Biggest-ever Italian study abroad scholarship scheme announced
Update (23 July 2026): Since this story was published, we have learned that the UK is not automatically included in the scheme because it is funded through EU structural funds. However, the Italian education minister has indicated there may be scope to include the UK, and officials are exploring the issue further.
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In excellent news for UK ELT, the Italian government has announced that 150,000 sixth-formers will be fully funded to improve their language skills in other European countries. We are delighted that a new Italian scholarship scheme is coming after the success of its pre-Covid predecessors and will share further details of the €420m scheme as soon as we have them.
We're working with the Department for Business & Trade and the British Embassy Rome to present a unified UK offer.
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Each student will spend two weeks living and studying in-country, language learning or integrated into local schools. Some students may travel for up to six months, and trips could include workshops, group projects, company visits, expert lectures and short courses.
Importance of language immersion
At a high-profile launch event Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni – who said she was "passionate" about learning languages, spoke about how the opportunity would improve not only the students' language skills but also their independence and self-confidence. "We live in a world which is increasingly interconnected… and it is important to know how to use language in real life," she said, adding that it was important to understand languages in their cultural context.
"Living and studying abroad, even for just a few weeks or a few months, means learning to cope with new situations, becoming more independent, engaging with people who have different customs, ideas and cultures to our own, and thus broadening your horizons and your ability to understand others."
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