by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), ICE - Italian Trade Agency, and Uni-Italia · Italian universities and business schools participating in the IYT network, published annually on the official application platform
🕐 Last updated: September 18, 2026
🏆 Fully Funded🔴 Closed (2026/2027 cycle application window closed 11 May 2026; next cycle to be announced)🎓 Master's Degree (Laurea Magistrale) and University Master's Courses🌍 Italy📌 Government-funded / Merit-based, with a mandatory internship component
9 months per academic year, renewable for a second year for two-year Master's programs
Deadline
11 May 2026, 6:00 PM Italian time (2026/2027 cycle, now closed)
Level
Master's Degree (Laurea Magistrale) and University Master's Courses
Acceptance
—
Difficulty
High
Quick Summary
Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT), administered by Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), ICE - Italian Trade Agency, and Uni-Italia, is one of the funding options available to international students from designated partner countries in Italy. The award covers 1,200 Euros per month for 9 months and is open to master's degree (laurea magistrale) and university master's courses students studying engineering, architecture and design, economics and management. The scholarship runs for 9 months per academic year, renewable for a second year for two-year master's programs and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on applicants must be citizens of one of the 23 designated partner countries and must apply for admission to a participating Italian Master's program before submitting the IYT scholarship application. Selection draws from a competitive pool; in the most recent cycle only about 1 in 8 submitted applications resulted in an award. The application deadline is 11 May 2026, 6:00 PM Italian time (2026/2027 cycle, now closed). Students can compare this opportunity against similar scholarships below to find the best fit for their profile.
✨ Should I Apply for Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
50%
Win Probability
7/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
30-45 hrs
Time Required
12.8% of submitted applications received a scholarship in the 2026/2027 cycle (209 of 1,633)
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
1,200 Euros per month for 9 months
⏳
Duration
9 months per academic year, renewable for a second year for two-year Master's programs
📅
Deadline
11 May 2026, 6:00 PM Italian time (2026/2027 cycle, now closed)
⚙️
Fields
Engineering, Architecture and Design, Economics and Management
🏆
Awards/Year
209 scholarships awarded in the 2026/2027 cycle, from 980 admitted applications out of 1,633 submitted
🌏
Study Country
Italy
🏛️
Provider
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), ICE - Italian Trade Agency, and Uni-Italia
📊
Acceptance
—
Invest Your Talent in Italy is a government-backed program that funds Master's-level study at Italian universities in engineering, architecture and design, or economics and management, paired with a company internship. For the 2026/2027 cycle, 209 scholarships were awarded out of 980 admitted applications, drawn from 1,633 total submissions across 23 eligible countries.
👥 Who Should Apply
Applicants must be citizens of one of the 23 designated partner countries and must apply for admission to a participating Italian Master's program before submitting the IYT scholarship application. Selection draws from a competitive pool; in the most recent cycle only about 1 in 8 submitted applications resulted in an award.
🏛️ Host University
Italian universities and business schools participating in the IYT network, published annually on the official application platform
🤝 Sponsor
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI)
⚙️ Fields of Study
Engineering, Architecture and Design, Economics and Management
✨ Key Benefits
Recipients receive a monthly stipend of 1,200 Euros for nine months alongside a full waiver of university tuition fees, paying only a fixed regional tax and stamp duty. The program also arranges a mandatory internship at an Italian company, linking the academic award directly to professional experience in Italian industry.
🎯 Target Students
International students from designated partner countries
Yes (full tuition fee exemption; students pay only a regional study tax of 140 Euros and a stamp duty of 16 Euros)
🏠 Living Stipend
1,200 Euros per month, paid over 9 months
🏡 Accommodation
No
✈️ Travel Allowance
No
💊 Health Insurance
No
🎁 Other Benefits
A three-month internship placement with an Italian company and program coordination support from Uni-Italia
🔄 Renewable
Yes
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Citizens of Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Paraguay, Peru, China, Tunisia, Turkiye, Uruguay, and Vietnam
🎓 Academic Level
Master's Degree (Laurea Magistrale) and University Master's Courses
💼 Work Experience
Not required
🏆 Leadership
Preferred
💰 Financial Need
Not a selection criterion
🎯 Target Students
International students from designated partner countries
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Yes
Rec Letters
2 letters
Interview
Check website
Application Fee
Free
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Personal Statement / Essays
📋 Application Process
Submit through the official IYT platform well before the 6:00 PM Italian-time cutoff, since the portal has historically closed precisely at the stated hour with no extensions. In the 2026/2027 cycle only 209 of 1,633 submitted applications received a scholarship, so target fields such as engineering, architecture, or management where partner companies most frequently sponsor internship placements.
💡 Insider Tip: Tuition is waived but accommodation and travel are not covered, so budget separately for living costs in your host city. Check the IYT platform's Countries and How Does It Work pages before applying, since the eligible-country list and partner university network are republished for each new cycle and can change.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
April 2026 (2026/2027 cycle call publication)
⏰ Deadline
11 May 2026, 6:00 PM Italian time (2026/2027 cycle, now closed)
🎤 Interview
Check website
🎓 Study Starts
September/October
April 2026 (2026/2027 cycle call publication)
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
11 May 2026, 6:00 PM Italian time (2026/2027 cycle, now closed)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Check website
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
September/October
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic record, relevance of field of study, quality of application, country of origin quota
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT)Current
Italy
Full Funding
Master's Degree (Laurea Magistrale) and University Master's Courses
—
🇻🇦 Scholarship of the Pontifical Biblical Institute (PIB)
Applicants must be citizens of one of the 23 designated partner countries and must apply for admission to a participating Italian Master's program before submitting the IYT scholarship application. Selection draws from a competitive pool; in the most recent cycle only about 1 in 8 submitted applications resulted in an award.
Recipients receive a monthly stipend of 1,200 Euros for nine months alongside a full waiver of university tuition fees, paying only a fixed regional tax and stamp duty. The program also arranges a mandatory internship at an Italian company, linking the academic award directly to professional experience in Italian industry. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is 11 May 2026, 6:00 PM Italian time (2026/2027 cycle, now closed). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: 12.8% of submitted applications received a scholarship in the 2026/2027 cycle (209 of 1,633). Acceptance rate: Varies. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Check website, 2 letters recommendation letters, CV, personal statement/motivation letter. Check official website for the complete list.