The Study in Italy Portal (MAECI Scholarship)

What is Study in Italy?

Study in Italy is the official portal of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI). For international students its principal function is hosting the MAECI government scholarship applications: candidates submit their applications, their programme preferences and the required documents here. The portal also carries official information on study in Italy, scholarship opportunities and application processes — a reference source and the MAECI scholarship’s official application instrument in one. For Turkish students aiming at MAECI, Study in Italy is the application’s home ground.

How it differs from Universitaly

Keeping Study in Italy and Universitaly apart matters, because they serve different purposes. Universitaly is Italy’s general higher-education portal, and the pre-enrolment (pre-iscrizione) required for the visa runs through it. Study in Italy is the Foreign Ministry’s portal, specifically for MAECI scholarship applications. Applying to MAECI, you use Study in Italy; pre-enrolling for the visa, Universitaly — and in some cases you’ll use both, at different steps. Knowing the distinction puts the right procedure on the right portal and keeps the confusion out. The two are different but complementary parts of the Italian application process.

How does the MAECI application run on the portal?

The MAECI application is made through Study in Italy: you create an account, enter your personal and academic details, select your preferred programmes and universities, and upload the required documents (diploma, transcript, language certificate, motivation letter and the rest). The application window opens and closes on a set period each year — missing it is not recoverable. The portal forwards your application to the relevant units and assessment begins. Entering the details accurately and completely, and uploading the documents in the right format, matters. The full walkthrough is on our MAECI application steps page.

Documents and preparation

Applying through Study in Italy goes easiest with the documents ready: generally the diploma and transcript (apostilled and translated), the language certificate, the motivation letter and the rest of the file. The portal wants them in specific formats, so prepare and convert in advance. Complete the document translations before the window opens — you can see the translation price in advance — and note that degree recognition (CIMEA/DoV) may be needed too. Documents prepared early and correctly are what let you complete the portal application without the last-minute scramble; good preparation is the foundation of a clean MAECI application.

The portal calendar and points of care

The MAECI window on Study in Italy opens on a set period each year; following the dates at the official source is essential, because once the window closes no application is possible. Don’t leave the portal to the final day — congestion and technical trouble are real. After submitting, keep the confirmation or reference details, and follow the portal’s notifications and any requests for additional documents. These points of care are what get an application assessed without friction; using Study in Italy correctly and on time is the technical key to a clean MAECI application.

Notes for Turkish students

For Turkish students aiming at MAECI, Study in Italy is the essential portal. Learn the application window early, prepare the documents (apostille, translation, recognition) in advance, and never leave the portal to the last day. Don’t confuse it with Universitaly, the visa pre-enrolment portal: Study in Italy for the MAECI scholarship, Universitaly for the visa pre-enrolment. The scholarship’s general workings are on our MAECI overview. The portal used for the right purpose, on time, is what secures the application.

The MAECI application and the other applications

The MAECI application on Study in Italy is separate from the university application and the visa pre-enrolment — and keeping the three apart matters. MAECI runs on Study in Italy; university admission through the university’s own process; visa pre-enrolment through Universitaly. You may well run them in parallel: applying to MAECI while planning the university application and the pre-enrolment alongside. Each has its own portal, calendar and requirements. Understanding the distinctions puts the right procedure in the right place at the right time — and gathering the processes into one table keeps them all manageable.

Upload tips

A few practical points for the uploads. Make sure the documents — diploma, transcript, language certificate, motivation letter — are in the portal’s required format, legible and complete. Keep the apostilled and translated documents ready, original and translation together. Check the file-size and format requirements in advance, and prepare the files before the window opens rather than at the last minute — upload problems are far cheaper to solve early. Prepare the motivation letter with care and attach it properly. Orderly, correct uploads are what get a MAECI application assessed complete and on time — and that bears directly on its strength.

A short checklist

• Study in Italy for MAECI; Universitaly for the visa pre-enrolment
• Learn the window early; don’t leave it to the final day
• Prepare the documents (apostille, translation, recognition) in advance
• Upload in the right format, legibly
• Keep the application confirmation/reference details

Frequently asked questions