2024-2025 competition is closed. 2025-2026 competition will open on April 2, 2024

US Fulbright Logo

Current U.S. Student

United States citizens who are currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are eligible to apply.If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. college or university, you will apply through that institution, even if you are not currently a resident there. Find the Fulbright Program Adviser on your campus.

U.S. Citizen but not a Student

If you are a U.S. citizen, will hold a bachelor’s degree by the award start date, and do not have a Ph.D. degree, then you are eligible to apply. Non-enrolled applicants should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Candidates with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

The Getting Started page will provide information on eligibility and next steps.

Artist

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program welcomes applications in the creative and performing arts. Arts candidates for the U.S. Student Program should have relatively limited professional experience in the fields (typically 7 years or less) in which they are applying. Artists with more experience should consider applying for the Fulbright Scholar Program.

Creative & Performing Arts projects fall under the Study/Research grant category and are available in all countries where Study/Research grants are offered.

FPA

U.S. Professor/Administrator

If you are a U.S. citizen and a professor or administrator at a U.S. institution and are interested in applying for a Fulbright Scholar Award, you will need to apply through fulbrightscholars.org.

To support your students in applying for a U.S. Student Program award, please connect with the Fulbright Program Adviser at your institution.

Non U.S. Citizens

If you are a non-U.S. citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright Award to the United States, you will need to apply through the Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy in your home country. Find out more information on the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program or Fulbright Foreign Student Program.

Italy


16 Open Study/Research Award

Accepted Degree Levels
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Grant Period
October Start
Grant Length
9 Months
Award Type
Open Study/Research
Award Profile

Scholarships for candidates at all degree levels and in all fields of study.

Grant Length
9 Months
Grant Period
October Start

Grants will begin October 5, 2024, and end July 3, 2025 (dates to be confirmed).

 

 

Orientation
In-Country Orientation

Fulbright grantees will be required to participate in a one-to-two-day orientation program organized by the Fulbright Commission in mid-October.

An online pre-departure orientation will be offered approximately two months before departure.

Candidate Profile

The following candidates are particularly encouraged:

- those whose projects are in innovative and contemporary issues

- those whose projects are in Science and Technology

- those who wish to enroll in courses held at Italian universities

Preference will be given to candidates interested in conducting the study/research project at a university/institution outside of large cities and/or in the South of Italy.  Priority will be given to students who are enrolled in a graduate program in the U.S. at the time of application.

Eligibility
Residency in host country NOT permitted in year prior to grant
Indicate how many months is considered residency:
12 Months
Dual citizens of this country are eligible

According to Italian laws and policies, dual nationals are eligible to apply. However, candidates with significant experience in Italy will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates who have resided in Italy during the year preceding the grant might be considered ineligible depending on the length of the period and reasons.

Candidates who are in Italy with a study or work visa during the 12 months prior to the competition deadline, who reside in Italy at the time of the deadline, or who will travel to Italy with a study or work visa during the selection process and the awarding phase are not eligible to participate in the program, with the following exceptions: those who are in Italy on a tourist visa and those who are on a study visa for a summer or one-semester U.S. university study abroad program are eligible to apply.

The Commission does not accept research projects in any field that requires direct clinical patient contact by the grantee.

Degree Level of Applicant
  • Bachelor's
  • Master's
  • Doctoral
Foreign Language Proficiency
Required - Intermediate

Additional Information: Italian language proficiency commensurate with the project is necessary at the time of application. Language study begun after applying is considered insufficient. The U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission will make no provision for Italian language instruction.  On the Fulbright application, applicants should include the Language Self-Evaluation and a Foreign Language Evaluation by a professional language instructor in relation to their language proficiency.

Fulbright Proposal Types
Independent Study/Research:
Yes
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Yes
Affiliation
Independent Study/Research:
Letter required for independent study or research at deadline
Graduate Degree Enrollment:
Letter recommended but not required at deadline

The role of the affiliation in the U.S. Student Program is to provide ongoing and substantive oversight and support to the grantee's project. Grantees will be required to have affiliations with accredited academic or research institutions in Italy. Applicants must initiate contact with the host institution of preference and obtain a formal letter of affiliation between the applicant and the host institution. The letter should state that a host contact will be available during the grant year to mentor the applicant and/or supervise the applicant's work on the proposed project. While issuing the letter, the host contact must describe accurately the following points:

  • Origin of the collaboration;
  • Role of the Host Contact in the Candidate's Project;
  • Possible enrollment of the Candidate in classes held in English;
  • How the Host affiliation is planning to involve the Candidate in the Institution's activities;
  • Are the Candidate and host contact planning to explore potential collaborations?;
  • Access to facilities and resources;
  • Collaboration with an ongoing project.

Please note that the U.S.-Italy Commission will contact the proposed host institution of semi-finalist candidates and request that the host contact confirm these arrangements.

Although encouraged, candidates are not required to enroll in an Italian university; however, as indicated above, applicants must establish contacts and secure affiliations with an Italian university or research center.

Semi-finalists who are enrolling in a graduate degree program must send the letter of admission as soon as it is available. The Fulbright grant is awarded pending admission into the program.

The Grantee's city of residence in Italy must be the city of the host institution.

Because grantees are encouraged to immerse in the Italian academic system and the local community to fully experience the cultural exchange, affiliations with non-Italian institutions are strongly discouraged. Affiliations with U.S. institutions located in Italy are also discouraged and will be considered only if secondary to the affiliation with an Italian institution, and if “the faculty and student body of the school are primarily nationals of the host country, with courses and research opportunities primarily in non-U.S. subjects.” (FFSB Policies). Applicants are encouraged to contact the Commission if they have doubts about the affiliation they intend to propose.

For information about Italian universities, please consult "Guide to Higher Education in Italy" at http://www.miur.it/guida/guide.htm

Applicants enrolling in an Italian university must follow the enrollment procedure through the Italian diplomatic missions in the United States.

Information can be downloaded from the following websites:

https://www.cimea.it/EN/pagina-il-sistema-italiano-d-istruzione-superiore 

http://www.miur.it/guida/guide.htm of the Ministry of Education

www.ambwashingtondc.esteri.it

Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Affiliation Fees/Tuition not covered in grant benefits

The award provides a maintenance allowance of Euro 12.700 for 9 months as well as an international travel allowance of Euro 1.100 to cover the costs of a round-trip ticket.

Candidates who are also planning to apply for funds from other sources, or will receive financial assistance from their U.S. institution while in Italy, should contact the Commission to inquire whether these funds can be cumulated with the Fulbright award. 

Dependents
Dependent financial support is NOT available
Housing Arrangements

Fulbright grantees are required to arrange their own housing.

Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
Applications in Music and Arts

Candidates should establish contacts with Italian specialists in their fields who teach at Italian institutions (conservatories of music, art academies, or private institutes) and request a letter of affiliation. The Commission does not accept music and art students who wish to study exclusively with private teachers, and the cost of private lessons will not be covered. Additional personal funds will be required to cover costs for private lessons, practice facilities, studio space, purchase of materials, etc.

ENTRY VISA

Grantees must enter Italy on a study visa covering the authorized length of the grant.

Basic information about visas and their application process is available at http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en

The possibility to stay for longer periods and/or be accompanied by dependents is subject to the provisions and restrictions of Italian Law.

Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Contact
Barbara Pizzella: bpizzella@fulbright.it