Italian Government Scholarship 2026 (MAECI) – How to Study in Italy for Free as an International Student
Italy Has Been Funding International Students Every Year for Decades and Almost Nobody Outside Europe Talks About It
When most students think about studying in Europe on a government scholarship, Germany comes to mind first. France second. Occasionally the Netherlands or Sweden. Italy almost never makes the list.
That is puzzling, because Italy has been running a government-funded international scholarship programme through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 1955, the programme awards scholarships to students from over 190 countries, it is entirely free to apply, and the competition level, while real, is significantly lower than equivalent UK or German government awards simply because fewer students outside Europe know the programme exists.
The Italian Government Scholarship for 2026, officially administered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and known by its Italian acronym MAECI (Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale), offers postgraduate scholarships, PhD places, and research opportunities at Italian universities to foreign students who can demonstrate academic merit.
Italy’s universities include some of the oldest in the world. The University of Bologna, founded in 1088, is the world’s oldest university still in operation. La Sapienza in Rome, the University of Milan, Politecnico di Milano, and Bocconi University are all globally recognised institutions. A scholarship to study at any of these on Italy’s government funding is not a second-choice option. It is a genuinely valuable academic opportunity that most competing applicants have not thought to apply for.
What the MAECI Italian Government Scholarship 2026 Covers
The Italian Government Scholarship is not as financially extensive as the Korean GKS or the Chevening in terms of living allowance size, but its coverage is real and meaningful. Here is what accepted scholars receive:
- Monthly stipend: Approximately 900 euros per month for the duration of the scholarship. For a nine-month scholarship, this equals approximately 8,100 euros in total living support
- Health insurance: Coverage through the Italian national health service for the scholarship period
- Exemption from university enrolment fees: Italian government scholarship holders are typically exempt from paying university application and registration fees
What the MAECI scholarship does not cover: International airfare is not included in the standard package. Accommodation is not directly provided, though most Italian universities have student housing available at subsidised rates and scholarship holders receive priority consideration. Tuition at Italian public universities is generally low by international standards (typically 900 to 2,500 euros per year), and scholarship holders benefit from fee exemptions that reduce or eliminate this cost.
The practical financial reality is that a MAECI scholarship covers your living costs at a reasonable level while your academic costs are largely offset by fee exemptions. Students who manage their expenses carefully, particularly outside Rome and Milan where costs are lower, find the package liveable.
Who Can Apply for the Italian Government Scholarship 2026: Eligibility
Citizenship
The scholarship is open to citizens of countries included in the eligible country list published on the studyinitaly.esteri.it portal. Most African countries are included, as are countries across Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The eligible list is updated each academic year.
African countries commonly included in MAECI scholarship eligibility: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and many others. Confirm your country’s current eligibility on the official application portal before preparing your documents.
Age
Applicants must generally be under 36 years of age at the time of application for most scholarship categories. Some categories, particularly for professors and senior researchers, have a higher age ceiling.
Academic Level and Requirements
The scholarship is available for the following types of study in Italy:
- Master’s degree programmes (Laurea Magistrale, second cycle, typically two years)
- Single-cycle master’s programmes in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy
- Advanced Courses in the Arts, Music, and Dance sector (AFAM)
- PhD programmes
- Research projects under academic supervision (co-tutelle projects)
- Italian language and culture courses
For academic courses, applicants must hold the relevant prior qualification for their chosen level. For master’s programmes, a bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required. For PhD programmes, a master’s degree or equivalent is required.
Language
Italian language proficiency is valued but English-taught programmes at Italian universities are growing in number. For courses taught in Italian, a B2 level Italian language certificate is recommended. For English-taught courses, IELTS or TOEFL results demonstrating B2 level English are typically required by the individual university.
How to Apply for the Italian Government Scholarship 2026 Step by Step
The application process for the MAECI scholarship 2026 is centralised and runs entirely online through the Italian government’s Study in Italy portal.
Step 1: Access the Application Portal
Go to studyinitaly.esteri.it and create an account. This is the only official portal for the Italian government scholarship. Applications submitted through any other channel are not accepted. There is no application fee.
Step 2: Check the Current Call for Applications
Each academic year, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes a call for applications (Bando) specifying the eligible countries, scholarship types, application period, and required documents for that cycle. Read the 2026/2027 Bando carefully before beginning your application. The call for the 2026/2027 academic year was published in early 2026 with a deadline of March 26, 2026 for most countries.
For the 2027/2028 academic year, the call typically opens early in 2027. Bookmark the portal and check it from January each year.
Step 3: Select Your Scholarship Type and Course
Identify the specific type of scholarship you are applying for (master’s, PhD, research, language course) and identify the specific Italian university and programme you wish to attend. You will need to name your preferred institution and course in your application.
Before selecting a university, verify two things: first, that the university offers the programme you want in an official Italian government scholarship-compatible format, and second, that the programme’s language of instruction matches your language proficiency.
Use the official Italian university portal at universitaly.it to search for English-taught and Italian-taught programmes at Italian universities.
Step 4: Prepare Your Required Documents
The exact document list varies slightly by scholarship type, but for most study in Italy scholarship applications, you will need:
- Completed online application form (generated through the portal)
- Valid passport or national ID
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates from your highest qualification, in Italian or English translation, certified and in some cases apostilled
- A study plan or research proposal describing your academic goals in Italy (typically 1,000 to 2,000 words)
- Curriculum vitae in Italian or English
- Language proficiency certificate (Italian or English depending on your programme)
- Two letters of recommendation from academic referees
- A letter of acceptance or expression of interest from an Italian university professor (for research and PhD applications)
- Passport-size photographs
- Health certificate
Step 5: Submit Your Application Before the Deadline
The portal deadline is firm. No extensions are given. Build your personal submission target at least one week before the official closing date to allow time to resolve any technical issues with document uploads.
After submission, you will receive a confirmation email. Keep this confirmation as proof of successful application.
Step 6: Await Assessment and University Placement
After the application window closes, the Italian Ministry reviews all submissions. Assessment is based on academic credentials, CV quality, study plan or research proposal strength, and alignment between the applicant’s background and chosen programme.
Successful applicants are notified and then need to complete their Italian student visa application and university enrolment formalities before their programme begins.
The Best Italian Universities for International Scholarship Students
Italy has 97 public universities and over 30 private ones. For international scholarship students, these institutions offer particularly strong programmes and international student support:
University of Bologna
The world’s oldest university, founded in 1088, and consistently ranked among the top 200 globally. Bologna offers an extensive range of English-taught master’s programmes across engineering, data science, international relations, linguistics, and the humanities. Its MAECI scholarship track record is strong and the university has a well-developed international student community.
Politecnico di Milano
Italy’s top technical university and one of Europe’s leading engineering and design schools. Ranked among the top 150 universities globally. Politecnico di Milano has an exceptionally strong engineering, architecture, and design provision and the majority of its master’s programmes are taught in English.
Sapienza University of Rome
One of the largest universities in Europe with over 100,000 students. Sapienza is strong across medicine, law, social sciences, archaeology, and the arts. Rome’s cultural richness makes it one of the most appealing cities in the world for international students.
University of Milan
Consistently ranked among Italy’s top three universities, the University of Milan has particular strength in medicine, law, natural sciences, and political science. The Invest Your Talent in Italy programme, linked to MAECI’s wider scholarship framework, specifically includes Ghana, Nigeria, and Ethiopia among its priority countries for engineering, economics, and advanced technology programmes.
Bocconi University (Milan)
Italy’s premier business school and one of Europe’s top economics and management universities. Bocconi offers its own merit scholarship separate from MAECI, but its programmes are fully accessible to MAECI scholarship holders who are admitted. The university has a particularly strong track record in international student placement and post-graduation career outcomes in finance, consulting, and international organisations.
University of Padova
One of Italy’s oldest and most respected research universities. The University of Padova’s international excellence scholarship programme covers both tuition waivers and a living allowance for highly talented foreign students, and it can be combined with or applied to alongside MAECI funding in some cases.
Italy as a Study Destination: What Life Actually Looks Like
Understanding the practical reality of living in Italy as an international student matters for anyone considering this scholarship.
Cost of living: Italy is notably more affordable than the UK, Netherlands, or Scandinavia for international students. Living costs outside Rome and Milan are lower still. Cities like Bologna, Padova, Turin, Florence, Naples, and Palermo all have active student populations with manageable living costs. A student budget of 900 to 1,200 euros per month covers accommodation, food, local transport, and basic personal expenses in most Italian university cities.
Quality of life: Italy’s food culture, climate, architecture, art, and social environment make it one of the most enjoyable places in Europe to live as a student. International students consistently report high personal satisfaction during their time in Italy, particularly in terms of cultural exposure and lifestyle.
Language development: The one year of mandatory Italian language learning that most MAECI scholarship recipients undertake before or during their programme gives graduates a genuinely useful second or third European language. Italian language proficiency opens doors in diplomacy, international organisations, fashion, design, luxury goods, and food industries globally.
Post-study opportunities: Italy allows international graduates to apply for a one-year job search permit after completing their degree. EU Blue Card eligibility applies for qualifying professional roles.
The Invest Your Talent in Italy Programme: MAECI’s Africa-Specific Track
Within the broader MAECI scholarship framework, there is a specific sub-programme called Invest Your Talent in Italy that deserves particular attention from African applicants. This programme is supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and offers scholarships specifically to students from selected African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, and several others, to pursue English-taught master’s and postgraduate degrees in engineering, architecture, design, economics, and management at prestigious Italian universities.
The programme is co-funded by Italian corporate partners, which means scholarship recipients receive additional support beyond the standard MAECI stipend in some cases. Check the current programme documentation on the Study in Italy portal for the active country list and partner universities for the 2026/2027 cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Italian Government Scholarship 2026
Is the Italian Government Scholarship fully funded?
The MAECI scholarship provides a monthly stipend of approximately 900 euros, health insurance, and fee exemptions. It does not cover international airfare. It is not fully funded in the way that the GKS or DAAD are, but the stipend combined with Italy’s relatively low cost of living and fee exemptions makes it genuinely supportive.
Can Nigerian students apply for the Italian Government Scholarship?
Yes. Nigeria is consistently listed among the eligible countries for MAECI scholarships. Nigerian applicants can apply through the Study in Italy portal. The Invest Your Talent in Italy programme specifically includes Nigeria as a priority country.
Do I need to speak Italian to apply?
For Italian-taught programmes, Italian language proficiency at B2 level is recommended. For English-taught programmes, Italian is not required for the course itself, though basic Italian is practically helpful for daily life. Many Italian universities have greatly expanded their English-taught master’s programmes in recent years.
What is the MAECI scholarship application deadline for 2026?
For the 2026/2027 academic year, the application deadline was March 26, 2026. For the 2027/2028 cycle, the call typically opens in January or February 2027. Bookmark studyinitaly.esteri.it and monitor it from January each year.
How competitive is the Italian Government Scholarship?
Competition is genuine but lower than equivalent UK, German, or Australian government scholarships. The programme is less well known outside Europe, which means the number of applicants from Africa and Asia remains relatively smaller than for Chevening or DAAD. Strong academic records, a well-argued study plan, and evidence of Italian language learning or genuine engagement with Italy are the differentiating factors.
Can I study medicine in Italy on a government scholarship?
Yes. Medicine is eligible under the MAECI scholarship for single-cycle programmes. However, medicine in Italy is primarily taught in Italian, which means Italian language proficiency is essential. The admissions test (IMAT, the International Medical Admissions Test) is required for medicine programmes regardless of scholarship status.
Italy Has Been Doing This Since 1955. You Just Had to Know Where to Look
The MAECI scholarship is not new. It is not experimental. It is a 70-year-old Italian government programme that has funded thousands of international students and researchers. What is new is the awareness that students from Africa and other developing regions are bringing to it.
If Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD, and Fulbright are your four go-to applications this cycle, add MAECI to the list. The application is free. The portal is accessible. The competition level, relative to the quality of what is on offer, is more manageable than you might expect.
Italy has been waiting. Now you know it exists.
