Italian Embassy Scholarship

The Italian Embassy is pleased to inform that, for the academic year 2010-2011, 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 by the Italian Government to foreigners as a contribution toward their studies and research in Italy, aiming at spreading the Italian language, culture and sciences abroad and at promoting cultural, economic and technological cooperation worldwide.

The grants must be spent 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;
• National school of Cinema;
• 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:

• BRIEF LANGUAGE COURSES: possibly in preparation for enrolment in university and post-university degree courses in Italy.
• INDIVIDUAL UNIVERSITY COURSES: All subjects are included; at the end 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. 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.
• 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).
• 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:
• 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, in order to increase the chances of success it would be advisable to apply to several universities.
• 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.
• SPECIALISATIONS. Excluded are the medical disciplines (see Law no. 257 of 08.08.1991).
• 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 compulsory. At the end of the course the grant holder will be required to take an exam; such obligation does not exist  for grant holders enrolled at the CNR, at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità and at other similar research institutions.

http://www.esteri.it/MAE/EN/Ministero/Servizi/Stranieri/Opportunita/default.htm