Italy
1 Fulbright-Luiss Award for MA Program in Business, Government, Law, and Political Economics
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length20-22 Months |
Award Type
Fulbright Graduate Degree Grants
- Yes
Award Profile
One award is available for a MA program (Laurea Magistrale) in Business, Government, Law, and Political Economics at the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli (Free International University of Social Studies), known as Luiss Guido Carli, in Rome. Depending on previous academic degree, the candidate can enroll in any of the Laurea Magistrale taught in English listed in https://www.luiss.edu/programs/masters-degree-programs.
These master’s are two-year full-time programs open to students from Italy and around the world. The programs provide graduates with the academic and professional training necessary to begin careers in business, finance, entrepreneurship, marketing, international organizations, law, digital innovation, and data science management.
Depending on the program, the grantee may carry out an internship during the second semester of the second year. The internship must take place in Rome.
Grant Length
Grant Period
The grant will begin in September 2026 and end in July/August 2028.
Grantees are expected to arrive at the beginning of September to attend a two-week orientation program at Luiss.
Academic Calendar: https://www.luiss.edu/students/erasmus-and-exchange-students/academic-calendar-exchange-students
Orientation
The grantee will be required to participate in a two-to-three-day orientation program organized by the Fulbright Commission in early October.
An online pre-departure orientation will be offered approximately two months before departure.
Candidate Profile
U.S. citizens or nationals with an academic degree in Business, Government, Law, and Political Economics.
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 are in Italy with a study or work visa during the 12 months before 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-Luiss 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.
Additional Information: Italian language proficiency is not a requirement in the candidate selection process, but is recommended. While the program is delivered in English, conversational Italian is helpful to better integrate into the local community. Applicants should include plans for language study in their Fulbright applications, and selected applicants should begin studying the language as soon as feasible since language abilities will greatly enhance the Fulbright experience.
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
No
Yes
Affiliation
Applicants are not required to apply to LUISS prior to receiving their Fulbright selection decision. Those selected for the Fulbright award will receive guidance on the university admissions process. If applicants decide to apply to a Luiss Master’s Degree program prior to receiving their Fulbright decision, they should inform the Luiss Admission Office of their Fulbright application by writing to ammissione@luiss.it. The university will provide specific timelines and deadlines but Luiss applicants should be aware that they may be asked to confirm their acceptance and provide a deposit prior to receiving their Fulbright status. Applicants should only apply to Luiss prior to receiving their Fulbright decision if they plan to enroll at the university regardless of their Fulbright selection outcome.
The grantee will be requested to complete an application to Luiss by June 30, 2026.
The grantee will be enrolled in one of Luiss Guido Carli’s Laurea Magistrale: https://www.luiss.edu/en/university
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Tuition fees will be covered for two academic years of 9 months each.
The award provides also a meal allowance of Euro 4.500 ($4,717) and an international travel allowance of Euro 1.100 ($1,153) to cover the costs of a round-trip ticket. Please note that allowances are disbursed in Euro currency and that equivalent dollar amounts are approximate and may change depending on exchange rate fluctuations.
The grantee will be responsible for covering the administrative fees mandated by the Region Lazio (regional tax, stamp tax, insurance) for both academic years.
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.
N/A
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
Housing is covered by grant benefits. Accommodations will be available at one of the Luiss residence halls throughout the entire program, including during the internship (if applicable) provided that it will take place in Rome. The grantee will also receive €4.500 ($4,717) for meals each year.
Entry Visa
Grantees must enter Italy on a study visa covering the authorized length of the grant. The Fulbright-Luiss grantee cannot be accompanied by dependents.
The possibility to stay for longer periods is subject to the provisions and restrictions of Italian Law. Italian embassy and consulates are the sole authorities in matters pertaining to visa issues.
Basic information about visas and their application process is available at http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en.
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 the grantee's stay in Italy. 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.