Italy
1 Fulbright Award for a Laurea Magistrale at the Politecnico di Milano
Accepted Degree Levels
|
Grant PeriodSeptember StartGrant Length20 Months |
Award Type
Fulbright Graduate Degree Grants
- Yes
Award Profile
One award is available for a Laurea Magistrale in Architecture at the School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering, or a Laurea Magistrale in Design at the School of Design of the Politecnico di Milano.
Depending on the previous academic degree, the candidate can enroll in any of the Laurea Magistrale in Architecture at the School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering listed at http://www.auic.polimi.it/en/, or any of the Laurea Magistrale in Design at the School of Design listed at http://www.design.polimi.it/en/.
Both programs are two-year full-time programs taught in English to students from Italy and around the world. The programs provide students with advanced training in the fields of Architectural Design or Design, developing theoretical, humanistic, artistic, and design competencies based on the Italian tradition. Students will explore different housing cultures, new forms and spaces of contemporary cities, the development of new urban settlements in developing countries, innovation in building techniques, and environmental sustainability. The educational path adequately prepares students for the increasing need to face the complexity of problems, and the new professional responsibility of architects both in Europe and worldwide.
Grant Length
Grant Period
Both Laurea Magistrale in Architecture and in Design will begin in September 2025 and end in July 2027.
The exact start and end dates of both programs will be confirmed in late Spring 2025.
Orientation
Fulbright grantees will be required to participate in a two-to-three-day orientation program organized by the Fulbright Commission in early October.
An online pre-departure orientation will be offered approximately two months before departure.
Candidate Profile
U.S. citizens or nationals with an academic degree in Architecture or Design.
What is life like for Fulbrighters in the host country?
Information about Italy and life in Italy can be found on the following websites: https://www.italia.it/en, https://madeinitaly.gov.it/en/
Eligibility
12 Months
According to Italian laws and policies, dual nationals are eligible to apply. However, candidates with significant experience in Italy will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Candidates who are in Italy with a study or work visa during the 12 months prior to the competition deadline, who reside in Italy at the time of the deadline, or who will travel to Italy with a study or work visa during the selection process and the awarding phase are not eligible to participate in the program, with the following exceptions: those who are in Italy on a tourist visa and those who are on a study visa for a summer or one-semester U.S. university study abroad program are eligible to apply.
Degree Level of Applicant
- Bachelor's
- Master's
- Doctoral
Special Application Instructions
Information is available at https://www.polimi.it/en/prospective-students/how-to-apply/admission-to-laurea-magistrale/foreign-qualification.
While the application deadline for the Fulbright award is in October 2024, the application for the Politecnico di Milano will start at the beginning of October 2024.
Applicants are required to submit the standard Fulbright application and are not requested to present a letter of affiliation with the Politecnico di Milano.
Foreign Language Proficiency
Italian language proficiency is not a requirement in the candidate selection process, but is strongly recommended. While the program is delivered through English, applicants should include plans for language study in their Fulbright applications, and selected applicants should begin studying the language as soon as feasible, since language abilities will greatly enhance the Fulbright experience.
Fulbright Proposal Types
No
Yes
Affiliation
Letter should not be sought
Affiliation Fees/Tuition
Tuition fees will be covered for two academic years of 9 months each. Should final graduation be delayed beyond July 2027, the grantee will be responsible for covering the cost of the additional stay.
The award provides a maintenance allowance of Euro 12.700 (approx. $13,707) for 9 months as well as an international travel allowance of Euro 1.100 (approx. $1,187) to cover the costs of a round-trip ticket. Please note that allowances are disbursed in Euro currency and that equivalent dollar amounts are approximate and may change depending on exchange rate fluctuations.
The grantee will be responsible for covering the administrative fees mandated by Region Lombardia (regional tax, stamp tax, insurance) for both academic years.
Candidates who are also planning to apply for funds from other sources, or will receive financial assistance from their U.S. institution while in Italy, should contact the Commission to inquire whether these funds can be cumulated with the Fulbright award.
Award Benefits
- A stipend broadly based on the cost of living in the host country. These funds may be used by the grantee to support housing, meals, and incidental costs during the grant period.
- International travel benefits
- Accident & sickness health benefits
- 24/7 mental health support line for urgent and non-urgent situations
- 12 months of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) hiring status within the federal government
Stipend Amount
This is an estimated amount and is subject to change. The financial terms of the grant will be confirmed in the grant document issued after selection.
The total maintenance allowance is disbursed in four installments: 1° upon arrival in Italy, 2° mid-November, 3° end of February, and 4° upon return to the United States.
Additional Grant Benefits
Fulbright Annual Meeting: Each June, the U.S.-Italy Fulbright Commission hosts a meeting where U.S. grantees returning to the States after their grant and Italian grantees departing to begin their grant meet, interact, network, and often start relationships that continue in the United States. The Meeting--a celebration of the Fulbright experience--is held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of the United States. Italian alumni are also invited to participate in the day's activities.
Estimated Cost of Living
Consider using cost of living comparison websites to gain a better understanding of the potential costs in your host country.
As a rule, large cities in the North and the Center of Italy are more expensive, while living in the South is less costly, even in larger cities. An average monthly budget for two persons could range between €1.400-€2.500 ($1,533 -$2,737 approx.). Rent is usually the major expense, ranging between €600-€1.500 ($657-$1,642 approx.). Individuals’ lifestyles, and choosing to live downtown versus on the outskirts of a city, can make a difference.
The following websites could help navigate the costs of living in Italy. While none of them is sponsored by official institutions, the information is provided mostly by international visitors themselves and expats. https://wise.com/gb/blog/cost-of-living-in-italy; https://internationalliving.com/countries/italy/cost-of-living-in-italy/; https://www.mondayfeelings.com/cost-to-live-in-italy/; https://www.internationalcitizens.com/living-abroad/costs/italy.php; https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Italy; https://www.forextradingitalia.it/costo-della-vita/italia.html
Dependents
Housing Arrangements
The grantee is required to arrange their own housing, but the Politecnico can provide information and assistance to find on-campus or off-campus housing.
Fulbright Program Management Contact
Fulbright Commission/U.S. Embassy Website
ENTRY VISA
Grantees must enter Italy on a study visa covering the authorized length of the grant. The Fulbright-Politecnico di Milano grantee cannot be accompanied by dependents.
The possibility to stay for longer periods is subject to the provisions and restrictions of Italian Law. Italian embassy and consulates are the sole authorities in matters pertaining to visa issues.
Basic information about visas and their application process is available at http://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en.
Grantees must apply for a Study Visa (D) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate having jurisdiction in the State where they reside. The Commission will support their application with a letter that will be sent to grantees after they have signed the official grant authorization but will not be able to assist grantees in their application procedures.
Due to restrictions in the Italian Immigration Law, there are potential challenges related to the duration of the grantee's stay in Italy. The requested duration of the grantee's stay in Italy should not be much longer than the official grant period. In case of significant discrepancy (more than 30 days overall), the Consulate may reject the grantee's visa request.