Siena International Excellence Scholarships 2026/2027 at University of Siena Italy — €6,000 Per Year
The Siena International Excellence Scholarships 2026/2027 are open to international students from all countries who hold a non-Italian bachelor’s degree and want to pursue a Master’s degree at the University of Siena in Italy. Five scholarships are on offer for the 2026/2027 academic year, each worth €6,000 annually (gross amount), renewable for a second year, giving a total value of up to €12,000 across two years. Every scholarship also includes full exemption from university tuition fees for the duration of the award. The application window runs from 5 May 2026 to 26 May 2026 (Italian time) — this is a tight three-week window, and you must already have applied for admission to at least one of the eligible Master’s programmes at the University of Siena before you can submit a scholarship application.
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The scholarships are distributed across four academic areas: Economics and Law (one scholarship), Political, International, Social and Cognitive Sciences (one scholarship), Biomedical and Medical Sciences (one scholarship), and Math and Experimental Sciences (two scholarships). All eligible programmes are taught entirely in English. Selection is based on academic excellence in your field of study, and the quality and strength of your prior academic record. A non-refundable application fee of €10 is required to submit. To secure the scholarship after selection, you must be physically present in Siena, complete your enrollment, and must not be receiving any other scholarship or grant from an Italian or foreign institution by the final deadline of 15 December 2026. Scholarships are paid in two installments of €3,000 each and must be received into a SEPA bank account or a prepaid card with an IBAN in your name. If you earn fewer than 24 ECTS credits by the end of September 2027, you will be required to repay any scholarship funds already received.
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You cannot apply if you are an Italian citizen (unless you hold dual citizenship), if you currently reside in Italy as defined under the scholarship’s residency rules, or if you have not yet applied for admission to one of the listed programmes through apply.unisi.it.
Summary of the Siena International Excellence Scholarships 2026/2027
| Scholarship Name ⇒ | Siena International Excellence Scholarships |
| Host Country ⇒ | Italy |
| Study Level ⇒ | Postgraduate Scholarships | Master’s Scholarships |
| Benefits ⇒ | €6,000 per year (gross) + full tuition fee exemption, renewable for a second year (total up to €12,000) |
| Funded By ⇒ | University of Siena |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries (non-Italian citizenship, degree earned outside Italy, not resident in Italy) |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 26 May 2026 |
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About the Siena International Excellence Scholarships
The Siena International Excellence Scholarships are awarded by the University of Siena, one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in 1240 and located in the historic city of Siena in Tuscany, central Italy. The university consistently ranks among the leading Italian universities for research quality and international engagement.
The scholarship programme was created to attract distinguished international students into the university’s English-taught Master’s degree programmes, with the aim of building a more internationally diverse academic community. Five scholarships are awarded per academic year, distributed across four subject areas. Three areas each receive one scholarship, and the Area of Math and Experimental Sciences receives two scholarships for two different programmes within that area.
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The Evaluation Committee selects recipients based on academic excellence and the quality of their prior academic record. Where two candidates score equally, the younger candidate is given priority. The committee also reserves the right to decline to award a scholarship if no candidate in a given area is considered sufficiently outstanding — meaning this is a genuinely competitive selection, not an automatic award to the top applicant in each area.
Ranking lists of up to ten eligible candidates per area are published here from 25 June 2026. Other university departments or external public entities may also use these ranking lists to offer additional scholarships from their own funds, so appearing on the ranking list even without receiving the primary award can lead to additional opportunities.
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What the Siena International Excellence Scholarships Cover
The scholarship covers the following:
- €6,000 per year (gross amount), paid in two installments of €3,000 each
- Full exemption from university tuition fees for the duration of the scholarship — both years if renewed
- Renewable for a second year, giving a total value of up to €12,000 gross across two academic years
Payment is made by bank transfer. You must hold a bank account within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) or a prepaid card with an IBAN where you are the account holder or co-holder. You are responsible for establishing a valid payment method — failure to do so by 15 June 2027 results in revocation of the scholarship.
The first-year payment schedule works as follows: if you confirm final acceptance of the scholarship by 15 October 2026, your first installment of €3,000 is paid on 25 November 2026. If you confirm between 16 October and 15 December 2026, your first installment is paid no earlier than 25 February 2027. The second installment of €3,000 is paid on 25 June 2027, provided you have earned at least 12 ECTS credits by the end of March 2027.
For renewal into year two, you must have earned at least 39 ECTS credits by the end of September 2027. If renewed, the first installment of the second year is paid 25 January 2028, and the second installment is paid 25 June 2028, provided you have earned at least 60 ECTS credits by the end of March 2028.
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One critical warning on repayment: if you earn fewer than 24 ECTS credits by the end of September 2027, you will be required to repay all scholarship funds you have already received. If you transfer to a different university or discontinue your studies at any point, repayment is also triggered. If repayment is not made, your academic record will be suspended. Exceptional cases with valid justification may be reviewed by the Rector of the University of Siena.
Eligibility Requirements for the Siena International Excellence Scholarships
You must meet all of the following to apply — failure to meet any one of these conditions results in automatic exclusion:
- You must hold a non-Italian bachelor’s degree that qualifies for admission to Master’s degree programmes within the Italian university system
- You must not hold Italian citizenship — the only exception is individuals with dual citizenship that includes Italian
- You must not be a resident of Italy. The scholarship defines Italian residency as follows: non-EU citizens who hold a valid Italian residence permit that allows enrolment in an Italian university without a new student visa (under Italian Legislative Decree 286/1998) are considered residents of Italy. EU and EU-equated citizens who have continuously resided in Italy for more than nine months are also considered residents. Citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the Republic of San Marino, and Switzerland are treated as EU citizens for this purpose
- You must have already applied for at least one of the eligible Master’s programmes at the University of Siena through apply.unisi.it, following the procedures and meeting the admission deadlines. You can apply for up to two eligible programmes
- Both candidates who are still awaiting an admission decision and those who have already received confirmation of acceptance are eligible to apply for the scholarship
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Additionally, to secure the scholarship after being selected, you must not be receiving any other scholarship or grant from any Italian or foreign entity at the time of final acceptance.
Eligible Master’s Programmes
Five scholarships are distributed across four academic areas as follows:
Area of Economics and Law — 1 scholarship:
- Economics
- Finance
- International Accounting and Management
Area of Political, International, Social and Cognitive Sciences — 1 scholarship:
- Language and Mind: Linguistics and Cognitive Studies
- Public and Cultural Diplomacy
- Scienze Internazionali (curriculum: European Studies)
Area of Biomedical and Medical Sciences — 1 scholarship:
- Biotechnologies of Human Reproduction
- Medical Biotechnologies
Area of Math and Experimental Sciences — 2 scholarships:
- Applied Mathematics
- Artificial Intelligence and Automation Engineering
- Biodiversity, Conservation and Environmental Quality
- Chemistry
- Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Engineering Management
- Sustainable Industrial Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
All programmes are taught entirely in English. One scholarship is awarded per area, except in the Area of Math and Experimental Sciences where two scholarships are available for two different programmes within that area.
Required Documents for the Siena International Excellence Scholarships
Your scholarship application uses the same account and portal as your admission application. The Evaluation Committee will use documentation already uploaded for your admission application, so you do not need to re-upload those documents. In the scholarship application itself, you must provide:
- A short self-made video explaining your motivations — no longer than one minute
- The name or names of the Master’s degree programme or programmes for which you are applying under this scholarship call
The documents required for admission — which the Evaluation Committee will also review — are listed here
Incomplete applications are rejected and it is not possible to send any document by email.
One practical warning: your one-minute motivation video is the only piece of content you produce specifically for this scholarship. Everything else comes from your admission application. Treat that one minute seriously — it is your only direct opportunity to address the selection committee beyond your academic record. Plan what you want to say before recording, speak clearly, and stay within the time limit.
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How to Apply for the Siena International Excellence Scholarships
You must apply for admission to at least one eligible programme through apply.unisi.it before submitting your scholarship application. The scholarship application and the admission application use the same account — do not create a separate account for the scholarship.
- Apply for admission to your chosen Master’s programme or programmes at the University of Siena through the platform here, following the procedures and deadlines published on that portal.
- Once your admission application is submitted, go to the scholarship application portal at here between 5 May 2026 and 26 May 2026 (Italian time).
- Log in using the same account you used for your admission application.
- Complete the scholarship application form — you will need to upload your one-minute motivation video and confirm the name or names of the eligible programmes you are applying to under this call.
- Pay the non-refundable €10 application fee following the payment instructions sent to you by email, using the same procedure as your admission application payment.
- Submit before 26 May 2026. If a candidate has applied for admission to two eligible programmes, one single scholarship application is sufficient.
- Ranking lists are published from 25 June 2026 here
- Selected candidates receive a provisional scholarship offer by email with a seven-day deadline to accept it. If you do not accept within seven days, you are removed from the ranking list.
- To secure the scholarship finally, you must be physically present in Siena, complete your enrollment including payment of the regional DSU Toscana tax of €140 and the virtual stamp duty of €16, and confirm you are not receiving any other scholarship or grant — all by 15 December 2026.
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For questions about the procedure, contact the person responsible for the process: Anna Majuri, Head of the Ufficio incentivi allo studio e tutorato, at the University of Siena. For data protection enquiries, contact the Data Protection Officer at [email protected] or [email protected].
Application Deadline
The scholarship application window opens 5 May 2026 and closes 26 May 2026 (Italian time). This is a three-week window only. You must have already submitted your admission application before the scholarship portal opens, so do not wait until May to begin the admission process.
Ranking lists are published from 25 June 2026 here. The final deadline to confirm your scholarship acceptance and complete all enrollment conditions is 15 December 2026. No extensions beyond this date are permitted for any reason, including illness or visa delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Siena International Excellence Scholarship fully funded?
The scholarship provides €6,000 per year (gross) plus full exemption from university tuition fees, renewable for a second year for a total of up to €12,000. It does not cover accommodation, flights, living costs, or daily expenses. It is a merit-based partial scholarship combined with a tuition waiver — not a full-cost living scholarship.
Can Nigerian and African students apply for the Siena International Excellence Scholarship?
Yes. The scholarship is open to international students from all countries, provided they hold a non-Italian degree, do not hold Italian citizenship (unless dual), and are not currently resident in Italy as defined in the eligibility rules. Nigerian and African students who meet these conditions are fully eligible to apply.
Do I need to apply to the University of Siena before applying for the scholarship?
Yes. You must have already submitted an admission application to at least one of the eligible Master’s programmes through apply.unisi.it before your scholarship application can be considered. The scholarship application cannot be submitted without a prior admission application on the same account.
Can I hold this scholarship alongside another scholarship?
No. One of the conditions for securing the scholarship after selection is that you are not receiving any other scholarship or grant from any Italian or foreign entity. If you are currently receiving another award, you must choose between them.
What happens if I do not earn enough ECTS credits?
If you earn fewer than 12 ECTS credits by the end of March 2027, your second installment is revoked. If you earn fewer than 24 ECTS credits by the end of September 2027, you must repay all funds already received. If you earn at least 24 but fewer than 39 ECTS by September 2027, the scholarship is not renewed for the second year but you do not need to repay year one funds. You need at least 39 ECTS by September 2027 for renewal.
Is the €10 application fee refundable?
No. The €10 application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application.
Disclaimer: All scholarship details, deadlines, award values, and eligibility criteria were verified from the official University of Siena Siena International Excellence Scholarships call for applications as of June 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on the official source before submitting your application.
Official Application Portal
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