The University of Messina International Master's Scholarships 2017, Italy

Objectives

The University of Messina (UniME) offers n. 40 scholarships for international students enrolling to a UniME two-year long Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale) in the a.y. 2017/2018. In accordance with provisions of art. 5 of the present Call, selected candidates will benefit from a 100€ monthly grant, free accommodation in one of the UniME student Halls of Residence and exemption from the payment of tuition fees for the whole duration of the degree course.
For the purposes of the Call, international students are those students holding a degree awarded by a foreign University (not Italian) whilst with the term “enrollment” it is considered the registration to the first year of a Master degree course (Laurea Magistrale). Registration to the second year of a Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale), transfer from another UniME degree course from another University are not considered as enrollment.
Candidates must deal with pre-enrollment procedures at the Italian Diplomatic/Consular Authority in the country where the degree has been awarded for the issue of the visa.

Eligibility criteria

In order to apply for the scholarship, candidates must hold:

• a degree awarded by a foreign University recognized as being appropriate to enroll to a Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale).

• A certificate of Italian language (B2 level) issued by the C.L.I.Q. (Certificazione Lingua Italiania di Qualità) system (in case of enrollment to a Master degree programme taught in Italian), or

• One of the following certificate of English language: TOEFL iBT internet based (Test of

English as a Foreign Language): 87 -109; ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages - Pitman): B2 IESOL Communicator; IELTS (International English Language Testing System - University of Cambridge): 5.5 - 6.5; ISE (Integrated Skill in English - Trinity College London): B2 ISE II; LCCIEB (London Chamber of Commerce & Industry Examinations Board): Level 5; FCE (First Certificate in English - University of Cambridge) (in case of enrollment to a Master degree programme taught in English).

In case of no certification, candidate’s language knowledge will be evaluated by a Commission in a conference-call examination.

Procedures and terms of application

Application deadline is the 22nd of May 2017 at 12:00 am (Italian time).
In the application, candidates must indicate the Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale) to which he/she wants to enroll and uphold the following documents (either in English or Italian):

1. Curriculum vitae

2. Language certificate

3. A motivation letter or/and a Reference letter provided by the University/Higher Education Institution (HEI) where the candidate gained the degree/latest qualification.

4. Official transcript of records of previous studies in English or translated into Italian by a competent Italian authority (Embassy/Consular if abroad);

5. Photocopy of a valid passport.

After the first on-line access it is possible to save the application and modify/integrate it in further sessions. Application will be processed only if duly filled and “submitted”.
Once the application is submitted it cannot be modified.

Selection procedures

Applications will be assessed by a Commission appointed by the Rector.
The Commission shall evaluate applications on the basis of the following criteria:

• Candidate’s previous studies (transcript of records) considering the learning outcomes of the selected UniME Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale) (up to 50 points)

• Curriculum vitae with learning and working experience (up to 30 points)

• Motivation letter and/or recommendation letter from the University awarding the previous academic position (up to 20 points).

Partner Universities cooperating with UniME may select international students for the participation to the present Call.

List of selected candidates

The Commission will approve a list of selected candidates (listed form the highest mark to the lowest mark). Only candidates with a minimum mark of 60 points are considered eligible. In case of the same mark, younger candidates will prevail.

The list of selected candidates will be published on the International Relations web-page http://www.unime.it/it/internationalon the 19th of June 2017. The publication of the list will have legal effect in accordance with the Italian legislation.
The International Cooperation and Foreign Students Unit (ICU) shall inform by e-mail candidates shortlisted for the scholarship. ICU will also communicate UniME availability to enroll applicants in the selected Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale) eventually indicating further learning activities to be attended or pre-access tests, if requested.

Application submission does not directly lead to candidates’ enrollment to the selected Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale) but only to the participation to the present Call.

Conditions of scholarship payment

The economic part of the scholarship will be paid in five installments, in accordance with the following deadlines:

The payment of the first installment is conditioned to the handing in of the required documents to ICU (Declaration of value/NARIC-ERIC certification, transcript of records translated and legalized by the Italian Diplomatic/Consular Authority, family income certified and legalized by the Italian Diplomatic/Consular Authority) and to the finalization of the enrollment procedure.

The payment of the second installment is conditioned to the gain of 10 credits (CFU/ECTS). The payment of the third installment is conditioned to the gain of 20 credits (CFU/ECTS).
Students must gain 40 credits (CFU/ECTS) to benefit from free accommodation in one of the UniME students Halls of Residence, the exemption from the payment of tuition fees also for the second year of the Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale) and to receive the four installment of the scholarship.

The payment of the fifth installment is conditioned to the gain of 20 further credits (CFU/ECTS) as established in the curriculum of the selected Master degree programme (Laurea Magistrale).
The payment of the scholarship will be transferred to the student’ s bank account number (for Bank agencies located on the Italian soil) or to credit card with international bank account number (IBAN).

Sanctions

Selected students undertake to regularly attend lectures and didactic activities, respect UNIME academic staff, take care of University accommodation and service facilities. UNIME reserves the right to sanction selected students, also withdrawing the scholarship, at any time for personal misconduct in violation with such commitments.

Person responsible for the procedure

Mrs. Clementina Trischitta, deputy head of International Cooperation and Foreign Students Unit, is in charge of the administrative procedure.

Personal data

The University Administration will treat applicants’ personal data solely for the fulfillment of abovementioned procedures, in accordance with Legislative Decree n. 196 of 30 June 2003 and further modifications.
Personal data must be provided in order to assess compliance with the requirements. Non compliance with such provision will result in the exclusion from the competition.

For more information click "Further official information" below.