The MAECI Italian Government Scholarship is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, operating under Italian Law 288/55, and it's Italy's main tool for bringing international students into its higher education system. It's open to citizens of roughly 141 eligible countries — a genuinely wide list that includes major applicant countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, Vietnam, Brazil, and Turkey.
For 2026–2027 the total grant rose to €10,800, up from €9,000 the year before, paid in three installments across the academic year.
What the Grant Actually Pays For
| Benefit | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total study/PhD grant | €10,800, paid in three installments (~€5,500 on arrival, ~€2,300 in February, ~€3,000 at year-end) |
| Language course grant | €3,600, paid as a single payment at the end of the 3-month course |
| Tuition | Most public universities waive fees for MAECI scholars — a university-level decision, not centrally guaranteed. Expect a small regional tax (~€140) and stamp duty (~€16) regardless |
| Health insurance | Collective accident and medical insurance for the full grant period, at no cost to you |
| Housing | Support finding university-managed accommodation (DSU/EDISU); no separate cash housing allowance |
Arrival date matters: the stipend is calculated from the day you land in Italy. Arrive after November 15 and your total grant is cut proportionally for every day of delay — plan to arrive in October or very early November to keep the full €10,800.
Five Different Things You Can Use It For
Unlike scholarships that lock you into one degree level, MAECI funds five distinct academic tracks, with no restriction on field of study.
Master's degree (Laurea Magistrale) up to 12 months
The most-used track. Requires a completed Bachelor's. Any discipline, any Italian public university. Age limit: under 28 at the deadline.
AFAM — arts, music & dance 9 months
Advanced training at Italy's specialised academies (Accademie di Belle Arti, Conservatori) — visual arts, music performance, dance, film, design. Age limit: under 28.
PhD / doctorate 9 months
For holders of a Master's degree, whether entering a structured doctoral programme or applying with an identified supervisor. Age limit: under 30.
Supervised research projects 9–12 months
Research at an Italian university or public research body (CNR, INFN, etc.), typically for postdocs. Requires a letter of agreement from the host institution. Age limit: under 40.
Italian language & culture courses 3 months
Short intensive courses — no prior Italian required, since the course is the programme itself. Tuition exemption doesn't apply to this track. Age limit: under 28.
Who Actually Qualifies
- Nationality: citizens of the roughly 141 countries on the current year's eligible list — published fresh with each annual call, so don't rely on last year's list. Italian citizens living permanently abroad (IRE) in qualifying countries can also apply; Italian citizens resident in Italy cannot.
- Age, calculated at the deadline, not the start of studies: under 28 for Master's/AFAM/language courses, under 30 for PhD, under 40 for research projects.
- Academic background: a completed Bachelor's for Master's/AFAM (final-year students can apply with an expected-graduation letter); a completed Master's for PhD and research tracks.
- Language: B2-level English (IELTS ≥6.0, TOEFL iBT ≥80, or a Medium of Instruction letter) for English-taught programmes, or B2 Italian (CILS, CELI, PLIDA) for Italian-taught ones. No prior language needed for the Italian course track.
- Degree recognition: your existing degree needs to be recognisable by Italian authorities — usually confirmed via a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) or a CIMEA certificate at enrolment, not at application stage.
Hard exclusion: MAECI does not fund Bachelor's degrees (Laurea Triennale). If you're still an undergraduate, this scholarship isn't available to you yet — it opens up once you've completed, or are about to complete, your Bachelor's.
How the Application Actually Runs
1. Confirm your country is on this year's list
Check the current call on the Study in Italy portal before doing anything else — the eligible countries list is refreshed annually.
2. Pick a realistic target university, even though you don't need admission yet
The form asks for your intended university and programme. Naming something specific and researched — not vague — strengthens your embassy screening later.
3. Register and apply on the Study in Italy portal
studyinitaly.esteri.it, available in English and Italian. Submit at least a few days before the deadline (usually around March 26, 2:00 PM CET) — the portal gets unstable under last-minute load, and no edits are possible after submission.
4. Get screened by your local Italian embassy or consulate
Between April and July, the embassy reviews applications and may request extra documents or run an interview — the format varies by country. This local recommendation carries real weight in the final national selection.
5. Results land in August
Published on the embassy's website and the Study in Italy portal, with an official award letter for successful applicants.
6. Only now do you apply for university admission
Take your award letter to the international office of your chosen Italian university. You'll need your Declaration of Value or CIMEA certificate at this stage — start that process as soon as you submit your MAECI application, since it takes 4–12 weeks.
7. Apply for a Type D student visa and arrive before November 15
MAECI scholars typically get priority visa processing. Once in Italy, your university's welcome desk helps with your tax code, bank account, and municipal registration — all needed before your first stipend installment.
Where Applications Actually Fail
Because the process is genuinely open to a huge pool of countries and doesn't require prior admission, volume is high. In practice, most rejections trace back to a handful of avoidable issues rather than academic weakness:
- Incomplete documentation — the single most common reason.
- Age limit miscalculation — remember it's measured at the deadline, not at the start of your studies.
- Applying for an ineligible level — usually a Bachelor's, which MAECI simply doesn't fund.
- A generic motivation letter that doesn't explain why Italy specifically, and how the degree connects back to your home country.
- Late submission — there's no grace period, and portal outages near the deadline are not accepted as an excuse.
A specific, researched university choice and a letter tied to a real academic plan outperform a technically perfect but generic application almost every time.
Once You're Selected
- Enrol immediately with your award letter at your chosen university's international office, submitting your Declaration of Value or CIMEA certificate.
- Get your codice fiscale (tax code) — either at the Italian embassy before departure or locally after arrival. You need it for almost everything: bank account, lease, healthcare, stipend.
- Open an Italian bank account within your first two to three weeks — your installments are paid here.
- Register with the local ASL for public healthcare access alongside your MAECI insurance.
- Apply for your permesso di soggiorno within 8 business days of arrival, at any post office.
- Register your address with the local Comune within 20 days of arrival.
- Track your CFU credits if you're on a two-year Master's — you'll need at least 15 to apply for renewal the following March, and 27 by year-end to release your final installment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the MAECI Scholarship without a university admission offer?
Yes. You apply for the scholarship first through the Study in Italy portal. If selected, you receive an official award letter, which you then use to apply for admission to your chosen Italian public university.
How is the €10,800 MAECI grant actually paid?
In three installments: roughly €5,500 on arrival in Italy, about €2,300 in February once your enrolment is confirmed, and around €3,000 at year-end once you've shown at least 27 CFU credits earned.
Does the MAECI Scholarship cover Bachelor's degrees?
No. It covers Master's degrees, AFAM arts/music/dance programmes, PhDs, supervised research projects, and Italian language courses — not undergraduate Laurea Triennale programmes.
Is the MAECI Scholarship renewable for a second year?
Yes, for students continuing the same full-time programme who can show at least 15 university credits (CFU) earned at the time of the renewal application.
What happens if I arrive in Italy after November 15?
The total stipend is reduced proportionally for each day of delay past November 15, since the grant is calculated from your date of arrival. Arriving in October or early November protects your full award.
Official Resources
- Apply on the Study in Italy Portal: studyinitaly.esteri.it
- Free SOP Writer: catchthatscholarship.com/sop-outliner/
- CV Builder: catchthatscholarship.com/cv-builder/
More Government Scholarship Guides
- Italy Regional Scholarships (DSU/EDISU/ERGO): How to apply
- Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship (Hungary): How to apply
- Türkiye Bursları Scholarship (Turkey): How to apply
- France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship: How to apply
- NL Scholarship / Holland Scholarship (Netherlands): How to apply
- Heydar Aliyev International Education Grant (Azerbaijan): How to apply
The reversed order — apply first, get admitted after — is genuinely unusual among government scholarships, and it's the main reason MAECI is worth applying to even if you haven't locked down a university yet. Just don't let that flexibility turn into vagueness in your motivation letter.
