The MAECI Italian Language & Culture Course Grant

What is the language and culture grant?

To spread the Italian language and culture, MAECI funds international students to take Italian language and culture courses in Italy. The grant supports fixed-length language courses, not a full university programme; the aim is for the participant to advance their Italian and come to know Italian culture at close range. Courses are given at recognised language institutions in Italy or at university language centres. For some the grant is preparation for a later degree programme; for others it is an experience worth having in itself.

How much, and for how long?

Unlike the master’s/doctoral scholarship, the language-course grant is smaller and usually paid in a single instalment, and the course itself is shorter — typically a few months, three to six as a rule. The amount depends on the course length and that year’s call. Think of it, then, not as long-term living support but as targeted funding that covers a specific course period. For the exact amount and duration, read the application call.

Who can apply?

The grant is open to international students who want to learn Italian and meet the call’s age and other conditions. As Turkey is among the MAECI programme’s designated countries, Turkish students can apply to this grant too. Applicants may be asked to show a certain starting level of Italian — the target audience is students advancing their Italian rather than starting from zero. Since the precise eligibility conditions can change each year, read the call carefully.

How do you apply?

Like the other MAECI grants, the application goes through the Study in Italy portal: open an account, select the language and culture course category, and upload the required documents. Applying is free and involves no intermediary. The process largely mirrors the general MAECI application steps — only the category and some conditions differ. Confirm the deadline and the document list in the call.

How it differs from the full MAECI scholarship

Don’t confuse this grant with the full MAECI master’s/doctoral scholarship. The full scholarship covers a degree programme (laurea magistrale, doctorate) with roughly €9,000 of annual support; the language grant covers a short course with a smaller, one-off payment. They serve different goals: a degree calls for the full scholarship, a language and culture experience for the language grant. Our MAECI overview covers the full scholarship in detail.

The grant as a bridge

For many students the language and culture grant becomes the first step into Italy — and the bridge to a full programme later. During the course you advance your Italian, get to know the country and its academic environment, and widen your network. That experience gives a later master’s or doctoral application a strong footing in both language and motivation. Treat the grant as the start of your relationship with Italy and it will repay you most.

Documents and translation

The language-grant application may also ask for your diploma, transcript and evidence of language level; at application stage a simple translation is generally enough, while enrolment after acceptance can require the apostille and sworn translation. Upload your documents to see in advance which translation is needed. A language certificate, if you hold one, strengthens the application — see our certificates page for CILS/CELI.

Where is the course taken?

Courses funded by the grant are taught at Italy’s recognised language institutions or university language centres — above all the universities that specialise in teaching Italian to foreigners, such as the Stranieri universities of Perugia and Siena. The course aims to advance your Italian rapidly through an intensive programme, usually supported by cultural activities. Which institution you attend follows from the call and your preference. The content goes beyond grammar to everyday communication, pronunciation and Italian culture — a rounded approach designed to make the language genuinely usable.

The grant calendar

The language and culture grant is announced within MAECI’s general call, and application windows follow it. Because course periods are short, be clear about which period you are applying for and when the course starts. Even for a short course, acceptance, visa and entry into Italy all take time — plan the calendar from the outset, and think ahead to what follows the course: departure, or the step up to a full programme.

A note from experience

For students who go to Italy on the language grant, the biggest gain usually lies beyond the language: knowing the country, building an academic and social network, and learning to live in Italy. That experience supplies both confidence and concrete motivation for a later master’s or doctoral application. Treat the course not as a language programme alone but as the first move in your relationship with Italy, and the short term yields long-term value.

After the course

The Italian you gain through the grant is most often the first step towards something larger. The level you reach can satisfy the language condition (usually B2) of a later master’s or doctoral application, and you can certify it with an official CILS or CELI certificate. The grant thus becomes not a stand-alone course but the foundation of a long-term education plan in Italy — and the academic and social network of the course period works in your favour in later applications. In short: treat the language grant as a strategic first investment that opens the door to the journey.

Frequently asked questions