Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT) Scholarship: Which Master's and Universities Qualify

What Invest Your Talent in Italy actually is

Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT) is a scholarship programme promoted by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), run together with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and Uni-Italia. It is different from a plain tuition waiver: it pairs a taught master's or postgraduate course at a participating Italian university with a period of on-the-job training at an Italian company.

The idea is to link Italian higher education with Italian industry, so grantees finish with both an academic qualification and hands-on professional experience. The courses in scope are taught entirely in English, which is why the programme is popular with international students who do not yet speak Italian.

Because it is a MAECI-administered scheme with a fixed application window each academic year, IYT is a named, standalone programme — not the same thing as a general list of Italian government or university scholarships.

Eligible fields and eligible countries

IYT is offered only for master's and postgraduate courses in a defined set of subject areas, and only to applicants who are nationals of the programme's partner countries. Both lists are set by the programme each edition, so treat the points below as the shape of the rules and confirm the current version on the official IYT site.

India is one of the partner countries, alongside a range of other countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and elsewhere. The exact country list can change from one edition to the next, so verify your nationality is included before you build an application around it.

• Fields (as published): Engineering and Advanced Technologies; Architecture and Design; Economics and Management
• Partner countries include India, among others across Asia, Africa and Latin America — the list is set per edition
• Only courses offered by universities participating in that edition of IYT qualify
• Confirm the exact eligible-course catalogue and country list on the official programme site each year

What the scholarship includes

Selected grantees receive a scholarship as a contribution toward their time in Italy, and the programme is built around a company internship in addition to the taught course. The published structure has centred on a monthly scholarship contribution, but the precise amount, disbursement schedule and internship arrangements are defined by the programme and the host university each cycle.

Because figures move year to year, this guide does not quote an amount. Read the exact scholarship value, duration, what it covers (and does not cover), and the internship terms directly from the official IYT documents for the edition you are applying to.

• A scholarship contribution toward living in Italy (amount set per edition — do not assume a figure)
• An English-taught master's or postgraduate course at a participating university
• A structured internship / on-the-job training with an Italian company
• Verify the current amount, duration and coverage on the official IYT programme site

Who can apply — eligibility conditions

Beyond nationality and field, IYT sets standard eligibility conditions on qualifications, English level and age. These are secular, merit-and-eligibility based criteria only — the scholarship is awarded on your application and academic profile, never bought, and no agent or intermediary can promise you a place.

Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree that gives access to a master's in the chosen field, an English certificate at the level the programme specifies (commonly from CEFR B2 upward), and to fall within the programme's age range. Exact thresholds are published each edition.

• A relevant bachelor's / prior degree giving access to the chosen master's
• Proof of English ability at the level the programme requires (commonly B2 CEFR or above)
• An age within the programme's stated limit (a young-graduate cap has applied in past editions)
• Complete application submitted through the official platform within the deadline

How the application works

IYT runs a single online application on the official MAECI-linked platform, with one application window per academic year. You typically register, choose eligible courses from the catalogue, upload your academic and language documents, and submit before the published deadline. Selection is handled centrally and by the universities.

The deadline shifts each edition and has fallen in the earlier part of the calendar year in the past. Do not rely on last year's date — check the official platform for the current edition's open and close dates, and give yourself time to gather transcripts, an English certificate and any translations.

• Apply on the official IYT online platform (esteri.it / the programme's own portal)
• One application window per academic year — deadlines change each edition
• Prepare transcripts, degree certificate, English proof and any required translations early
• Selection is centralised; results and next steps come from the programme and universities

Staying safe and setting expectations

No scholarship can be guaranteed, and a genuine government scheme like IYT is never sold. Anyone asking for payment to 'secure' or 'guarantee' an IYT award, or promising admission for a fee, is not the official programme — apply only through the official platform and ignore paid guarantees.

Also plan for the possibility of not being selected: IYT is competitive and the number of scholarships is limited. Have a backup, whether that is a self-funded English-taught master's in Italy, another country's scholarship, or applying again in a later edition.