Italian Government Scholarship Program for Foreign Students (Education in Italy 2027)

February 22, 2024

By Muhammad Shaban Tabassam·Updated September 30, 2026

The Italian Government Scholarship Program is a MAECI grant for eligible foreign citizens and Italian citizens living abroad who want to study, train, or conduct supervised research at recognised institutions in Italy. The latest official call available at the time of writing covers the 2026–2027 academic year. The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has not yet published a separate 2027–2028 call on the official pages reviewed for this guide. This article therefore gives confirmed rules for the latest call and a practical preparation plan for students targeting the next cycle.

The latest call awarded €10,800 for most 9-month study and research categories, paid in 3 instalments to an Italian bank account. The award also included MAECI collective health insurance for the scholarship period, while tuition-fee exemptions depended on the chosen institution. The grant did not replace university admission, Universitaly pre-enrolment, or the student-visa process. Applicants must complete those procedures separately and satisfy the conditions in the official call.

This guide explains the scholarship summary, funding coverage, eligible programmes, age and language rules, documents, application steps, deadline planning, selection process, payment conditions, and official links. It also separates confirmed 2026–2027 facts from 2027 planning assumptions because MAECI can change the amount, eligible countries, dates, and programme categories each year. Students should use the next official call as the final legal source before submitting an application. The information below is based on the official MAECI call, the Study in Italy portal, and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship page.

Italian Government Scholarship Program Background

The Italian Government Scholarship Program is administered by MAECI for study, training, and research at public or legally recognised private Italian institutions. The grant supports onsite academic activity in Italy, so an applicant cannot treat it as a general online-study award. Selection is based on citizenship, and applicants can apply through only 1 eligible country selection process. The official list of eligible countries appears with each annual call on the Study in Italy portal.

The Italian Government Scholarship Program includes several routes rather than one identical award for every applicant. The latest call covered Master’s degree programmes, AFAM programmes in fine arts, music and dance, PhD programmes, supervised research projects, intensive Italian language and culture courses, and a renewal-only Bachelor’s or single-cycle category. Each route used different academic, age, language, admission, and renewal rules. Students should select the category that matches their intended Italian programme before preparing documents.

The Italian Government Scholarship Program application and university enrolment are separate procedures. The Study in Italy FAQ states that submitting a MAECI application does not enrol a student at a university or other institution. A student who needs a visa must also complete the institution’s pre-enrolment process through Universitaly after receiving the required invitation or acceptance. You may also like to read: Scholarships in Italy for a wider comparison of Italian funding routes. That comparison is useful because regional, university, and government awards use different portals and deadlines.

Scholarship Summary

The following table summarises the latest confirmed rules that applicants can use for 2027 preparation. The academic year, eligible-country list, payment amount, and deadline remain subject to the next MAECI call. The 2026–2027 call used a 26 March 2026 deadline at 14:00 Italian time. Students should not copy that date into a final 2027 application plan until MAECI publishes the next notice.

Scholarship fact	Confirmed information from the latest official call
Scholarship name	Italian Government Scholarship Program for Foreign Students, administered by MAECI
Target group	Eligible foreign citizens and Italian citizens living abroad under the IRE route
Study location	Italy; awards support onsite attendance in Italian territory
Main study levels	Master’s, AFAM, PhD, supervised research, and intensive Italian language courses
Standard duration	9 months for most categories; 3 months for intensive Italian language and culture courses
Standard award	€10,800 for most 9-month categories; €3,600 for the 3-month language route
Payment method	Italian current account in the recipient’s name, normally in instalments
Latest confirmed deadline	26 March 2026 at 14:00 Italian time for the 2026–2027 call
Application portal	Official Study in Italy portal only
University admission	Separate application to the chosen university or institution
Insurance	MAECI collective health insurance for illness and accident during the grant period
2027 status	A separate 2027–2028 call was not confirmed on the official pages reviewed

The Italian Government Scholarship Program does not guarantee a universal full-cost package for every recipient. The cash grant supports living and study costs, but applicants must budget for deposits, travel, visa costs, regional fees, books, and expenses excluded by the institution or insurance policy. Some universities exempt MAECI recipients from enrolment and tuition fees, but the decision belongs to the institution. Regional fees remain payable and are not reimbursed by MAECI under the latest call.

Applicants can compare government support with other Italian funding by reviewing the official country and scholarship categories on Wsscholar4u. You may also like to read: Fully Funded Scholarships. A comparison page can help students identify regional grants, university awards, and country-specific opportunities. The applicant must still verify each award against its original provider because “fully funded” can describe different combinations of tuition, stipend, housing, meals, and insurance.

Scholarship Coverage

The latest Italian Government Scholarship Program call set the main 9-month award at €10,800 for Master’s, AFAM, PhD, supervised research, and eligible renewal categories. MAECI planned to pay that amount in 3 instalments of €5,500, €2,300, and €3,000 after verifying presence, enrolment, and academic progress. The final instalment required satisfactory progress, including 27 university credits for the relevant study categories or the required supervisor certification for research routes. The 2027 call may retain or change these figures, so students must confirm the next payment schedule.

The 3-month intensive Italian language and culture route used a separate €3,600 payment in the latest call. The applicant needed at least A2 Italian proficiency for that category. The grant could start between 1 January and 30 September of the call year, and it had to run for a complete relevant quarter. This language route did not use the same 9-month payment structure as the degree and research routes.

MAECI provided collective health insurance for illness and accidents during the scholarship period. The latest call excluded conditions linked to pre-existing illness and dental care. The insurance did not create a general travel-insurance package for every personal risk. Applicants should read the policy terms and arrange any additional coverage required for their visa, university, or personal circumstances.

Tuition support depends on the university. Some Italian institutions can exempt scholarship recipients from enrolment and tuition fees under their own rules, while other charges can remain payable. Regional fees are due in any case under the latest call and cannot be reimbursed by MAECI. You may also like to read: HEC Italy Scholarships to compare a separate scholarship route with the government grant. Students should calculate the remaining cost after applying the exact institutional decision rather than assuming that the MAECI grant pays every fee.

Benefit	Latest confirmed rule
9-month financial support	€10,800 total for most eligible categories
First instalment	€5,500 after presence and enrolment verification
Second instalment	€2,300 after continued regular enrolment verification
Final instalment	€3,000 after satisfactory academic progress verification
3-month language route	€3,600 in one instalment under the latest call
Health insurance	Collective MAECI cover for illness and accident during the award period
Tuition fees	Exemption depends on the chosen institution; regional fees remain payable
Travel and housing	Not guaranteed as separate universal benefits

Eligible Study Programmes

The latest call allowed 9-month applications for Italian Master’s degree programmes, AFAM first- and second-cycle programmes, PhD programmes, and supervised research projects. These categories define the main Italian Government Scholarship Program routes for degree and research applicants. Master’s applicants needed a first-cycle qualification equivalent to an Italian Bachelor’s degree. PhD applicants needed the academic qualification required by the institution and an admission letter, not only a pre-admission letter, when the call required it. Research applicants needed an invitation letter from the supervisor and a research project.

Italian language and culture courses formed a 3-month category. Applicants for that route needed Italian proficiency at least equal to A2 under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Italian-taught Master’s and AFAM applicants needed at least B2 Italian proficiency under the latest call. English-taught applicants needed to satisfy the language evidence required by the selected programme and the annual MAECI rules.

The latest Bachelor’s and single-cycle “Costruiamo il futuro” route was reserved for renewals from the previous call. A new Bachelor’s applicant therefore could not assume that the standard government scholarship opened a fresh first-year route. The next call may change this structure, but only the published notice can create a new eligibility route. You may also like to read: Italian Scholarships by Country when you want to compare MAECI with scholarships offered by other national governments.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy citizenship, academic, age, language, admission, and document rules. The applicant must hold citizenship from a country listed in the current eligible-country document. A person with multiple foreign citizenships can use only 1 eligible-country selection process. A dual Italian and foreign citizen must follow the foreign beneficiary-country route under the latest call and must declare the relevant citizenship accurately.

The latest age limits were specific to the study category. Master’s, AFAM, Italian language, and renewal-only Bachelor’s applicants could not exceed 28 years by the call deadline, except where the renewal rule applied. PhD applicants could not exceed 30 years, while supervised research applicants could not exceed 40 years. These numbers belong to the 2026–2027 call and require confirmation for the 2027 cycle.

Applicants must upload a valid passport or identity document. Master’s and AFAM applicants must hold the qualification required for admission or follow the call’s authorised supplementary-document procedure. PhD applicants must provide the required academic qualification and admission letter, while research applicants must provide the invitation letter and research project within the stated deadline. A pre-admission letter does not automatically replace a formal PhD admission letter.

Language evidence depends on the programme language. Applicants for Italian-taught Master’s and AFAM programmes needed B2 Italian evidence in the latest call. Applicants for intensive Italian language and culture courses needed A2 Italian proficiency. English-taught programme applicants should check the selected institution’s English-language requirement and the MAECI call because a university’s admission standard and a government scholarship standard can operate together.

Required Documents

A complete application normally requires a valid passport or identity document, academic records, language evidence, and programme-specific admission material. The latest call permitted certain Master’s, AFAM, and PhD applicants to provide supplementary documents only when they had indicated that need in the online form and appeared in the merit ranking. Research and intensive language applicants could not rely on later uploads for every missing document. Applicants should therefore prepare the complete file before pressing submit.

The core document checklist includes a passport copy, degree certificate or qualification declaration, academic transcript, language certificate, university admission evidence, and any required supervisor material. Research applicants should add an invitation letter and research proposal. PhD applicants should add the formal admission letter when required. Applicants should also prepare certified translations, legalisation, CIMEA information, or a Declaration of Value only when the chosen institution or consular process requests them.

The application portal may request additional information about citizenship, residence, contact details, chosen institution, study programme, and previous MAECI awards. Applicants should use an email account that they check regularly because official communications go to the registered address. You may also like to read: Application Documents for a practical document-preparation reference. The applicant must still follow the exact annual call because a general checklist cannot override a programme-specific rule.

Application Process

Step 1: Check the annual call and country list

Open the official Study in Italy call page and confirm that your citizenship appears in the eligible-country list. Read the study categories, age limits, language requirements, and deadline before creating the application. Select only 1 country route when you hold multiple eligible foreign citizenships. Save the call PDF and record the Italian-time deadline in your calendar.

Step 2: Select an eligible Italian programme

Choose a Master’s, AFAM, PhD, research, or language programme that matches the current call. Verify the programme language, academic qualification, admission test, supervisor requirement, and institution recognition. A student who needs a visa should check the university’s international admissions page and the Universitaly process. Do not treat scholarship submission as university enrolment because the 2 processes remain separate.

Step 3: Prepare academic and language evidence

Collect the passport, degree records, transcript, language certificate, admission letter, supervisor invitation, and research proposal that match your category. Translate or legalise documents only when the university, consulate, or call requires that action. Check names, dates, grades, and passport numbers across every file. A mismatch can delay verification or create an avoidable eligibility problem.

Step 4: Register on Study in Italy

Create an account on the official portal with an email address that you monitor. Complete the citizenship, personal, academic, and programme fields accurately. Upload clear files in the requested format and answer the supplementary-document question honestly. The portal accepts only online submissions through Study in Italy under the latest call.

Step 5: Submit before the deadline

Submit the application before the published Italian-time deadline rather than waiting for the final hour. Download or save the confirmation record, protocol number, and submitted application. Portal congestion does not normally excuse a late submission under the official call. Keep a backup copy of every uploaded document and the final confirmation email.

Step 6: Complete university admission and visa steps

Send a separate application to the chosen university or institution under its own deadline. If you need a visa, complete the required pre-enrolment process through Universitaly after the institution provides the relevant invitation or validation. Apply to the competent Italian diplomatic mission for the study visa in sufficient time. You may also like to read: Italian Government Scholarship Category for related Italy-focused opportunities and updates. That page does not replace the official MAECI application portal or consular instructions.

Step 7: Monitor selection and accept the award

Italian diplomatic representations evaluate applications, invite shortlisted candidates to interviews where applicable, and publish merit rankings or reserve lists. Only winners receive the award notification through the Study in Italy portal under the latest rules. A selected applicant must accept the award, follow the awarding letter, and complete pre-enrolment or enrolment. The applicant should also obtain a tax identification number and visa where required before the funding period begins.

Deadline and 2027 Timeline

The confirmed latest deadline was 26 March 2026 at 14:00 Italian time for the 2026–2027 academic year. The latest call set the 9-month funding period from 1 November 2026 through 31 July 2027. It set the 3-month language period between 1 January and 30 September 2027, with study beginning on the first day and ending on the last day of the relevant quarter. These dates describe the latest published cycle, not a confirmed 2027–2028 timetable.

For 2027 planning, students should monitor MAECI and Study in Italy from January onward. A practical preparation schedule includes document collection in January, programme and language verification in February, portal registration before the deadline, and immediate university admission work after submission. The next call may publish a different deadline, funding period, age cutoff, or country list. You may also like to read: Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships in Italy while preparing a parallel funding plan. Keep every alternative application separate because each provider uses its own requirements.

Apply Now

Applicants should apply through the official Study in Italy application portal, not through an agent or an unofficial scholarship website. The portal publishes the annual call, eligible-country list, website guidelines, and application form. The official MAECI scholarship page also provides the current call documents and links to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs notices. Applicants should read both sources before starting the form.

The 2027 call is not confirmed in the official sources reviewed for this article. Students can prepare the academic, language, passport, admission, and supervisor documents now, but they should wait for the next official call before relying on a specific amount or deadline. A scholarship award does not guarantee admission, a visa, housing, or a tuition exemption. The institution, MAECI, and the consular authority make separate decisions.

Official Website

The primary official sources are the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs MAECI scholarship page, the Study in Italy call page, the official 2026–2027 English call PDF, and the Study in Italy FAQ. Students who need university admission guidance should also read the official Study in Italy enrolment procedures. These pages explain the separate admission and visa steps. These pages control the final rules for the 2027 cycle. The Italian Government Scholarship Program notice published for that cycle will override any planning information in this guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Italian Government Scholarship Program?

The Italian Government Scholarship Program is a MAECI grant for eligible foreign citizens and Italian citizens living abroad. It supports approved study, training, and supervised research at recognised institutions in Italy. The latest call covered Master’s, AFAM, PhD, research, and intensive Italian language categories. Applicants must check the annual eligible-country list before applying.

2. Is the Italian Government Scholarship Program open for 2027–2028?

A separate 2027–2028 call was not confirmed on the official pages reviewed for this guide. The latest published detailed call covered 2026–2027 and closed on 26 March 2026. MAECI normally publishes the next call through its official scholarship page and Study in Italy. Students should not treat an unofficial 2027 deadline as final.

3. How much money did the latest MAECI scholarship provide?

The latest call provided €10,800 for most 9-month categories. It divided the amount into €5,500, €2,300, and €3,000 instalments after presence, enrolment, and progress checks. The intensive Italian language route used €3,600 for 3 months. The 2027 amount requires confirmation from the next official call.

4. Does the scholarship pay all tuition fees?

The scholarship does not automatically pay every tuition charge at every institution. Some universities can exempt recipients from enrolment and tuition fees under their own regulations. Regional fees remain payable under the latest call and are not reimbursed by MAECI. Applicants must ask the chosen institution for the exact fee decision.

5. Can Bachelor’s students apply as new applicants?

The latest call limited the “Costruiamo il futuro” Bachelor’s and single-cycle route to renewals from the previous call. A new Bachelor’s applicant could not assume that route was available for first-time funding. The next MAECI call may change the category structure. Students must read the new notice instead of relying on older Bachelor’s information.

6. What age limit applies to Master’s applicants?

The latest call set a maximum age of 28 for Master’s applicants by the application deadline, except for applicable renewals. PhD applicants had a 30-year maximum, and supervised research applicants had a 40-year maximum. These limits can change in the 2027 call. The applicant must calculate age against the date specified in the active notice.

7. Do applicants need university admission before applying?

The MAECI application and university admission are separate procedures. Some categories require formal admission evidence, while others allow defined supplementary documents after ranking conditions are met. A visa applicant must complete the institution’s pre-enrolment and consular steps separately. Students should check the chosen institution’s deadline before submitting the MAECI form.

8. Where do applicants submit the application?

Applicants submit the Italian Government Scholarship Program application exclusively through the Study in Italy portal. Email, postal submissions, and third-party forms do not replace the official online application. Applicants should save the protocol number and confirmation after submission. The next call will state the active deadline and any changed portal instructions.

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Muhammad Shaban Tabassam

Muhammad Shaban Tabassam is a Master's candidate in Software Engineering at Xi'an University of Technology, China, where he studies on a fully funded university scholarship and the China Belt and Road Scholarship. He completed his B.S. in Information Technology at the University of Education, Lahore, and has published research on prompt engineering and multimodal systems. He founded WsScholar4u to document verified scholarship information for students applying abroad, drawing on his own experience of securing funded admission in China.