Siena International Excellence Scholarships  2026

The University of Siena in Italy offers the Siena International Excellence Scholarships to honor distinguished international students and encourage their enrollment in selected Master's degree programs (Lauree Magistrali). For the academic year, the University provides scholarships worth €6,000 annually (gross amount), renewable for a second year – for a total of €12,000 over two years. If you are a non‑Italian citizen with a Bachelor’s degree from outside Italy, this could be your opportunity to study in one of Europe’s most historic and beautiful cities. For students exploring other fully funded opportunities in Italy, you can browse fully funded scholarships in Italy  to discover additional programs.

Important Notice for 2026/27

The scholarship page will be updated soon for the academic year 2026/27. For reference, the 2025/26 application deadline was May 6, 2025, with five scholarships available. Prospective applicants should check the University of Siena website regularly for the 2026/27 call.

For students also considering study options in other European countries, you can explore latest scholarships in France to compare opportunities.

Who Can Apply – Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for selection, applicants must meet all of the following requirements (under penalty of exclusion):

• Hold a non‑Italian Bachelor’s degree that qualifies for admission to Master’s degree programs within the Italian university system

• Not hold Italian citizenship (except for individuals with dual citizenship that includes Italian)

• Not be a resident of Italy. For the purposes of this call, the following are considered residents of Italy:

  • Non‑EU citizens with a valid residence permit allowing enrollment without a new student visa

  • EU and EU‑equated citizens who have continuously resided in Italy for more than 9 months (citizens of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, and Switzerland are considered EU citizens)

• Have applied for any of the eligible Master’s degree programs listed below, following the procedures on apply.unisi.it. Candidates can apply for up to two programs.

• Both candidates awaiting evaluation and those who have already received confirmation of acceptance (first or second intake) are eligible to apply.

Which Courses Qualify for the Scholarship?

Scholarships are awarded to the most talented students admitted to selected Master’s degree programs conducted entirely in English. One scholarship is available for each of the following three areas:

Area of Economics and Law

• Economics

• Finance

• International Accounting and Management

Area of Political, International, Social and Cognitive Sciences

• Language and Mind: Linguistics and Cognitive Studies

• Public and Cultural Diplomacy

• Scienze Internazionali (curriculum: European Studies)

Area of Biomedical and Medical Sciences

• Biotechnologies of Human Reproduction

• Medical Biotechnologies

Two scholarships are available for two different courses in the Area of Math and Experimental Sciences, which includes:

• Applied Mathematics

• Artificial Intelligence and Automation Engineering

• Biodiversity, Conservation and Environmental Quality

• Chemistry

• Electronics and Communications Engineering

• Engineering Management

• Sustainable Industrial Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

For students seeking financial aid options across Europe, you can review aids for students in Europe to find other programs.

Scholarship Benefits

• €6,000 per year (gross amount)

• Duration: One year, renewable for a second year (total up to €12,000)

• One scholarship per area (Economics/Law, Political/Social Sciences, Biomedical Sciences)

• Two scholarships for Math and Experimental Sciences area

Application Submission

Applications must be submitted through the apply.unisi.it portal. The scholarship application is included in the listing under the “Scholarship” section.

Important requirements:

• Only applications from candidates who have already applied for admission to at least one eligible course will be considered

• If applying for two courses, a single scholarship application is sufficient

• A non‑refundable fee of €10 is required to submit the scholarship application

• The scholarship application must use the same account used for the course admission application

Required Documents in the Application

Candidates must provide:

• A short self‑made video (no longer than 1 minute) explaining your motivations

• Name(s) of the Master’s degree program(s) for which you are applying

The Evaluation Committee will also use the documentation already uploaded for your admission application (transcripts, degree certificates, CV, etc.).

Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Final Thoughts

The Siena International Excellence Scholarships offer a fantastic opportunity for non‑Italian citizens with Bachelor’s degrees from outside Italy to study at one of Italy’s oldest and most prestigious universities. With €6,000 per year (renewable for a second year), these scholarships support talented students in English‑taught Master’s programs across Economics, Law, Political Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Math/Experimental Sciences.

The 2025/26 deadline was May 6, 2025, and the page will be updated soon for 2026/27. Prepare your application, create a 1‑minute motivational video, and apply through apply.unisi.it using the same account as your course admission. Do not miss your chance to study in the beautiful historic city of Siena.

Apply Now for Siena International Excellence Scholarships