Who should I contact if I have any doubts?

The Foundation's Administrative office at the following email address: segreteria@fondazionedompe.org

Is the Dompé Foundation scholarship compatible with other scholarships?

Yes, it is compatible. As a result, you can receive the scholarship even if you are benefiting from other types of funding provided by public or private institutions, or if you are already receiving a wage. 

Are Rita Levi Montalcini scholarships designed for students enrolled in a Master’s, research fellowship or PhD at a University in the U.S. only?

Yes, the Rita Levi Montalcini Scholarships are specifically designed for students enrolled in a Master's Degree program (one-year or two-year), a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program or a Research Fellowship at a U.S. university, in the fields of neuroscience and/or neurobiology, which may possibly be conducted in partnership with U.S. research centers/agencies.

Do you usually interview all the cadidates?

No, we only interview the candidates that we consider suitable after the evaluation of all applications, which is the first screening phase.

Can I apply again even if I've been rejected?

Absolutely yes! You can submit your application even if you have been previously rejected. Just make sure to specify in your cover letter that you are applying for the second time.

Can I be eligible to receive the scholarship even if I have already completed the 1st year of my degree in Neuroscience/Neurobiology?

Absolutely. The duration of the scholarship is up to 2 years maximum for a student enrolled in a master's or research fellowship, up to 3 years maximum for a PhD student.

As a result, if you have completed the 1st year of a master's degree or research fellowship, you can only receive funding for the following year. If, on the other hand, you have completed the 1st year of your PhD program, you can receive funding for the 2nd and 3rd years.

Do you have any preference for research topics that applicants are studying?

The only requirement is that the field of research must be neuroscience and/or neurobiology.

How should I attach the required documentation in the Form?

Files must be uploaded in PDF format.
Each file should be named with the type of document and your last name, e.g., "CV dr. Smith" or "Passport dr. Smith." Please note that documents in different formats or without identification in the file name will not be accepted.

How should I fill out the CV?

The CV should be written in the European format, which can be downloaded online. You must provide all biographical data, including your residential address and email address. In addition, it is mandatory to include a photo. You are required to fill out the CV with all the information about your educational, university, work and research background.

How long should the cover letter be and what topics should I include?

The cover letter should be written
using Times New Roman font, size 12 and 1.5 line spacing, and should not exceed two pages in length. You should include the following topics in your presentation, not necessarily in this order: i. description of your personality, strengths, weaknesses, and skills; ii. personal interests and hobbies; iii. most significant work or internship experiences; iv. any awards or recognitions you have received in academia or otherwise. 
Be sure to include a header with your first and last name, the university where you are carrying out  the research project, and sign the letter at the end.
Letters without a signature and/or header will not be accepted.

What should the abstract of my research project look like?

The abstract must be titled and can be between 200 and 400 words in length (excluding spaces). Be sure to include a header with your first and last name and the university where you are carrying out the research project, and to sign the abstract at the end.
Abstracts without a signature and/or header will not be accepted.

Last statement income: what does this document consist of?

This document consists of the income tax return filed in the United States in 2023, i.e., the “US FORM 1040”.
Alternatively, the applicant may send a signed statement in which, under his/her own civil and criminal responsibility, he/she indicates his/her total income in 2023. It is not necessary to provide the paycheck as well. Please note that applications without the above accounting documents will not be processed.

What's the selection process timeline?

• January - February 2025: evaluation of
  applications (1st screening)

• March - May 2025: online interviews with suitable applicants (2nd screening)

• June 2025: communication of application outcome to all applicants
  

  The above timeline is purely indicative: it can change if the number of applications is considerably higher than expected.

In case of non-renewal of the scholarship, will I have to return the funding already received?

No, you will not be asked to return the amount received except in the cases specified in section 4.2. of the Call for Applications.

The following information apply to all the Call for Applications expiring on March 31st.

Who should I contact if I have any doubts?

The Foundation's Administrative office at the following email address: segreteria@fondazionedompe.org

What's the selection process timeline?

The timeline depends on various factors, such as the number of applicants and the interviews to be conducted. Generally, if a candidate meets all the requirements, the interview will take place within 2 months following the application's deadline (for example, if a deadline if March 31st, the interview will occur by the end of May).

The winners will be announced shortly after.

What is the disbursement timeline for the scholarship over the two years?

The timeline depends on the accounting office. Generally, the timeline is the following:

Year 1

• June - July: disbursement of 80% of the first installment

• By December: disbursement of the remaining 20% of the first installment

Year 2

• March - April: disbursement of 80% of the second installment

• By December: disbursement of the remaining 20% of the second installment

I received a Dompé Foundation scholarship in Italy. Can I apply also for another scholarship?

As stated in art. 3.5 in the Call for Applications for Italy, recipients of scholarships offered by the Dompé Foundation in Italy are not allowed to receive any other scholarship from either public or private organizations, resulting in the withdrawal of the Dompé Foundation scholarship. 

I've already applied for the EDISU/ADISU/ERGO scholarship. Can I still apply for this one?

If you've already received an EDISU or ADISU scholarship, you can still apply for the Dompé Foundation scholarship, but - if selected - you will have to forfeit the EDISU/ADISU scholarship.

Are the tutoring grants incompatible with the Dompé Foundation scholarships?

No, they're not incompatible.

Are the Erasmus grants incompatible with the Dompé Foundation scholarships?

No, they're not incompatible.

What are the requirements to apply for these scholarships?       

You can find all the information you need to know before applying by reading art. 2.1 of the Call for Applications.

What should the presentation letter of my application look like?

As stated in art. 3 of the Call for Applications, the presentation letter must include information regarding current and past universities, personality, strengths and weaknesses, hobbies and interests. The letter should be written using Times New Roman font, size 12 and 1.5 line spacing and should not exceed two pages in length. It must contain name, surname and signature.

How should I attach the required documentation in the form?

Files must be uploaded in PDF format. Each file should be named with the type of document and your last name, e.g., "CV Smith" or "Passport Smith." Please note that documents in different formats or without identification in the file name will not be accepted.

What documents do I need to send to apply?      

• Your CV in European format with handwritten data and signature

• A presentation letter

• A declaration issued by the university certifying the Bachelor's degree obtained

• A valid ISEEU

• A valid ID

For further information, we suggest you read carefully art. 3.2 of the Call for Applications.

To which year do the ISEEU fiscal documents refer?

The fiscal documents useful for the preparation of the ISEEU refer to the year preceding the reference year of the ISEEU itself.

For example, if I apply for a scholarship in 2025, the ISEE must refer to 2024 and the fiscal documents to 2023.

Can a foreign student apply?             

Absolutely yes! Foreign students coming from EU or non-EU countries, residing in Italy, Italian students residing abroad and Italian students with family members holding income and assets abroad can apply, but they need to provide the following documents:

• A valid ISEEU certification

• The certification issued by the consular authority of the country where the income/assets were generated and/or held (by the student and/or their family)

I'm a foreign student and I don't have a valid ISEEU. What documents do I need to send to apply?

As a resident of Italy and holder of a tax code, you have the possibility to obtain the ISEEU simply by going to the CAF (Centro di Assistenza Fiscale) in your city.

If you're not able to do so, you must provide the following documents:

• A declaration signed by the student stating the income earned in Italy. This document is referred to as a SELF-CERTIFICATION DECLARATION pursuant to Article 46 of Presidential Decree 28.12.2000 no. 445

• The certification issued by the consular authority of the country where the income/assets were generated and/or held (by the student and/or their family)

For further information, we suggest sending an e-mail to the Foundation's Administrative office at the following address: segreteria@fondazionedompe.org with the SUBJECT: clarification request regarding economic situation for the scholarship application.

Are the Dompé Foundation scholarships subject to INPS contributions?

The scholarships granted by Dompé Foundation are not subject to INPS contributions, as there is no employment relationship between the student and the Foundation that would give rise to such an obligation. Since no work performance is involved, no contribution payments can be made.

Are the Dompé Foundation scholarships subject to taxation?            

Yes, but you don't need to worry about anything, as the Foundation itself will take care of paying the taxable amount. For this reason, the amount stated in the Call for Applications is gross of taxes.

Do the Dompé Foundation scholarships need to be included in the income tax declaration?           

Yes.

I'm currently at the 2nd year of my degree course, can I still apply for this scholarship?            

Only students enrolled in the 1st year can apply for this scholarship.

Are there any GPA requirements to apply? 

In order to apply you must have achieved an average grade of at least 27/30 during your Bachelor's degree.

What are the requirements for scholarship's renewal?

In order to maintain your scholarship during the second year, you must:

• Achieve and mantain an average degree of at least 27/30 during your Master's degree

• Be on track with your Master's degree study plan by November - when the student has just started the second year - because the Foundation's Administrative office will check the student's record to see if the requirements for the scholarship's renewal have been met.

Where can I find the downloadable self-declaration with completed exams and grades of my Master's degree?

These self-declarations are usually available for download from the student's personal page on the website of the university you're attending.

If I receive a Dompé Foundation scholarship and my financial status changes or my GPA drops below 27/30, what should I do?

Dompé Foundation requires scholarship recipients to provide an annual update on their academic progress and financial status. Any variation must be reported during this process; failure to do so may result in the revocation of the scholarship and the repayment of the amount received.

If students promptly report any changes to their academic progress and/or financial status, they will not be required to return the disbursed funds. However, their scholarship will be revoked, and the second installment will not be issued.

I obtained my Bachelor's degree from a foreign university. How can I convert my grades to the Italian grading system?

You can ask your professors or your university’s student office for the conversion table they use, as it varies from one university to another.

Do you interview all the candidates?            

All the students who meet the requirements outlined in the Call for Applications will undergo a selection interview, during which their motivation, qualities, personality, strenghts and weaknesses, hobbies and interests will be taken into consideration. Dompé Foundation will directly inform the candidates of the outcome of their selection process.

Are the interviews going to be held in person or online?    

The interviews are going to be held online.