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Cuban citizens can apply for a new call for scholarships from the Italian government to study in that country during the 2026-2027 academic year, according to the Embassy of Italy in Havana.
The diplomatic office announced that the official portal Study in Italy has published the call for applications aimed at foreign students and Italian citizens residing abroad (IRE), with the goal of funding study, training, and research programs at Italian institutions.
“On the Study in Italy portal, the announcement for the allocation of scholarships offered by the Italian government to international students and Italian citizens residing abroad (IRE) for the academic year 2026-2027 has been published,” explained the embassy.
The scholarships allow for studies at state or legally recognized universities and institutions in Italy, and they cover various academic programs, ranging from master's degrees to doctorates and research projects.
Application deadline approaching
The Italian Embassy reminded that the deadline for submitting applications is approaching and urged those interested to complete the process as soon as possible.
Applications must be submitted exclusively in digital form through the Study in Italy portal, and the deadline for submitting applications is March 26, 2026.
“Applications must be submitted exclusively online, after registration, by accessing the Study in Italy portal, before 14:00 (Italian time) on March 26, 2026. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be accepted,” the announcement warned.
The program funds in-person studies at Italian academic institutions and aims to support the training, research, and academic development of foreign students.
Types of scholarships available
The call for applications includes two main types of scholarships:
-Nine-month scholarships, available from November 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027.
Three-month scholarships (Italofonia), available from January 1 to September 30, 2027.
Nine-month scholarships can be renewed for the following academic year if the student is enrolled in multi-year programs and meets the established requirements.
Among the programs that cover these aids are:
-Second-cycle master's degrees.
AFAM programs in art, music, and dance.
-Doctorates.
-Research projects.
-Intensive courses in Italian language and culture.
-Renewals of previously granted scholarships.
On the other hand, the Italophony scholarships, lasting three months, are primarily aimed at students who already have a foundation in Italian and wish to strengthen their language skills through intensive courses.
Academic and language requirements
To apply, candidates must meet a series of academic and documentary requirements.
Among the main requirements are the presentation of a valid passport or identification document and the accreditation of the academic degree required for the selected program.
In the case of master's degrees and AFAM programs, a valid prior university degree is required.
For doctoral programs, in addition to the relevant degree, candidates must have an admission letter or at least an invitation letter from an academic advisor.
In research projects, both the work plan and the tutor's letter must be submitted at the time of application.
The call also sets age limits depending on the type of program:
- Up to 28 years for master's programs, AFAM programs, intensive Italian courses, and “Costruiamo il futuro” scholarships.
- Up to 30 years for doctorates.
- Up to 40 years for research projects.
Language is another key requirement.
For programs taught in Italian, a B2 level of the language is required, while for studies conducted in English, at least a B2 level of English is necessary.
In the case of intensive Italian language courses, it is sufficient to demonstrate an A2 level.
The announcement also clarifies that some language certificates may be submitted later in certain categories, if the system allows it, although this option does not apply to intensive Italian courses, where all documentation must be submitted from the beginning.
The scholarships are part of an educational cooperation program from the Italian government aimed at attracting international students to its university system.
In addition to Cuba, the call for applications includes other eligible Latin American countries, such as Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Panama, according to the official information published on the Study in Italy portal.
For many aspiring Cubans, these scholarships represent an opportunity to access higher education in Europe with government funding and to establish academic connections with Italian universities.
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