Ever wanted to try Italian cuisine, free from the taint of foreign chefs? Ever wanted to experience Italian culture in-depth, but have no cash to spare for a 10-day tour?

Well, now you have your chance. The Italian Government Scholarship Programme for Malaysians recently opened for application. Last year, 28 scholarships were awarded for Malaysians to pursue short-term (3 months) and relatively long-term (up to 12 months) courses at selected Italian public universities and institutions.

The scholarship itself covers a partial tuition fee waiver, a monthly allowance of €600 (not very sure about this one), health insurance premiums, and a return air ticket. However, note that accomodation is not covered by the scholarship. You’ll have to take that into account when managing your allowance.

The deadline for applications is the 22nd of April, 2006. For more information (including the application form), please visit the Italian Embassy’s website.