How Joylene Danthi, an Indian Scholar, Secured a Fully Funded Master’s in Mechanical Engineering Through the Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship

Hi, I’m Joylene Danthi from India. My journey with engineering started with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. After my bachelor’s, I worked for Honeywell Aerospace as a Mechanical Design Engineer for a few years before starting my master’s in mechanical engineering with a focus on data science and AI.

Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship Details

I am a recipient of the Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarship to study my master’s in mechanical engineering at Politecnico di Milano. The scholarship is offered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and it covers my university tuition fees along with a monthly stipend. There is a requirement of 30 ECTS and a mandatory 480-hour internship at an Italian company for scholarship renewal in the 2^nd year of study.

Educational Background

I pursued my bachelor’s in mechanical engineering at Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India and graduated with a GPA of 8.98/10. During my bachelor’s, I was very mindful of the courses I chose so that they aligned with my interests. In summer breaks, I tried my best to gain relevant skills like CAD modelling and coding. I believe this laid a good foundation for my engineering journey.

I was able to get an internship at Honeywell Aerospace for my bachelor's thesis, which then turned into a full-time job, and 4+ years passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, I worked on aircraft icing, aerodynamic & structural analysis, and mechanical assessment/design of turbine components for jet engines.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Politecnico di Milano?

I spent about a year researching potential universities, preparing specific documents, and finishing the standardized tests that I wanted to take.

During my research, I talked to a lot of people through LinkedIn. This step was very helpful in shortlisting universities and setting realistic expectations for whatever I chose.

I had one main draft of my motivational letter ready very early on so that I could get it reviewed a lot. I kept going back to the main draft to make changes as required since different universities have different requirements. This was a suggestion from some people I talked to, and it really worked like a charm!

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship?

For Invest Your Talent in Italy, I already had almost all my documents ready.

Since this scholarship application required a 1-minute-long video, I took time to talk to some past recipients about it. In my video, I didn’t just speak of my achievements but also about why winning the scholarship was important for me.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the GRE and IELTS. For GRE, I used GregMat and prepared for about 3 months. For IELTS, I used some YouTube channels for a few weeks.

How Does Politecnico di Milano Support International Students?

PoliMi offers a free Italian language course for international students.

It also has many good student associations that organize affordable events and trips. These events offer a nice way to unwind from academic stress and gain new experiences.

How is Your Experience at Politecnico di Milano?

My experience so far has been challenging in the best way. PoliMi sets high standards for its engineers, ensuring that we develop a strong understanding of the subjects we study. Most courses assess us through a combination of written exams, oral exams, and projects tackling real-world engineering or research problems. This makes the learning experience both rigorous and rewarding. Beyond academics, there are plenty of opportunities to learn, explore new interests, and have fun!

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Italian?

My master’s program is taught in English.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Italian?

Academically, it won’t be a problem for an English-taught master’s program. But learning Italian would improve the quality of everyday interactions outside the university.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe that my bachelor’s curriculum and my work experience in the video helped my application stand out.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

I wouldn’t want to do anything differently. Looking back, everything in the process worked out as it should!

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I would strongly suggest talking to people who received the scholarship in the past.

It would also be very helpful to start thinking about how to make your application stand out. As there are usually hundreds of applications, the work you have done matters a lot, and so does your way of presenting it.