18 scholarships for a year abroad, open to secondary school pupils from across Italy

Eighteen scholarships with a total value of 39,600 euros, aimed at deserving third-year students at upper secondary schools who wish to spend up to a full academic year abroad. StudyAway, an Italian agency specialising in the ‘School Year Abroad’ programme (a programme recognised by the Ministry of Education), is expanding its student support programme and, for the first time, introducing a fully funded scholarship worth €14,800 and two 50 per cent scholarships, worth €7,400 each, all dedicated to the annual USA Exchange programme.

In addition to these scholarships (StudyAway Global Citizens Scholarships, available only to state school pupils), there are also five scholarships worth 1,000 euros and ten worth 500 euros (StudyAway Support Scholarships, open to students from all schools for all planned overseas destinations), bringing the total number of grants made available directly by StudyAway to 18.

To apply, candidates must have achieved a mark of over 8.5 in their final school reports for the first and second years of upper secondary school. This is an innovative allocation mechanism based primarily on factors directly linked to the student’s academic journey, starting with academic merit. The decision not to link the awarding of scholarships to an economic indicator such as the ISEE reflects a desire to adopt simple and consistent criteria, focusing the assessment on the candidates’ academic record, personal profile and motivation. The initiative marks a shift from the forms of financial support that StudyAway has traditionally provided to high-achieving students. The aim is to make the opportunity to access an international experience even more tangible, rewarding students who have demonstrated consistent results, motivation and the ability to confidently undertake a course of study away from home.

“We wanted to go a step further than the support we have already provided over the years to the most deserving students and turn financial support into a truly meaningful opportunity,” explains Giulia Salamone, Head of Student Support at StudyAway. “A study programme abroad is an important experience from a financial point of view too, and we know this can be a barrier for many families. That is why we have chosen to invest directly in the students themselves, focusing first and foremost on state schools and academic merit. We are not simply looking for students with high marks, but for young people who are motivated, mature and ready to take on an experience that requires independence, adaptability and the ability to settle into a completely new environment.”

To be eligible for the various types of scholarships (full and partial), applicants must submit a reference letter completed by the headteacher or the overseas study programmes coordinator, write a personal statement in English of no more than 400 characters, and successfully complete the required selection process. Applications will be assessed by StudyAway’s in-house team on the basis of the documentation submitted, academic performance, the motivation letter and the outcome of the selection process. The deadline for submitting applications for scholarships is 13 November.