Scholarship= Italy

The Italian Embassy is pleased to inform that, for the academic year 2009-2010, the General Directorate for Cultural Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is offering 16 monthly allowances as study grants to Filipino citizens, to be subdivided among the selected candidates.

Study grants are awarded for study or research at the following types of State or otherwise legally accredited institutions:
- Universities or Polytechnics;
- Institutes for advanced artistic or musical training;
- Restoration Institutes;
- The National school of Cinema;
- University colleges, research labs or centers, libraries, archives and museums associated with graduate and undergraduate university courses in which the candidate is obliged to enroll.
Grants may not be awarded for study in the following contexts:
- Foreign Institutions (universities, academies, libraries, schools of any sort) even if they are located in Italy;
- Non-accredited private research centers or labs.
The only exceptions are the European University Institute - an intergovernmental university institution linked with community institutions - and legally accredited private universities, for courses leading to educational credentials with legal value in Italy.
Potential candidates are allowed to apply for study grants in the following courses:
- LANGUAGE COURSES OF VARYING DURATION: also in preparation for enrolment in university and post-university degree courses in Italy.
- INDIVIDUAL UNIVERSITY COURSES: All topics are included; at the conclusion of the course the grant holder will be required to take the related examination.
- DEGREE COURSES: Since enrolment in some degree courses involves a selection process, in accordance with Law no. 264/99, candidates are best advised to submit alternative study programs, even at more than one university, in order to avoid suspension of the grant in the case of non-admission to the course of study chosen. The same type of study and degree must be maintained. Candidates should also keep in mind that their program of study must be submitted within the period between the admission test and the actual start of the course in order to exercise the right to that grant in that period of time. Finally, it should be specified that, once enrolled in a degree course, changes in type of study or location are no longer admissible, at the risk of annulment of the grant.
- COURSES IN ADVANCED MUSICAL AND ARTISTIC TRAINING: To be completed at advanced music, art and dance training institutes (academies, conservatories, ISIA, etc.), at institutes of restoration and the National School of Cinema, for which a high school diploma is required.
- RESEARCH: in all disciplines, with the obligation of enrolment in and attendance of undergraduate and post-graduate university courses. A letter of acceptance from the dean of the academic institution is obligatory. At course end the grant holder will be required to take an exam; this obligation does not exist for grant holders doing work at the CNR, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and other research bodies of the same level.
- POST-GRADUATE UNIVERSITY COURSES: Courses for the Masters I and II level (of at least one academic year’s duration), doctorate in research and specializations:
o DOCTORATE IN RESEARCH. Each individual university has its own rules for admission to the doctorate in research, and it is recommended that these be consulted by checking the institution’s internet site. Since this is generally a competitive selection process, it would be advisable to submit an alternative programme remaining within the same field of study or research in order to avoid suspension of the grant in the case of non-admission to the doctorate. In order to increase the chances of success it would be advisable to apply to several universities. Be reminded also that candidates must prepare a program of study to be carried out in the period between the admission test and the actual start of the course.
o MASTERS. The diplomatic representations will see to it that grant candidates are informed of the high costs involved and the possibility that the masters program will require studying in institutions outside of Italy, sometimes for months at a time. Moreover, admission to a masters program often involves a selection process and a minimum number of students, therefore the grant holder should be informed of the real possibility of enrolling in the course since there is the risk of losing the grant benefit if the master course is cancelled.
o SPECIALISATIONS. Excluded are the medical disciplines (see Law no. 257 of 08.08.1991).
- ITALIAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE COURSES FOR TEACHERS OF ITALIAN: Italian language and culture courses are reserved for non-Italian teachers of the Italian language and university students of Italian enrolled for at least 3 years. Grants are awarded for the study of the Italian language, and the teaching of it, at the universities for Foreigners in Perugia, Siena and Rome (Roma Tre) or other accredited institutions that issue certificates of Italian as a Second Language (L2).
It should be noted that candidates for grants for post- and under-graduate university courses with a study plan requiring part of the program to take place outside the principle academic–scientific institution in which the student is enrolled, must specify this when applying in order to allow the Directorate General enough time to arrange for payment through the Provincial Treasury offices.

Duration
With the only exception of brief Italian language and culture courses (1, 2 or 3 months) the study grants awarded are for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months. Applications for grants of a different duration cannot be accepted.
The study grants can be only used for the period from October 2009 to September 2010.

Please be advised that for the academic year 2009-2010 the monthly allowances granted will be paid only from January 2010, consequently the expenses for the period October-December 2009 must be covered by the scholars.

Requirements
To be eligible for study grants, except in the case of language course, students must have the following prerequisites:

1) Knowledge of the Italian language is a prerequisite of basic importance and must be certified or ascertained in an interview at the Italian Cultural Institute or at the cultural office of the local authorized diplomatic-consular representation or at the Italian studies department of the candidate’s university.

2) Educational Credentials Candidates must have the credentials requested for enrolment in the institution of their choice. All credentials and certificates of study must be submitted along with their Italian translation, which must be certified as conforming with the foreign language texts by the locally authorized Italian diplomatic-consular representation, i.e. by an official translator along with a statement attesting to the authenticity of the credentials prepared by the locally authorized diplomatic-consular representation.

- To enroll in degree courses at Italian universities the candidate must have a secondary school diploma valid for enrolment in university.
- To enroll in Masters I or II programs at Italian universities, candidates must have a degree equal to the Italian baccalaureate, along with any other documentation that may be required by the chosen institution.
- To be admitted to individual courses the certificate of enrolment issued by the university for foreigners is normally enough.
- Admission to art and music institutes usually requires certification of having concluded a cycle of secondary school studies valid for admission to accredited State academies or conservatories.
- For admission to Italian language and culture courses a secondary school diploma is required.

Please note that for the credentials required for admission to Italian universities it is advisable to check the provisions issued annually by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MUIR) at http://www.miur.it > università >studenti >studenti stranieri >documentazione.

Terms of application and deadline

Applicants must complete the interactive multilingual application form which is available on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website at the following addresses: http://www.esteri.it > opportunita’ > stranieri > borse di studio and http://borseonline.esteri.it/borseonline/it/index.asp

The Deadline for the transmission of application form is June 10, 2009.

After completing and transmitting the application form via internet, applicants must send to the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Italy the following documents:
- Hard copy of the Application Form, which has previously transmitted via internet to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, duly signed, dated, and with photo in ID format.
- Detailed Curriculum Vitae with contact numbers.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from Academic Professors or Authorities.
- Letter of acceptance issued by the Italian University or Institution where the applicant intends to pursue his/her studies.
The Deadline for the submission of the above listed documents is June 20, 2009.

The documents can be sent via courier to the:

Embassy of Italy to the Philippines
6/F Zeta Building
191 Salcedo Street , Legaspi Village
Makati City

or submitted to the Italian Embassy during office hours: Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

Only the Applications sent in compliance with the procedures and regulations above listed will be accepted.

Acceptance of applications will be notified via e-mail.

Eligible candidates, selected by a Joint Committee composed of the Ambassador of Italy (or other members of the Embassy), as well as University Deans and professors and other Filipino cultural authorities, will be notified via e-mail and requested to submit the following documentation:
- Citizenship Certificate or equivalent;
- Medical Certificate with translation in Italian attesting the candidate’s good health;
- Copy of Passport or ID;
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from Academic Professors or Authorities;
- High School and University Transcripts with Italian translation.

The above said documentation has to be submitted on or before July 2, 2009.

Additional information
Age limit: 35
Airfare: covered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Accommodation: not included in the monthly allowance.
Insurance: health and accident insurance will be covered by the scholarship, except in case of previous illnesses, dental care or accident in consequence of dangerous activities.
Contact person: the Cultural Office of the Italian Embassy will get in touch with a Tutor, belonging to the Institution where the scholar is going to study, who will assist the recipient of the scholarship in his/her study or research.
Enrollment: pre-enrollment will be processed by the Embassy. The applicants must submit within July 15, 2009 the following documentation:
- 3 photos
- Photocopy of the passport or of the ID.
- Certified true copy of Diploma or Degree with translation into Italian. Only documents certified by the Department of Foreign Affairs will be accepted.

Visa: the Italian Embassy is authorized to release a visa for study to successful applicants as soon as the authorization regarding the grant is officially communicated. The Visa issued will then expire at the end of the period of their courses.

The announcement, the application forms and list of required documents can be downloaded from the website http://www.esteri.it/MAE/IT/Ministero/Servizi/Stranieri/Opportunita/