The Siena International Excellence Scholarship 2027 is a merit-based grant from the University of Siena, Italy, for outstanding non-Italian students enrolling in selected English-taught Master’s (Laurea Magistrale) programmes for the 2027/28 academic year. Each year the university awards five scholarships worth EUR 6,000 per year (gross), renewable for a second year for a total of up to EUR 12,000. Applicants must hold a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree earned outside Italy, must not hold Italian citizenship, and must not be resident in Italy. The most recent completed call (A.Y. 2026/27) closed on 26 May 2026; the A.Y. 2027/28 call has not yet been published, so watch the official University of Siena admissions page for the new deadline before applying.

Key Details

  • Host Country: Italy
  • University: University of Siena (Universita di Siena)
  • Degree Level: Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale)
  • Scholarship Name: Siena International Excellence Scholarships
  • Number of Awards: 5 per year
  • Funding: EUR 6,000 per year (gross), renewable – up to EUR 12,000 in total
  • Eligible Applicants: Non-Italian citizens with a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree, not resident in Italy
  • Language of Instruction: English (B2 level or higher required)
  • Application Fee: EUR 10 (non-refundable)
  • Deadline: The A.Y. 2027/28 call has not been published yet (the A.Y. 2026/27 call closed on 26 May 2026). Check the official call page for the new deadline before applying.

About the Siena International Excellence Scholarship 2027

The University of Siena is one of Italy’s oldest and most respected universities, located in the historic Tuscan city of Siena. Each year it offers the Siena International Excellence Scholarships to honour top international candidates and encourage their enrollment in a selection of English-taught Master’s degree programmes.

For the most recent cycle (A.Y. 2026/27), the university offered five scholarships, each worth EUR 6,000.00 annually (gross) for one year, renewable for a second year – EUR 12,000 over two years. The programme is expected to run again for 2027/28, but the new call is not published yet. Base your plans on the official call only, since dates and programme lists can change between cycles.

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The five awards are distributed across four academic areas (one scholarship each for the first three areas, two for the fourth):

  • Economics and Law: Economics; Finance; International Accounting and Management
  • Political, International, Social and Cognitive Sciences: Language and Mind (Linguistics and Cognitive Studies); Public and Cultural Diplomacy; Scienze Internazionali (curriculum: European Studies)
  • Biomedical and Medical Sciences: Biotechnologies of Human Reproduction; Medical Biotechnologies
  • Math and Experimental Sciences (two scholarships): Applied Mathematics; Artificial Intelligence and Automation Engineering; Biodiversity, Conservation and Environmental Quality; Chemistry; Electronics and Communications Engineering; Engineering Management; Sustainable Industrial Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Candidates may apply for admission to up to two of the eligible programmes; a single scholarship application is sufficient to cover both.

Benefits of the Siena International Excellence Scholarship

  • EUR 6,000 annual grant (gross) paid to each of the five selected students for one academic year.
  • Renewable for a second year for students meeting the call’s academic conditions – up to EUR 12,000 total.
  • Study entirely in English at one of Italy’s most historic universities.
  • Small, prestigious cohort: only five awards are made each year.
  • Simple application: submitted through the same portal as admission, requiring only a one-minute self-made motivation video.

Note: this is a partial grant for living costs. The official call does not describe it as fully funded and does not mention a tuition fee waiver.

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Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the Siena International Excellence Scholarship, applicants must meet all of the following requirements under the official call for applications:

  • Hold a non-Italian Bachelor’s degree qualifying for admission to Master’s programmes (Lauree Magistrali) in the Italian university system.
  • Not hold Italian citizenship. Dual citizenship that includes Italian is excluded.
  • Not be a resident of Italy at the time of application – this includes non-EU citizens with a residence permit allowing enrollment without a new visa, and EU/EU-equated citizens (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland) resident in Italy for more than 9 months continuously.
  • Have applied for admission to at least one eligible Master’s programme via apply.unisi.it. Both candidates awaiting evaluation and those already accepted are eligible.
  • Hold non-Italian citizenship and have earned entry qualifications from institutions outside Italy.
  • Meet the English language requirement of B2 level or higher.

How to Apply for the Siena International Excellence Scholarship 2027

  1. Check the eligible programmes. Review the official call to confirm which English-taught Master’s programmes qualify.
  2. Apply for admission first. Submit admission for one or two eligible Master’s programmes on apply.unisi.it by the published admission deadlines – only admitted applicants are considered for the scholarship.
  3. Open the scholarship application. Using the same apply.unisi.it account, open the Siena International Excellence Scholarships listing under the Scholarship section.
  4. Record your motivation video. A short self-made video (max 1 minute) explaining your motivations, naming the programme(s) you are applying for.
  5. Pay the fee. A non-refundable EUR 10 scholarship application fee; payment instructions arrive by email.
  6. Submit before the deadline. Incomplete applications are rejected.
  7. Monitor the results. Rankings are published on the official admissions page; selected candidates are contacted directly and must accept within 7 days, or the award is reassigned.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Siena International Excellence Scholarship fully funded?

No. It is a partial grant of EUR 6,000 per year (gross), renewable for a second year (maximum EUR 12,000), meant to support living costs in Siena. The official call does not mention a tuition fee waiver.

What is the application deadline for the 2027 cycle?

Not announced yet – the A.Y. 2027/28 call is not published. The A.Y. 2026/27 call closed on 26 May 2026, and the window has historically fallen in May. Confirm the date on the official call page before applying.

Do I need IELTS to apply?

English proficiency at B2 level or higher is required; the accepted proof depends on the programme. The university also offers a paid online interview to assess language proficiency for English-taught courses.

Can I apply for the scholarship before I am admitted?

Yes – both candidates awaiting evaluation and those already accepted are eligible. But you must have submitted your admission application for at least one eligible Master’s programme via apply.unisi.it first; both applications use the same account.

How many scholarships are awarded each year?

Five: one each in Economics and Law, Political/International/Social and Cognitive Sciences, and Biomedical and Medical Sciences, plus two in Math and Experimental Sciences.

Can students with dual citizenship apply?

Only if neither citizenship is Italian – dual citizenship including Italian is excluded by the official call.

Related Scholarships in Italy

If you are planning to study in Italy, also consider these opportunities:

Current-cycle verification: the A.Y. 2026/27 call closed on 26 May 2026 and the A.Y. 2027/28 call is not yet published. Confirm the award details, deadline and process on the official University of Siena admissions site before applying.