Esame di Stato at the Italian high schools mentioned in Article 7 are exempted from providing certificates of their Italian language proficiency.
Please note: depending on the chosen institution, additional certificates may be required. Applicants are encouraged to carry out the necessary checks.
English-Taught Bachelor’s degree programmes, Master’s degree programmes, Higher Education for Fine Arts, Music, and Dance (AFAM) programmes
When applying for a MAECI grant to enroll in an English-taught programme, applicants must attach a certificate proving their proficiency in the English language. The minimum level required is B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Applicants from countries where English is an official language can attach a self-certification stating at least a B2 proficiency level in English. Applicants in possession of an entirely English-taught Bachelor’s degree may attach a certificate stating that the study programme of their Bachelor’s degree was entirely held in English.
Applicants in possession of an entirely English-taught Bachelor’s degree may attach a certificate stating that the study programme of their Bachelor’s degree was entirely held in English.
No proof of proficiency in the Italian language is required for programmes entirely taught in English.
Please note: depending on the chosen institution, additional certificates may be required. Applicants are encouraged to carry out the necessary checks.
Italian language and culture advanced courses
When applying for a MAECI grant to enroll in an Italian language and culture advanced course, applicants must attach a certificate proving their proficiency in the Italian language. The minimum level required is A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Applicants who were enrolled in an Italian language course or in an Italian-taught course at university or at an Italian Cultural Institute may attach a language certificate issued by the person responsible for the above mentioned courses, proving the required level of proficiency in Italian.
PhD programmes and Research projects under academic supervision
No proof of language proficiency is required for PhD programmes and Research projects under academic supervision.
Please note: depending on the chosen institution, additional certificates may be required. Applicants are encouraged to carry out the necessary checks.
In the Motivation Letter, to be attached to the application as a PDF document, the candidate is asked to tell his/her personal story, study path, academic interests and explain the reasons for choosing to study in Italy, as well as the purpose and objectives of their study project.
It can be written on plain paper and must not exceed 500 words.
At the end of the evaluation procedures, the relevant Italian Diplomatic Mission will publish the ranking of winners and any reserves on its website. The ranking is unquestionable.
Only winners will be notified via the Study in Italy portal.
The absence of an applicant’s name from the list of winners and reserves published by the Diplomatic Mission implies that the applicant has not been awarded the grant.
If the ranking cannot be published for privacy and/or security reasons, winners will be notified individually.
A MAECI Grant can be awarded for a period of three (3) or nine (9) months based on the Type of Course for which an Application is submitted. In particular, a three-month grant can be awarded for an Advanced course in Italian language and culture, and a nine-month grant for the other Types of Course.
Grantees can benefit of a nine-month grant in a period of study starting on November 1st of the year of publication of the Call and ending by July 31st of the following year. Grantees can benefit of a three-month grant in a period of study starting on January 1st, and ending by September 30th of the year of publication of the Call.
A MAECI Grant aims to help cover the costs of living and studying in Italy, and will therefore only be paid for the periods that the grantee actually spends in Italy.
The grant does not cover periods of study abroad and is paid only for the effective/valid period and only if the grantee is regularly enrolled (not “fuori corso” or part-time) at the University and the Course indicated in the Dichiarazione di Assegnazione (Awarding Letter). The grantee shall also prove satisfactory academic progress.
After obtaining the degree, or following the end of studies, the grantee is no longer entitled to the disbursement of the grant.
A nine-month grant is paid in three separate installments, to the grantee’s personal bank account, opened in their name, with an Italian banking institution
The first installment of 4,500 euros, intended to support grantees during their arrival and settlement phase in Italy, will be paid starting from November 2025 upon verification of the grantee's presence on the Italian territory and confirmation of their enrollment, which will be certified to MAECI directly by the chosen institution;
The second installment of 2,500 euros will be paid starting from February 2026 upon verification of attendance, which will be certified to MAECI directly by the chosen institution;
The third and final installment of 2,000 euros will be paid starting from June 2026 upon confirmation of a satisfactory academic progress through a university certificate stating the exams taken or through a statement by the chosen institution. A satisfactory progress is achieved by obtaining 25 university credits (CFU) for the following programmes: Bachelor’s degree (Laurea triennale), Single-cycle Master’s degree (Laurea magistrale a ciclo unico), Master’s degree (Laurea magistrale) and Higher Education for Fine Arts, Music, and Dance programmes (AFAM). As far as PhD programmes and Research projects under academic supervision are concerned, a satisfactory progress is verified through a statement by the tutor.
The same amounts and timelines mentioned above apply also to renewals. For Research projects under academic supervision, the start date of the research activities will be certified by the tutor
A three-month grant is paid in a single installment, to the grantee’s personal bank account, opened in their name, with an Italian banking institution. The grant will be paid only upon verification of the grantee’s presence on the Italian territory, confirmation of their enrollment and attendance