Applications are open for the Africa Scholars Program at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. The initiative sits inside the university’s long running effort to build academic links with developing regions. In practice, it gives students from across Africa a shot at enrolling in one of the university’s 2 year graduate degree programs taught in English. Classes take place at the campuses in Milan, Roma, Piacenza, or Cremona, depending on the programme you choose.

Here’s the practical bit. Through this scholarship program to study in Europe, admitted students receive a tuition reduction rather than a full financial package. The fee structure at Cattolica is based largely on where a student’s family income is produced. For applicants whose family income is generated outside the European Union, tuition for these 2 year MSc programmes is normally a flat €9,370 per year. Students selected for the university’s international scholarship may see that figure reduced to about €6,400 per year. Helpful, yes. A full ride? Not quite. Living costs, housing, insurance, food, daily life in Italy remain the student’s responsibility.

Founded in 1921, the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is one of the largest private research universities in Italy. It runs a broad academic portfolio with 12 faculties and multiple graduate schools spread across campuses in Milan, Piacenza, Cremona, Brescia, and Rome. The institution also holds a particular distinction: it is widely considered the largest Catholic university in the world. Programs span undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels across areas such as humanities, economics, sciences, medicine, and management.

Program Details

• Host institution: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart) in Italy.
• Fields of Study: 2 year graduate degrees (Lauree Magistrali) taught in English.
• Duration: up to 2 years.
• Number of Awards: Not specified.
• Target group: Students from the African continent.

Africa Scholars Program Benefits

The financial support comes mainly in the form of a tuition reduction. For international applicants whose family income is produced outside the EU, the standard tuition for these MSc programmes is about €9,370 per year. Through the university’s international scholarship scheme, the cost may drop to approximately €6,400 per year.

That reduction helps, but it does not cover everything. Students must still budget for accommodation, food, transportation, insurance, and everyday expenses while studying in Italy. In other words, the Africa Scholars Programme lowers the entry cost of tuition, yet it does not function as a fully funded scholarship.

Eligible programs for the Cattolica Africa Scholarship

The programme applies to a range of English taught 2 year graduate degrees (Lauree Magistrali) offered at Università Cattolica. These programmes begin each September and prepare students for professional careers or for further academic work such as PhD studies at Italian universities.

Milan campus

1. The Art and Industry of Narration
2. Banking and Finance
3. Communication for Business, Media and Culture
4. Data Analytics for Business
5. Economics
6. European Studies in Investor Relations and Financial Communication
7. Innovation and Technology Management
8. Linguistic Computing
9. Management
10. Methods and Topics in Arts Management
11. Statistical and Actuarial Sciences

Piacenza-Cremona campus

1. Agricultural and Food Economics
2. Consumer Behaviour
3. Food Processing: Innovation and Tradition
4. Global Business Management
5. Sustainable Viticulture and Enology

Brescia campus

1. Applied Data Science for Banking and Finance
2. Innovations in Biotechnology Applied to Regenerative Medicine
3. Physics and Innovation

Rome campus : Healthcare Management

European Double Degree Programme – Cremona, Italy (Università Cattolica) / Lyon, France (ISARA) : Sustainable Food System

Italian programme : Italian-taught 2-year graduate programmes

Africa Scholars Program Eligibility

Admission requirements for all graduate Degree programs include:

• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
• Meeting the English language requirement. Please click here to see the accepted tests and exemptions.

How to Apply for the Africa Scholars Program

To apply for this university scholarship programme in Italy, candidates must submit their application through the official online portal of Università Cattolica.

• STEP 1 : Create an account on the Online Application Portal
• STEP 2 : Complete the application form
• STEP 3 : Upload the required documents
• STEP 4 : Review your application and pay the application fee (€75, non refundable)
• STEP 5 : Submit your application

Required Documents

1. Copy of passport or identity document
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. High school diploma
4. Bachelor’s degree diploma if available
5. Official transcript of records for the bachelor degree
6. Academic reference letter
7. Motivation letter
8. English language certificate if required
9. Optional GRE or GMAT score report

Application timeline

The programme uses several application rounds each year. Applications are evaluated within about 4 to 6 weeks after the round deadline. Strong candidates may receive early feedback.

The final deadline to submit an application for the 2026 to 2027 intake is June 24, 2026. For additional information, applicants should consult the official Università Cattolica admissions page.