The Reichstag building in Berlin with the German flag flying above the glass dome at dusk.

Italy Check current round

Italian Government Bilateral Scholarship (MAECI)

The Italian Government Bilateral Scholarship — known as MAECI after the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation — is the most accessible route for Sri Lankan students seeking funded study in Italy. The award pays €900/month for up to 9 months per academic year, plus a tuition waiver at participating state-recognised institutions and Italian state health insurance enrolment. Sri Lanka is on the eligible-countries list; selection is administered by the Italian Embassy in Colombo (which covers Sri Lanka and the Maldives). Awards cover Master's, PhD, AFAM arts/music conservatory programmes, and intensive Italian-language courses. Strong fit for applicants targeting design, architecture, fashion, classical music, art history, or specialised Italian-taught humanities.

2027/28 cycle: applications typically open February 2027 with a mid-June deadline for September/October 2027 entry

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

Government-funded

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Monthly Stipend

€900/month for up to 9 months

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Tuition

Waived at state-recognised institutions

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Annual Awards (Sri Lanka)

Small Quota — Verify with Italian Embassy Colombo

info How this award actually works

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This is a separate, highly competitive application

Government awards like this one run their own selection round against applicants from across the world, and success rates are usually in the low single digits. Lanka Scholar does not administer it and cannot submit it for you. Treat it as a bonus on top of a funded study plan — never as the plan itself.

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Who awards it

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through a separate application round run by the funder, with its own forms, deadlines and shortlisting. You submit it yourself — it is not part of a university admission application.

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What it covers

€900/month for Up to 9 Months + Tuition Waiver + Health Insurance. Read the terms carefully: even fully-funded awards rarely cover every cost, and any shortfall is yours to fund.

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Where we come in

We help you judge whether this award is worth your time, and build a realistic admission plan that works whether or not you win it.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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Sri Lankan Citizenship

Reserved for Sri Lankan citizens residing in Sri Lanka. Dual citizens may be eligible — confirm with the Italian Embassy in Colombo before applying.

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Programme Type

Master's degrees (Laurea Magistrale), PhD programmes, AFAM higher arts/music/dance programmes, intensive Italian-language courses, and certain Specialisation Schools at Italian state-recognised institutions are all eligible.

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Age Limits

Master's applicants: typically under 28; PhD applicants: under 30; AFAM and Italian-language course applicants: under 28. Some flexibility for professionals — check the year's specific call.

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Italian B2 (or English for English-Taught Programmes)

For Italian-taught programmes: B2 Italian (CILS/CELI/PLIDA certificate) is required at award time. For English-taught programmes: IELTS 6.0+ or equivalent. PhD candidates may have language requirements waived by the host PhD school.

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Identify your target programme

Browse the official Universitaly.it directory for state-recognised Master's, PhD, and AFAM programmes. Many are taught in English, especially at Bocconi, Politecnico di Milano, Sapienza, and Padova. Bookmark 1-3 programmes that fit your profile.

Apply via the Study in Italy portal

When the year's call opens (typically February), register and apply via studyinitaly.esteri.it. Upload CV, motivation letter, transcripts, language certificate, and the specific programme you wish to attend. The portal closes around mid-June.

Embassy review + selection

The Italian Embassy in Colombo reviews Sri Lankan applications and shortlists candidates. You may be invited for an interview at the embassy. Final selection happens in Rome at the MAECI level — outcomes are typically published in July.

Acceptance + visa

Selected candidates accept the scholarship and pursue admission to their target Italian institution. Apply for the long-stay Type D student visa via VFS Italy (Colombo). The scholarship is paid monthly across the 9-month award period.

Why MAECI?

MAECI is one of the few Italian government scholarships explicitly open to Sri Lankan citizens, and it stacks with Italy's already-low public-university tuition (Bocconi excluded). The €900/month stipend covers comfortable living costs in most Italian cities outside Milan / Rome. Italy also offers a 12-month post-study residence permit for job-seeking after graduation.

Open to SL

Verified Country Eligibility

12 mo

Post-Study Job-Search Permit

Annual

Italian Embassy Colombo Call

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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