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Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI): How to Apply

The Italian government funds international study through two main channels. The MAECI scholarships cover master's, PhD, research stays and Italian language courses for foreign citizens and Italian citizens resident abroad. The Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT) programme funds English-taught master's degrees at Italian universities with internships. MAECI scholarships are applied for through the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. IYT applications are submitted directly on the IYT online portal. Each has its own deadline and process.

Administered by: The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), through Italian embassies/consulates and the Invest Your Talent in Italy programme

Written by Zain Aqdas, Founder and lead researcher, Scholarships AtlasLast updated 30 October 2026

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What it covers

  • A monthly allowance (set per scholarship category, e.g. around EUR 900 per month for degree scholarships)
  • Exemption from tuition and enrollment fees at the Italian host university
  • Health and medical insurance for the duration of the scholarship
  • For IYT: the master's scholarship plus a mandatory internship at an Italian company
  • No application fee for the official channels

Eligibility

  • Foreign citizenship (or Italian citizenship resident abroad, IRE), with country-specific quotas set per academic year
  • Age limits per category (commonly under 28 for master's and under 36 for PhD programmes)
  • Academic qualifications appropriate to the level applied for (bachelor's for master's; master's for PhD)
  • Admission to an Italian university program (MAECI) or to one of the IYT partner universities (IYT)
  • Language requirements: Italian or English proficiency depending on the program

Application — step by step

  1. 1

    Choose your channel: MAECI via embassy, or IYT via the portal

    MAECI scholarships: apply through the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country when its call opens (typically winter, for the following academic year). Invest Your Talent in Italy: check the IYT call and apply online on the official IYT portal (the 2026-27 call closed 11 May 2026).

  2. 2

    Check your country's quota and the current call

    Each academic year MAECI publishes the call with country quotas and deadlines. Review the call document and your embassy's instructions, and verify your age and degree eligibility against the stated limits.

  3. 3

    Prepare your documents

    Assemble the application form, degree certificates and transcripts, academic references, motivation, language certificates, and a passport copy. Where required, arrange a Declaration of Value (Dichiarazione di Valore) or CIMEA certificate for your foreign qualification early. It can take weeks.

  4. 4

    Submit your application

    MAECI: submit your complete application to the Italian Embassy/Consulate in your country by its deadline. IYT: submit through the IYT online portal by the call deadline (6:00 pm Italian time).

  5. 5

    Selection and admission

    MAECI: the embassy pre-screens and MAECI allocates awards against country quotas. IYT: universities review applications and shortlist candidates; finalists may be interviewed. Awardees must also secure admission to the Italian host university.

  6. 6

    Visa and enrollment

    Awardees complete the student visa process (Type D visa), enroll at the Italian university, and begin their studies (September-October).

Typical documents needed

  • Application form (MAECI embassy call or IYT portal)
  • Degree certificates and academic transcripts
  • Academic references / letters of recommendation
  • Motivation letter and (for research levels) a research proposal
  • Language proficiency certificates (Italian and/or English)
  • Passport copy; Declaration of Value or CIMEA certificate where required

Application cycles

The latest recorded round (Invest Your Talent 2026-27) closed on 11 May 2026 (18:00 Italian time). No newer cycle is recorded on this page yet — check the official portal for the next one.

CycleOpenedClosedStatus
Invest Your Talent 2026-27Not published11 May 202618:00 Italian timeClosed 11 May 2026

Dates as the programme published them; each cycle links to the official notice. Every round is dated differently, so confirm the current one before you plan around it.

Annual cycle

Dates move every year — always confirm on the official portal before planning around them.

Winter
MAECI calls open (embassy-channel, country-specific deadlines)
January-May
IYT application window (2026-27 deadline: 11 May 2026, 6:00 pm Italian time)
Spring-Summer
Selection and award notifications
Summer
Visa and enrollment procedures
September-October
Academic year begins in Italy

Start your application

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