Italian Government Scholarship FAQ
Questions people keep asking, answered against the last published call and what is still unpublished. No invented 2027 clock.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
These questions come from the same collisions every cycle: two portals, one country rule, dual nationality, and blogs that recycle last year's date as next year's law. Where money is quoted, it is the 2026–27 published pattern. Where a date is quoted, it is the last official close — or an honest “not published”.
The basics
Cultural, scientific and technological cooperation, support for Italy's economic system abroad, and the Italian language and culture, under Law 288/55. It is a MAECI instrument, not a private foundation prize.
No. The programme is for onsite study in Italy.
No. Selection is citizenship-based; you apply for one country only.
Through the foreign-country track, entering your foreign citizenship and declaring your Italian one with proof. Do not file as an Italian citizen for a foreign-citizen scheme.
Yes, in the last call: first-time applicants could be at most 28 at the deadline for master's, AFAM and Italofonia, 30 for PhD and 40 for research projects. Renewals were exempt. The 2027–28 call will restate the limits.
No. It is an independent ScholarshipUnion guide. Confirm every figure and date on esteri.it when the 2027–28 call is published.
Dates and award types
No. As of 6 October 2026 that date has not been published. The last official close was 26 March 2026 at 14:00 Italian time (and 16 May 2025 the year before). Official 2027–28 dates are not out.
Master's Laurea Magistrale (9 months, renewable); AFAM (9 months, renewable); PhD (9 months, renewable); research projects (9 months, not renewable, invitation letter); Italofonia language (3 months, A2+ Italian); bachelor Costruiamo il futuro (renewal only).
The bachelor path Costruiamo il futuro was renewal only in the last call. A first award on that track was not offered, and ordinary bachelor's degrees (other than AFAM) are outside the scheme.
You need an invitation letter from your supervisor and a research project. The stay is nine months and not renewable.
Money and fees
Nine-month scholarships totalled €10,800 in three instalments (€5,500 + €2,300 + €3,000) to an Italian current account. Language courses were €3,600, paid in one instalment. These are the last published 2026–27 figures.
Not directly. The last call said some universities exempt MAECI scholars from enrolment and tuition fees under their own rules; any fees you owe are not refunded by MAECI, regional fees are always due, and language-course fees are always paid. Ask your institution.
Yes, in the last call: a collective MAECI policy covering illness and accident for the scholarship period only, excluding pre-existing conditions and dental care.
The last published payment method was an Italian current account. Plan it after selection; the grant cannot land without that pipe.
Portals and paperwork
B2 Italian for Italian-taught master's and AFAM programmes; B2 English or English-taught bachelor proof for English-taught ones; A2 Italian for Italofonia. PhD and research applicants did not need to prove language level to MAECI in the last call.
The scholarship form is on studyinitaly.esteri.it. Policy and the call sit on the official MAECI page. Admission and many tests sit on Universitaly.
Pre-enrolment and admission tests. A MAECI award does not replace that process.
You must produce a valid Italian enrolment certificate. A foreign partner certificate alone is not enough.
Still deciding if you qualify?
Eligibility →Start with citizenship, age and award type, not with the portal password.