Where do I start?

First, visit the programmes’ page or the universities’ pages on this website and choose the programme that best suits you. When you have found the programme that you wish to apply for, please consult the call for applications of the university which you will find on the page dedicated to them on this website. For any doubt or question, you will find specific email addresses for each university.

How can I apply?

Students can submit their applications – along with the required documents – between 3rd March and 18th April 2025 at 12:00 p.m. (noon, UTC+2) – University of Bologna by 28th April. Each student can apply selecting a maximum of two universities. Please find here a detailed guide to apply, please read it carefully before applying. UNICORE Guide for Students

In case of eventual criticalities in the application, please change browsers or clear the cache.

If I am a refugee and I have a degree from a college not in Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe am I eligible?

Yes, however please check individual application calls of the universities. Some of them can have put some limitations on this, restricting access to refugee graduated in their countries of asylum. Note that in order to qualify you must have obtained a qualification eligible for admission to the Second Cycle Degree Program in Italy.

Who is eligible for this call? What are the basic requirements for the scholarship?

The UNICORE 7.0 project is open to students who:
– Have been recognized as refugees in Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and are residing in one of those countries. 
– Have obtained a qualification eligible for admission to the Second Cycle Degree Program;
– Have obtained a degree in or after 2020 and no later than April 18th 2025;
– Have never been enrolled by one of the partner universities. Have  Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0 according to the country of graduation tertiary education grading system or equivalent according to the comparable table issued by the Italian Ministry of Education.

Presenting any fraudulent school certificates or university diplomas is a crime. All the documents that you submit will be carefully checked by experts. Should you present fraudulent documents there will be serious consequences including your disqualification from this and other opportunities. UNHCR may also report the incident to the police authorities. 

English Language certificate?

No, a certificate is not a requirement but please consider that if the programme you are applying for is in English you should have a good command of it. In some cases, proficiency in English will be assessed during the interview.

What are the benefits of the scholarship?

The program provides a series of services and benefits, including: accommodation, meals, expenses related to the residence permit for study reasons in Italy, health insurance, legal/social/psychological support, study materials (laptops, books, etc.). The renewal of the scholarship as well as the residence permit for study is subject to the passing of a minimum number of exams.

Is knowledge of the Italian language required for the scholarship?

No, however we strongly encourage you to learn Italian as soon as possible if you are selected, as this will facilitate your path to inclusion in Italian society.

What happens after I graduate?

The UNICORE 7.0 project concerns the entry into Italy of refugee students who can benefit from a two-year scholarship until their graduation. Once you graduate, you can return to the country of first asylum or, if you have the requirements, you may consider applying for another residence permit to continue your stay in Italy. The selected students will get an information sheet with detailed information related to their stay in Italy.

Am I allowed to work during my study time?

Yes, but only on part time basis up to 20 hours per week.

When is the deadline for the application? When will I get the results?

The call expires on April 18th, 2025. The winners will be contacted by email or phone directly by the universities. The final ranking will be published on the website of the invidual universities concerned. Your name will not be made public, they will use the number of the ration card or ID refugee card that you provided in the application.

Should an eligible application not be selected by one of the two universities chosen, if some scholarships have yet to be awarded the application will be shared with other universities participating in UNICORE 7.0.

Is it necessary to pay a fee to apply?

Participation in University Corridors, including the application process, is free. If you know anyone asking or offering money in connection with this project you should immediately contact UNHCR. 

How many applications can be submitted?

You may submit your application to a maximum of 2 universities selected. Please check withing Universities’ individual calls how many applications you can submit within a single university.

Can I receive more than one scholarship at the same time?

No.

What do I do in case of missing documentation?

For most universities applications that are not properly filled in or complete with all the required documentation will not be accepted.  Please reach out to the university that you wish to apply for and inform them in case some of the documents are missing. If you need to integrate the documentation uploaded, please login and upload them before the deadline of the call for applications.

When will courses start?

Courses will start in September/October 2026. However, there may be some postponements that are currently not foreseeable.

Can I defer my admission?

No.

Is attendance mandatory?

It depends on the specific programme. However, if not mandatory, attendance is strictly recommended.

Can I request resettlement from Italy to other EU countries after I graduate?

No, there is no resettlement programme to a third country from Italy.