Italy
1 Fulbright/Fondazione Falcone-NIAF Award to Promote the Rule of Law
Accepted Degree Levels
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Grant PeriodFlexible StartGrant Length6-9 Months |
Award Type
Award Profile
With the support of NIAF (National Italian-American Foundation), one grant is available to study and carry out research about the rule of law in all its applications at the Fondazione Giovanni Falcone in Palermo. The aim of this scholarship is to foster and strengthen exchanges in promoting the value of the rule of law and legality among young people and to promote the development of an anti-mafia culture in society.
Some notes on Fondazione “Giovanni Falcone” and NIAF:
Fondazione “Giovanni Falcone” was constituted in December 1992 after the assassination of Judge Giovanni Falcone who was killed by the mafia in May 1992 (Strage di Capaci), together with his wife Judge Francesca Morvillo and three escort guards. According to the Statute, the principal aim of the Fondazione is to implement initiatives in order to contribute to a real permanent education to legality principles through social and cultural initiatives.
Further information on the Fondazione “Giovanni Falcone” can be found at: http://www.fondazionefalcone.it/
The mission of NIAF is to serve as a resource for the Italian American community; to preserve the Italian American heritage and culture; to promote and inspire a positive image and legacy of Italian Americans: and to strengthen and empower ties between the United States and Italy. Further information on NIAF can be found at: http://www.niaf.org/
Grant Length
Grant Period
Candidates can opt for a grant period varying from 6 to 9 months. Financial benefits will change depending on the length of stay.
The grantee can begin any time between October 1, 2026, and January 2027. The recipient of this award will be required to be in Italy in May 2027 and to participate in the event organized by Fondazione Giovanni Falcone that will be held in Palermo on May 23rd for the anniversary of the death of Judge Giovanni Falcone.
Orientation
Grantee beginning their grant in October can participate in the two-to-three-day orientation program organized by the Fulbright Commission in early October with the other grantees.
An online pre-departure orientation will be offered approximately two months before departure.
Candidate Profile
This grant is intended for candidates with a special interest in relevant priority issues related to Sicily and the promotion of the rule of law. Candidates with projects involving interdisciplinarity with other disciplines, such as Criminology, Law, Economics, Sociology, Education, and Anthropology, are invited to apply. Applications must be consistent with the Fondazione “Giovanni Falcone” mission and program.
Preference will be given to students enrolled in a graduate program at a university in the U.S. at the time of application. Familiarity with Sicily’s economic context and social background will be a priority selection requirement during the candidate’s evaluation process.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Applicants are expected to research their host country. Application materials should indicate a clear commitment to the host country community and a description of how you will engage with it.
Information about Italy and life in Italy can be found on the following websites: https://www.italia.it/en, https://madeinitaly.gov.it/en/
Eligibility
12 Months
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.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
In your Fulbright online application, for Award Name please select Fulbright-Fondazione Falcone-NIAF from the drop down menu.
Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) Form
If required, submission of the Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is mandatory, even if you have advanced skills or are a native speaker of the language. Failure to submit the required FLE form may impact your eligibility.
The candidate must have proficient knowledge of the Italian language at the time of application. Recommended 2 years of college-level study, or the equivalent, prior to commencing the grant.
Foreign Language Proficiency Level by Grant Start
If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Required, applicants must have the following proficiency level by the start of the grant period. If a Foreign Language Evaluation (FLE) form is Recommended, applicants are encouraged but not required to have the following level by the start of the grant period.
Fulbright Proposal Types
Yes
No
Affiliation
The grantee will be affiliated with Fondazione Giovanni Falcone and will be introduced to various Italian institutions in Palermo/Sicily where the project will be conducted. Applicants are not required to include a letter of affiliation with their application. The grantee will need to obtain an entry visa to Italy for study (study grant) purposes for the whole duration of his/her stay in Italy. At the end of the grant period, the grantee will be required to send a report on the grant experience to the Fulbright Commission in Rome, which will be shared with Fondazione Giovanni Falcone and with NIAF.
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
The award provides a maintenance allowance for 6 or 9 months as well as an international travel allowance to cover the costs of a round-trip ticket.
- Maintenance allowance for 6 months in Euro: 10.000 ($10,483)
- Maintenance allowance for 9 months in Euro: 15.000 ($15,725)
- International travel allowance in Euro: 1.100 ($1,153)
Please note that allowances are disbursed in Euro currency and that equivalent dollar amounts are approximate and may change depending on exchange rate fluctuations.
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.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
Depending on the length, the total maintenance allowance is disbursed in four installments: 1° upon arrival in Italy, 2° mid-November, 3° end of February, and 4° upon return to the United States; or in three installments: 1° upon arrival in Italy, 2° mid-grant period, and 3° upon return to the United States.
Additional Grant Benefits
Fulbright Annual Meeting: Each June, the U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission hosts a meeting where U.S. grantees returning to the States after their grant and Italian grantees departing to begin their grant meet, interact, network, and often start relationships that continue in the United States. The Meeting--a celebration of the Fulbright experience--is held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United States. Italian alumni are also invited to participate in the day's activities.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
As a rule, large cities in the North and the Center of Italy are more expensive, while living in the South is less costly, even in larger cities. An average monthly budget for two persons could range between €1.400-€2.500 ($1,476 -$2,620 approx.). Rent is usually the major expense, ranging between €600-€1.500 ($629-$1,572 approx.). Individuals’ lifestyles, and choosing to live downtown versus on the outskirts of a city, can make a difference.
The following websites could help navigate the costs of living in Italy. While none of them is sponsored by official institutions, the information is provided mostly by international visitors themselves and expats.
https://wise.com/gb/blog/cost-of-living-in-italy
https://internationalliving.com/countries/italy/cost-of-living-in-italy/
https://www.mondayfeelings.com/cost-to-live-in-italy/
https://www.internationalcitizens.com/living-abroad/costs/italy.php
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Italy
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
The grantee is required to arrange their own housing.
ENTRY VISA
Grantees must enter Italy on a study visa covering the authorized length of the grant. The possibility to stay for longer periods and/or be accompanied by dependents is subject to the provisions and restrictions of Italian Law.
Detailed information about visas and the application process is available at http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en. Italian embassy and consulates are the sole authorities in matters of visa issues.
Basic Visa Information: U.S. grantees must apply for a Study Visa (D) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction in the State where they reside. The Commission will support their application with a letter that will be sent to grantees after they have signed the official grant authorization but will not be able to assist grantees in their application procedures.
Due to restrictions in the Italian Immigration Law, there are potential challenges related to the duration of grantee stay in Italy, and the visa and permit-to-stay for their dependents.
The requested duration of the grantee's stay in Italy should not be much longer than the official grant period. In case of significant discrepancy (more than 30 days overall), the Consulate may reject the grantee's visa request.
Grantees who wish to be accompanied to Italy by their family dependents should be aware that the Commission cannot sponsor their dependents’ visas. Available options are:
1. Dependents may stay in Italy without a visa for 90 days
2. Dependents may enroll in an Italian language course and apply for their study visa (the Commission cannot assist in identifying the course, nor does it have the funding to allocate for this purpose)
3. Dependents could apply for a Ricongiungimento Familiare. The procedure entails that grantees travel to Italy on their own and once they arrive in Italy they must request a nulla osta per il ricongiungimento familiare. The nulla osta will be issued within 180 days from the request, which may exceed their grant length. Only then will dependents be able to travel to Italy to join the grantee and to apply for a permit to stay for ricongiungimento familiare.