Most students receive some kind of financial support for their year in Bologna. SAIS offers several financial aid options and provides information and assistance with applying for aid.
The Bologna Center administers financial aid and fellowships for non-U.S. citizens who wish to study in Bologna. Financial aid for U.S. citizens and permanent U.S. residents who wish to attend the Bologna Center is administered by SAIS Washington.
SAIS fellowships and grants are awarded to full-time students on the basis of academic promise and financial need. In addition to grants offered by SAIS, there are outside sources of funding available to many students.
Please note that financial aid from the Bologna Center will be credited in two equal installments, one in October and one in February, to the recipients' internal account.
Candidates in need of financial assistance should seek alternative sources of funding from home government agencies, foundations, and lending institutions. Lists of resources can be found in grants registers in university libraries and on the Internet.
Students who wish to continue their studies for a second year should begin seeking funds for the second year as soon as possible after being admitted to the Bologna Center as many sources of financial aid have early application deadlines.
Two fellowships are normally made available annually by the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to enable two students at SAIS Bologna to pursue a year of study at the Johns Hopkins Departments of Political Science or Economics. The Bologna Center Registrar sends an email to all students in Bologna about this opportunity in December.
Non-U.S. citizens
The Center allocates a substantial part of its annual budget to financial aid. Every year a majority of non-U.S. students receive some financial support. Financial aid is generally distributed in the form of partial tuition grants to students who demonstrate outstanding academic merit and financial need. The Center also administers a number of awards (partial and full-tuition fellowships) on behalf of donor organizations. Awards are made on an annual basis although some fellowships cover two years.
Candidates for admission who wish to be considered for financial aid from the Bologna Center or administered jointly by the Bologna Center and donor organizations should submit the appropriate form provided in the application packet for detailed instructions and a list of sources.
SAIS provides a number of fellowships to students who choose to complete the two-year degree program in Washington D.C. after concluding their year of study in Bologna. Those who demonstrate outstanding academic performance during their first semester at SAIS Bologna may receive support, ranging from small fellowships to a limited number of full-tuition packages.
As SAIS Washington's network of international donors is not as extensive as SAIS Bologna's, there are fewer outside fellowships available for non-U.S. students who study in Washington. Those who plan to pursue the two-year program and continue their studies in Washington should focus on financing solutions for the second year of study immediately upon admission to SAIS.
Please also review our 'Aid for International Students' brochure.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents
The application procedure and requirements for financial assistance are the same as those for students wishing to attend SAIS in Washington, DC.