1. MAECI Scholarship
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI) Scholarship is a scholarship program offered by the Italian Government to international students and Italian citizens living abroad. The scholarship aims to strengthen international cooperation in education, culture, science, and technology, while also promoting the Italian language and culture worldwide. MAECI Scholarship is considered one of the most prestigious scholarship opportunities in Italy because it provides financial support and access to high-quality education at Italian universities.
The scholarship is generally available for Master’s Degrees, PhD programs, research projects, AFAM programs (Arts, Music and Dance Higher Education), and Italian language and culture courses. In some cases, limited opportunities may also be available for Bachelor’s or single-cycle degree programs. All studies funded by the scholarship must take place in Italy.
One of the main attractions of the MAECI Scholarship is its financial support. Recipients usually receive a grant of approximately €9,000 to €10,800, which is paid in installments throughout the academic year. In addition, students are often exempted from tuition fees at public universities in Italy, although some administrative or regional taxes may still apply. The scholarship also includes health and accident insurance coverage during the study period in Italy.
The MAECI Scholarship is highly competitive because it is open to applicants from many countries around the world. The selection process usually considers academic achievements, study or research proposals, motivation, language ability, and the relevance of the chosen program to the applicant’s background and future goals. In some countries, applicants may also be required to attend an interview conducted by the Italian Embassy or the Italian Cultural Institute.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet several general requirements to apply for the MAECI Scholarship:
- Applicants must hold the academic qualifications required for admission to an Italian university or institution.
- For Master’s Degree programs, applicants are generally required to have completed a Bachelor’s Degree.
- For PhD programs, applicants must already hold a Master’s Degree or equivalent qualification.
- The age limit usually varies depending on the program:
- Master’s Degree applicants are generally required to be under 28 years old.
- PhD applicants are generally required to be under 30 years old.
- Research applicants are generally required to be under 40 years old.
- Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the language of instruction:
- English proficiency may be required for English-taught programs.
- Italian proficiency may be required for programs taught in Italian.
- Applicants must not already be receiving another scholarship funded by the Italian Government.
Students may apply for a scholarship offered by the Agenzia Regionale Diritto allo Studio Universitario (DSU), an organization managed by the Tuscany Regional Government that supports students’ right to higher education. The DSU scholarship provides several benefits, including free accommodation, complimentary meals at university cafeterias, financial assistance for additional academic or personal expenses such as books and sports activities, as well as exemption from university tuition fees.
The scholarship is open to students who plan to enroll or are already enrolled in a degree program at the University of Pisa, provided that they do not already hold a qualification at the same academic level. Applications must be submitted online through the Sportello Studente platform before the official deadline, which is usually announced annually in July. Students are allowed to apply even if they have not completed their enrollment yet. Since the scholarship is only valid for one academic year, applicants must renew their application every year.
International students whose family income is earned abroad and who wish to access DSU services — including scholarships, financial aid services, support for students with disabilities, emergency contributions, and subsidized dining services — must complete the online application process, print the application receipt from their personal account, and submit it according to the guidelines stated in the official call for applications. Applicants must also provide documents proving their family’s financial situation together with a valid identity document. For students from European Union countries, an additional declaration form must be completed. This form can be downloaded after finishing the online application process.
Students from non-EU developing countries are required to provide certification proving that they do not belong to a high-income or privileged family background. This certificate must be issued either by the Italian diplomatic authorities in the student’s home country or by the embassy or consulate of the student’s country in Italy. The document must also be legalized by the Italian Prefettura.
Meanwhile, other non-EU students must submit documents related to family composition, income, property ownership, and financial assets. These documents must be translated into Italian and legalized by the relevant Italian diplomatic authorities in the applicant’s home country, in accordance with international legalization regulations.
For detail information please visit this site : old.unipi.it