FAQs about our "Rita Levi Montalcini" Scholarship Program in the USA
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Are the “Rita Levi Montalcini” scholarships only intended for students enrolled at universities in the United States?
Yes, the Rita Levi Montalcini scholarships are specifically intended for students enrolled in master’s degree programs (one or two years), PhD programs, or research fellowships at universities in the United States, in the fields of neuroscience and/or neurobiology.
Am I eligible to receive the scholarship if I have already completed the 1st year of my program in Neuroscience/Neurobiology?
Absolutely yes. The scholarship can last up to 2 years for students enrolled in a master's program or research fellowship, and up to 3 years for PhD students, regardless of the total duration of the academic program.
Therefore:
If you have completed the 1st year of a master’s program or research fellowship, and the program lasts 2 years, you can receive funding only for the 2nd year.
If you have completed the 1st year of a PhD program that lasts 3 years, you can receive funding for the 2nd and 3rd year.
Do you have any preferences regarding the students’ research topics?
As specified in the Call for Applications, the only requirement is that the research field must fall within neuroscience and/or neurobiology.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
How should I upload the required documents in the application form?
Files must be uploaded in PDF format. Each file must be named with the type of document and the candidate’s last name, for example “CV Rossi” or “Passport Rossi”. Please note that files in other formats or without clear identification in the file name will not be accepted. Documents may be uploaded in either Italian or English. Applications with attachments that do not meet these criteria will be automatically rejected.
How should I prepare my CV?
The CV must be written in the Europass format, which is available for download online. It must include all personal details, including your residential address and personal email address. A photo is also mandatory. The CV should contain complete information about your academic background, professional experience, and research activities.
Among the required documents is also a cover letter. How should it be written?
As specified in Article 3.2 of the Call for Applications, the letter must include information about your academic background, personality, strengths and weaknesses, hobbies, and interests. It must be written in Italian or English, using Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing, and must not exceed two pages. The letter must include a header with your name, surname, and signature. It must be submitted as a PDF. Applications with letters that do not meet these criteria will be automatically rejected.
How should the research project abstract be prepared?
The abstract must have a title and be between 200 and 400 words long (excluding spaces). Be sure to include a header with your first name, last name, and the university where you are conducting the research project, and sign the abstract at the end. Abstracts without a header and/or signature will not be accepted and the application will be rejected.
What is the latest income tax return?
This refers to the income tax return filed in the United States in 2025, namely the “US FORM 1040”. Alternatively, the candidate may submit a signed declaration stating, under their civil and criminal liability, the total income earned in 2025.
SELECTION PROCESS
Do you interview all candidates?
No, the Scientific Committee reserves the right to interview the candidate only if it deems it necessary to gain a deeper understanding in order to make a decision. The Dompé Foundation will directly inform candidates of the outcome of the selection process, including in the case of a negative result.
Can I reapply if I was previously rejected?
Absolutely! You can submit a new application, making sure to mention in your cover letter that this is your 2nd application.
COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT
Is the “Rita Levi Montalcini” scholarship compatible with other scholarships?
Yes, it is compatible. You may therefore receive the “Rita Levi Montalcini” scholarship even if you are benefiting from other types of funding from public or private institutions, or if you are already receiving a salary.
FINANCIAL ASPECTS
Are there any restrictions on the scholarship funds?
No, there are no restrictions on the scholarship funds. Consequently, each recipient has full discretion over how to use them
CONFIRMATION AND CONTACTS
Will I receive a confirmation email after submitting the online application?
No. Once you have completed and submitted the online application, you will not receive any confirmation email. We therefore recommend saving the message “Thank your application!” that will appear on your screen after you click “SUBMIT.”
Who can I contact if I have further questions?
For any clarifications, you can contact the Foundation’s Administrative Office at: segreteria@fondazionedompe.org.
You are kindly invited to carefully read the FAQs. The Foundation reserves the right not to provide further responses to questions already addressed in the Call for Applications or in the FAQ.
FAQs about Our Scholarship Programs in Italy
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
What are the requirements to apply for a scholarship established in Italy by the Dompé Foundation?
All requirements are specified in Article 2.1 of the Call for Applications.
Is there a GPA requirement to apply?
Yes, you must have obtained a minimum GPA of 27/30 during your bachelor’s degree.
I am currently in the 2nd year of my program. Can I still apply for this scholarship?
Only students enrolled in the 1st year are eligible to apply.
I am an international student. Can I apply?
Absolutely! Applications are open to foreign students from EU and non-EU countries residing in Italy, Italian students living abroad, and Italian students whose families have income and assets abroad. However, you must submit the following documents:
a valid ISEEU certificate
the certification issued by the consular authority of the country where the income/assets were produced and/or held (by the student and/or their family)
For further details, please refer to Article 3.2 of the Call for Applications.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Which documents are required to apply?
You will need to provide the following documents:
a declaration in lieu of affidavit / declaration issued by the University certifying completion of the bachelor’s degree, the grades of individual exams, the grade and date of the final examination
Europass-format CV, dated and signed
a presentation letter
a valid ISEEU certificate for the previous year
a copy of a valid identity document
For further details, please refer to Article 3.2 of the Call for Applications.
Which tax year does the ISEEU documentation refer to?
The tax documents required for the preparation of the ISEEU refer to the year prior to the reference year of the ISEEU itself, in accordance with current regulations. For example, if I apply for a scholarship in 2025, the ISEEU must refer to 2024 and the tax documents must refer to 2023.
How should I upload the required documents in the application form?
Files must be uploaded in PDF format. Each file must be named with the type of document and the candidate’s last name, for example “CV Rossi” or “Passport Rossi”. Please note that files in other formats or without clear identification in the file name will not be accepted. Documents may be uploaded in either Italian or English. Applications with attachments that do not meet these criteria will be automatically rejected.
One of the required documents is a declaration in lieu of affidavit / declaration from the University certifying completion of the bachelor’s degree, exam grades, the grade and date of the final examination. How can I convert my grades if I completed my degree at a foreign University?
The conversion table varies from one university to another. Therefore, you must request it from the Professors or the Student Office of the University where you obtained your degree.
One of the required documents is also a presentation letter. How should it be written?
As specified in Article 3 of the Call for Applications, the letter must include information about your academic background, personality, strengths and weaknesses, hobbies, and interests. It must be written in Italian or English, using Times New Roman font, size 12, with 1.5 line spacing, and must not exceed two pages. The letter must include a header with your name, surname, and signature. It must be submitted as a PDF. Applications with letters that do not meet these criteria will be automatically rejected.
I am an international student and do not have a valid ISEEU. What can I do?
As a resident of Italy and holder of a tax code, you can obtain the ISEEU by going to the CAF (Tax Assistance Center) in your city.
If you cannot obtain it, you must attach the following documents to your application:
Certification issued by the consular authority of the country where the income/assets were produced and/or held (by the student and/or their family)
or
A declaration signed by the student stating the income earned in Italy, known as a "DICHIARAZIONE SOSTITUTIVA DI CERTIFICAZIONE" pursuant to Article 46 of Presidential Decree 28.12.2000 n. 445. Please note that providing false statements, creating or using false documents is punishable under the Penal Code and relevant laws. Submitting a document that is no longer truthful is equivalent to using a false document.
In specific cases, should further information be required, we recommend sending an e-mail to the Administrative Office of the Foundation (segreteria@fondazionedompe.org) with the following subject line: Request for clarification regarding economic status for the scholarship application.
SELECTION PROCESS
What is the timeline for the selection process?
Timelines depend on several factors, such as the number of applications received and the number of interviews to be conducted. Generally, if a candidate meets all requirements, the interview will be held within two months of the application deadline specified in the Call for Applications. For example, if the deadline is March 31st, the interview will take place by May 31st. Winners will be announced shortly after the end of the interview cycle.
Do you interview all applicants?
No, we only interview candidates who meet all the requirements specified in the Call for Applications. During the interviews, candidates’ motivation, personality, hobbies, and interests will also be assessed. The Dompé Foundation will inform candidates directly of the outcome of the selection process, even in the case of a negative result.
Are the interviews conducted in person or online?
Interviews are held online in Italian or English, depending on the candidate’s preference.
COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER FORMS OF SUPPORT
I have received a Dompé Foundation scholarship. Can I also apply for another scholarship?
As specified in Article 3.5 of the Call for Applications, recipients of scholarships established in Italy by the Dompé Foundation cannot simultaneously receive other similar grants from public or private entities. If this rule is violated, the Dompé Foundation scholarship will be revoked.
Before this scholarship, I applied for an EDISU/ADISU/ERGO grant. Can I also apply for this one?
Yes, you can apply for the Dompé Foundation scholarships even if you have already applied for (or received) an EDISU, ADISU, ERGO, or similar grant. However, if you are selected as a Dompé Foundation scholarship recipient, you will be required to give up the EDISU, ADISU, ERGO grant (or similar), returning any amounts already received. When accepting the Dompé Foundation scholarship, you will need to provide documentation proving you have given up the other grant.
Is the tutoring allowance incompatible with Dompé Foundation scholarships?
No, there is no incompatibility. You can receive the Dompé Foundation scholarship even if you are also receiving a tutoring allowance
Are Erasmus scholarships incompatible with Dompé Foundation scholarships?
No, there is no incompatibility. You can receive the Dompé Foundation scholarship even if you are already benefiting from an Erasmus grant.
DISBURSEMENT AND FINANCIAL ASPECTS
What is the payment schedule for the scholarship?
Timelines may vary depending on the accounting office, but generally follow this schedule:
Year 1
June – July: payment of 80% of the 1st installment
By December: payment of the remaining 20% of the 1st installment
Year 2
March – May: payment of 80% of the 2nd installment
By December: payment of the remaining 20% of the 2nd installment
Are there any restrictions on the scholarship funds?
No, there are no restrictions on the scholarship funds. Consequently, each recipient has full discretion over how to use them.
Are Dompé Foundation scholarships subject to INPS* contributions?
No, they are not. The scholarships awarded by the Dompé Foundation are not subject to INPS contributions because there is no employment relationship between the student and the Foundation that would create such an obligation. Since there is no work involved, no social security contributions are required.
* INPS contributions refer to social security contributions paid to the Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale (INPS), which is Italy’s main public pension and welfare institution.
Are Dompé Foundation scholarships subject to taxation?
Yes, but you don’t need to worry about this, as the Foundation itself will pay the amount subject to taxation. For this reason, the amount indicated in the Call for Applications is gross of taxes.
Do Dompé Foundation scholarships have to be included in the tax return?
Yes. Each student will receive the Certificazione Unica (CU) every year.
RENEWAL AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SCHOLARSHIP
What are the requirements to renew the scholarship?
To maintain the scholarship in the 2nd year, you must:
achieve and maintain a minimum GPA of 27/30 during the 1st year
be up to date with exams according to the study plan of the University you attend
By November, at the start of the 2nd year, the Administrative Office of the Dompé Foundation will check that the requirements for scholarship renewal have been met.
If I am awarded a Dompé Foundation scholarship and my financial status changes or my GPA falls below 27/30, what should I do?
The Dompé Foundation always requests an annual update from scholarship recipients regarding their academic progress and any changes in their economic status. During this update, any changes must be reported. If the student no longer meets the economic and/or GPA requirements, the scholarship already received for the 1st year does not need to be returned, but the scholarship will be revoked, and the 2nd installment related to the 2nd year will not be paid.
In the event of failure to report any updates on the academic progress and economic status, or false declarations, the scholarship will be revoked and any amount already disbursed must be returned.
Where can I find the substitute declaration for exams and grades in my master’s degree program to send to the Foundation in November for the 2nd year renewal?
These types of self-declarations are usually available for download from your personal page on the website of the University you attend.
CONFIRMATION AND CONTACTS
After submitting my online application, will I receive a confirmation e-mail?
No, once you complete and submit the online application, you will not receive any confirmation email. We therefore recommend saving the “Thank your application!” message that appears on screen after clicking “SUBMIT.”
Who can I contact if I have further questions?
For any clarifications, you can contact the Foundation’s Administrative Office at: segreteria@fondazionedompe.org.
You are kindly invited to carefully read the FAQs. The Foundation reserves the right not to provide further responses to questions already addressed in the Call for Applications or in the FAQ.