Studying abroad: a €15,000 voucher for secondary school pupils in Abruzzo

High school pupils in Abruzzo, with an ISEE of up to 35,000 euros and no failing grades, will be able to study abroad thanks to a regional grant of up to 15,000 euros. The Region has published a call for applications, making available a total budget of 1 million euros to fund study periods outside Italia, including for the entire academic year.

“With the call for applications we are publishing today, we want to give our young people the chance to experience other educational environments, learn about new cultures and acquire skills that will be invaluable for their future,” says Roberto Santangelo, Regional Councillor for Education. “Investing in international mobility means investing in the education, independence and opportunities of young people in Abruzzo. And with this initiative, we want to ensure that family income is not a barrier.”

The voucher applies to the next academic year and is aimed at pupils who, in the current academic year, are in Year 2 at sixth-form colleges and four-year secondary schools, or in Year 3 at other upper secondary schools. The scheme provides funding for a period abroad to be undertaken during the 2027/2028 academic year, which corresponds to the third year for four-year programmes and the fourth year for other secondary school programmes. To be eligible, students must be attending a state or state-recognised secondary school with its registered office in Abruzzo, have an ISEE 2026 of no more than 35,000 euros, and must not have failed any subjects at the end of the 2025/2026 academic year. The programme may be undertaken either in a European Union country or in a non-EU country, through programmes organised by the school or by specialist organisations, or via independent arrangements for schooling and accommodation.

The grant can be up to 15,000 euros per student, but it will not be paid automatically: only expenses that have actually been incurred and documented will be reimbursed. The voucher may cover the costs of the school or study programme, travel, accommodation (including meals), insurance, teaching materials, cultural activities and any educational tutoring. It is not the student but the school that will submit the application to the Region.

The institutions will collect expressions of interest, verify eligibility and draw up a ranking list based on ascending ISEE scores. Where ISEE scores are equal, academic merit will be taken into account, based on the average of final marks (excluding conduct, religious studies and alternative subjects). In the event of a further tie, the younger student will be given priority. Applications may be submitted from 15 October to 3 November 2026, exclusively online via the Region’s digital portal. As this is a first-come, first-served procedure, eligible applications will be funded in the chronological order in which they are submitted, until the available funds are exhausted: interested families should therefore act promptly and contact their school.
“The voucher,” says Councillor Santangelo, “will be paid through the school, with an 80 per cent advance and a 20 per cent balance linked to the final statement of expenditure. The benefit may be forfeited in the event of withdrawal, failure to depart, a change of school before departure, failure to complete the programme, or early return without an objective and justified reason.”