Italian Government Scholarships for International Students

Brief description:

The Italian Government awards scholarships/study grants for international students as contribution toward their studies and research in Italy, aiming at spreading the Italian language, culture and sciences abroad and at promoting cultural, economic and technological cooperation worldwide.

Host Institution(s):

Scholarships/study grants are awarded for study or research at the following types of legally accredited institutions:

• universities or university or poly-technical institutes;
• institutes for advanced artistic or musical training;
• restoration institutes;
• National School of Cinema;
• research labs or centres, libraries, archives and museums associated with graduate and undergraduate university courses in which the candidate is obliged to enroll.

Grants may not be awarded for study in the following contexts:

•  foreign institutions (universities, academies, libraries, schools of any sort) even if located in Italy;
•  non-accredited private research centres or labs.

Type(s) of Study supported:

Applicants may request Study grants for:

• Brief Language Courses: possibly in preparation for enrolment in university and post-university degree courses in Italy.

• Individual University Courses: All subjects are included; at the end of the course the grant holder will be required to pass the relevant examination.

• Degree Courses: Since enrolment in certain degree courses involves a selection process, in accordance with Law no. 264/99, applicants are advised to submit alternative study programmes, even at more than one university, in order to avoid suspension of the grant in the case of non-admission to the course of study chosen. The same type of study and degree must be maintained.

• Courses in Advanced Musical and Artistic Training: To be completed at advanced music, art and dance training institutes (academies, conservatories, ISIA, etc.), at institutes of restoration and the National School of Cinema, for which a high school diploma is required.

• Italian Language and Culture Courses for Teachers of Italian: Italian language and culture courses are reserved for non-Italian teachers of the Italian language and university students of Italian enrolled for at least 3 years. Grants are awarded for the study of the Italian language, and the teaching of it, at the universities for Foreigners in Perugia, Siena and Rome (Roma Tre) or other accredited institutions that issue certificates of Italian as a Second Language (L2).

• Post-graduate University  Courses: Courses for the Masters I and II level (of at least one academic year’s duration), doctorate in research and specialisations:

o Doctorate in Research. Each individual university has its own rules for admission to the doctorate in research, and it is recommended that these be consulted by checking the institution’s internet site. Since this is generally a competitive selection process, in order to increase the chances of success it would be advisable to apply to several universities. For grant renewals see III.13.

o Masters. The diplomatic representations will see to it that grant candidates are informed of the high costs involved and the possibility that the masters programme will require studying in institutions outside of Italy, sometimes for months at a time. Moreover, admission to a masters programme often involves a selection process and a minimum number of students, therefore the grant holder should be informed of the real possibility of enrolling in the course since there is the risk of losing the grant benefit if the masters course is annulled.

o Specializations. Excluding medical disciplines (see Law no. 257 of 08.08.1991).

• Research: in all disciplines, with the obligation of enrolment in and attendance of undergraduate and post-graduate university courses. A letter of acceptance from the Dean of the academic institution is compulsory. At the end of the course the grant holder will be required to take an exam; such obligation does not exist for grant holders enrolled at the CNR, at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and at other similar research institutions.

Target Group:

The Italian scholarships are awarded to international students and Italian citizens legally residing in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Mexico, Peru, Syria, South Africa, Tunisia, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Scholarship value/inclusions:

The grants cover university fees, living allowance, return tickets, and insurance for the duration of the study. With the sole exception of brief Italian language and culture courses (1, 2 or 3 months) the study grants awarded are for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months.

Requests for grant renewals by foreigners (and Italians residing abroad) are taken into consideration only with the purpose to allow the prosecution of a multi-year study course (university undergraduate degree, master, doctorate, etc.). Renewal is granted only upon certification by the university (or other host institution) of the grant holder’s deserving prosecution of his/her curriculum.

Please refer to the Scholarship Guidelines (link found below) for details.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for study grants (except the case of language course), students must have the following prerequisites:

Knowledge of the Italian language

Knowledge of the Italian language is indispensable and must be certified or ascertained in an interview at the Italian Cultural Institute or at the Cultural Office of the local Italian diplomatic Mission or at the Italian studies Department of the applicant’s university.

Educational Credentials

Candidates must have the credentials requested for enrolment in the institution of their choice (see provisions issued by the Ministry of Education (MUIR) for 2010-2012 at this link). All credentials and certificates of study must be submitted along with their Italian translation, which must be certified as conforming with the foreign language texts by the Italian diplomatic Mission, i.e. by an official translator along with a statement attesting (dichiarazione di valore in loco) the authenticity of the credentials prepared by the Italian diplomatic Mission.

• Degree courses at Italian universities: the candidate must have a secondary school diploma valid for the enrolment in a university.

• Masters I or II programmes at Italian universities: candidates must have a degree equal to the Italian baccalaureate, along with any other documentation that may be required by the chosen institution.

• Individual courses: the certificate of enrolment issued by the university for foreigners is usually sufficient.

• Art and music institutes: it requires certification of having concluded a cycle of secondary school studies valid for admission to accredited State academies or conservatories.

• Italian language and culture courses: a secondary school diploma is required.

Age Limits

The age limit for obtaining a study grant is cited in bilateral Cultural Agreement Executive Programmes. Where not expressly established, the age limit is 35 years old.  However, this age limit does not apply to applicants who are Italian language teachers and actively engaged in teaching Italian.

With the exception of the provisions stated in Cultural Agreement Executive Programmes, in no case grants can be awarded to anyone who would still be below the age of 18 during the period covered by the grant.  Considering the varying age limits established by different institutions, it is recommended to check such detail directly with the institution (the National Cinema School, for example, has an age limit of 27).

Application Instructions:

After registering at this application page, applicants will be able to access a multilingual on-line application form. After specifying language, country of nationality and whether the application is new or a renewal, the applicant then fills out the form; a draft can be saved and changed up until its final submission. If necessary, applicants can request help filling out the form at their nearest Italian diplomatic mission or Cultural Institute.  From the academic year 2010-2011, the on line application must be completed by uploading a digital image of the passport showing the applicant’s photo.

Please remember to ask the Italian Mission if you also need to send the diplomatic mission the Application Form printed in paper form and signed, with passport-style photo attached.

Applicants may also send via email to Italian Mission: Letters of introduction from academic authorities (not required if applicant is unable to produce them due to difficult political conditions, as in the case of refugees or displaced persons); Letter of acceptance (where required) from the host institution.

The above on line procedures are compulsory for grant consideration.  On-line forms must be submitted between 22 February and 31 March 2010.  It is important the read the scholarship guidelines and visit the official website for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Contact Information:

Applicants are asked to contact their local Italian diplomatic mission for application deadlines and procedures; the mission date-stamp upon reception bears witness to compliance with deadlines.

Website:

Official Website: http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Ministero/Servizi/Stranieri/Opportunita/default.htm?LANG=EN

2010/2011 Italian Government Study Grant Guidelines (Word File):  http://www.esteri.it/MAE/opportunita/Stranieri/20100218_StudyGrants%202010_2011_EN.doc