Italy Government Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students 2027

Yes, Sri Lanka is on the official list of eligible countries for the Italian Government (MAECI) scholarship . It funds master’s, PhD, research, arts and music (AFAM) and Italian language courses. The 2027-28 call is expected in early 2027, and the application window can be very short, so prepare now. Here is the list of Italian government scholarships can Sri Lankans apply for:

Scholarship	Who pays	Open to Sri Lankans?	Best for
MAECI Italian Government Scholarship	Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs	Yes, subject to the annual call	Master's, PhD, research, AFAM and eligible language courses
DSU Regional Scholarship	Italian regional governments	Yes, subject to eligibility and financial criteria	Bachelor's and master's students who meet income and academic requirements
Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT)	Italian Government with programme partners	Not eligible under the stated 2026–27 country list	Applicants from participating countries pursuing eligible master's programmes
University Scholarships	Individual universities	Often yes, depending on the award	Merit-based awards, tuition fee waivers and eligible university funding
Private Institute Awards (e.g. IIFM Milano)	Private institutions	Subject to the institution's rules	Partial tuition discounts and institution-specific awards

What is the MAECI scholarship?

MAECI stands for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Every year it offers scholarships to foreign students who want to study in person in Italy at public or recognised institutions. In Sri Lanka, applications are judged by a committee at the Embassy of Italy in Colombo.

The scholarship covers these programs:

Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale, 2nd cycle): 9 months, renewable
PhD: 9 months, renewable
Research under an Italian supervisor: 9 months, not renewable
AFAM (fine arts, music and dance, 1st and 2nd cycle): 9 months, renewable
“Italofonia” Italian language and culture course: 3 months

Is the Italian government scholarship fully funded?

It is close to fully funded. For 2026-27 the grant rose to €10,800, up from €9,000 in earlier years . It is paid into an Italian bank account in three parts. Rupee values below use about Rs 380 per €1, the rate in September 2026.

Payment	Amount	About in LKR	When and condition
1st instalment	€5,500	Rs 2,090,000	From November, after arrival and enrolment
2nd instalment	€2,300	Rs 874,000	From February, if still enrolled
3rd instalment	€3,000	Rs 1,140,000	From June, after earning 27 credits
Total (degree programs)	€10,800	about Rs 4.1 million	9 months
Italian language course	€3,600	Rs 1,368,000	Single payment at the end

You also get:

Health insurance paid by MAECI for the scholarship period (not dental or pre-existing conditions).
Possible tuition waiver. Many universities exempt MAECI winners, but this depends on each university. Regional fees must still be paid.

What it does not cover: your flight from Colombo and your first weeks of living costs before the first payment arrives.

Italy government scholarship eligibility for Sri Lankans

To apply, you must:

Be a Sri Lankan citizen living outside Italy.
Have the qualification needed for your course. For a master’s, that means a degree equal to an Italian bachelor’s.
Never have studied for a degree or school diploma in Italy, and not be enrolled there now.
Not be a child of an Italian public administration employee.
Apply for the first year of your chosen program, full-time.

Age limits are strict. You must not be older than the limit on the deadline day:

Program	Maximum age on deadline day	2026-27 call example
Master’s, AFAM, Italian language course	28	Born on or after 27 March 1997
PhD	30	Born on or after 27 March 1995
Research project	40	Born on or after 27 March 1985

English requirement: can I get an Italy scholarship without IELTS?

For an English-taught master’s, you need English at B2 level (CEFR). Many Sri Lankans can prove this without IELTS. The official call accepts a document stating that your whole bachelor’s degree was taught in English. Ask your university’s Registrar for a medium-of-instruction letter.

The call also allows a self-declaration for applicants from countries where English is an official language. Sri Lanka’s official languages are Sinhala and Tamil, so do not rely on this. Use the university letter, or take IELTS, PTE or TOEFL at B2 level.

For an Italian-taught course you need Italian at B2. PhD and research applicants do not need a language certificate for MAECI, but the university may still ask for one.

Can I get an Italy bachelor's scholarship after A/L?

This is the most common myth. MAECI does not give new scholarships for bachelor’s degrees (Laurea Triennale) or single-cycle degrees such as medicine. It also does not fund one-year “Master Universitario” courses. The only bachelor-level option is an AFAM program in art, music or dance.

If you are an A/L student, your best route is a public university bachelor’s plus the regional DSU scholarship, explained below.

How to apply for the Italian government scholarship from Sri Lanka

Here is how to get a scholarship to study in Italy, step by step. Steps 1 to 4 can start today.

Choose your program. Search English-taught master’s and PhD programs on Universitaly. Pick a public or recognised university.
Apply to the university. Admission deadlines for non-EU students are often between January and April. Some programs need an entrance test or pre-enrolment on Universitaly.
Prepare your documents. Degree certificate, transcripts, passport, and English proof (medium-of-instruction letter or B2 test result). PhD applicants need an admission letter; research applicants need an invitation letter from an Italian supervisor and a research plan.
Register on the Study in Italy portal at studyinitaly.esteri.it. Use an email you check daily, because all messages come there.
Submit your application when the 2027-28 call opens. Choose Sri Lanka as your citizenship country. Do not wait for the last day; the portal slows down near the deadline.
Upload missing documents only if asked. If you do not yet have your degree or English proof, say so in the form. Shortlisted applicants get a chance to upload them later (1 July in the 2026 call).
Attend the interview. The Embassy committee in Colombo shortlists candidates on academic merit and interviews only those who pass.
Check the ranking and accept fast. The Embassy publishes winners and reserve candidates on its website. In a past round, winners had only 7 days to accept on the portal.

DSU scholarship Italy for Sri Lankan students

DSU (Diritto allo Studio Universitario, the “right to study” grant) is paid by Italy’s regional governments, such as EDISU in Piedmont, ER.GO in Emilia-Romagna and DiSCo in Lazio. It is need-based: the less your family earns and owns, the more you can get. It can include a cash grant, a tuition waiver, a meal plan and sometimes housing (Migaku).

DSU is the main government option for bachelor’s students, and it is also open to master’s students. You apply after you are admitted, usually through the regional agency, with deadlines often in August or September.

Because your family’s income is in Sri Lanka, you need an ISEE parificato, an equivalent income score calculated in Italy from your family documents. Typical Sri Lankan documents include:

Family composition certificate (Grama Niladhari or Divisional Secretariat)
Income certificates or salary letters for each working family member
Property ownership documents, or a certificate showing no property
Bank balance statements for the family

These usually must be translated into Italian and legalised through the Embassy of Italy in Colombo, which takes weeks. Start collecting them in May. Check your region’s exact list before you pay for translations.

Important: you cannot hold MAECI and DSU at the same time. The official call says MAECI is incompatible with any other Italian public scholarship, including regional right-to-study grants. Apply for both if you like, but you will have to choose one.

Documents checklist for Sri Lankan applicants

Valid passport (copy uploaded at registration)
Degree certificate and transcripts (for master’s applicants)
A/L certificate and transcripts (for bachelor’s and DSU applicants)
Medium-of-instruction letter or B2 English test result
PhD admission letter or research invitation letter, if relevant
CV and statement of purpose for university admission
Dichiarazione di Valore or CIMEA certificate (for enrolment and visa)
For DSU: family income, property and bank documents, translated and legalised

Common mistakes to avoid

Missing the short window. In 2026 Sri Lankans had about 2 weeks between the Colombo notice and the deadline.
Applying while too old. The portal blocks you if you are over the age limit on the deadline day.
Choosing a non-eligible course. One-year “Master Universitario” courses and new bachelor’s degrees are not funded by MAECI.
Trusting old figures. Many pages still show €9,000; the 2026-27 amount is €10,800.
Planning to combine MAECI and DSU. The rules do not allow it.
Mixing up private and government awards. A 40% tuition discount from a private institute is not a government scholarship.
Paying agents for “guaranteed” scholarships. MAECI applications are free and online only.