How Pantea Palahang, an Iranian Scholar, Secured a Master’s in International Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Pavia Through the Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship

I’m Pantea Palahang, and I’m originally from Tehran, the capital of Iran. I recently graduated from the Master’s program in International Business and Entrepreneurship at the University of Pavia. I came to Italy in 2023, and this was only possible thanks to the scholarship I received for my master’s studies, called Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT).

I earned my bachelor’s degree in Business Management at Shahid Beheshti University. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I decided to pursue a master’s degree abroad, and I eventually chose Italy. During my bachelor’s studies, the courses were fairly general. This was useful because it kept my options open and gave me an introduction to different areas of an organization, such as marketing and finance, while preparing me for a variety of roles. However, I wanted to gain more specialized knowledge, so I decided to pursue a master’s degree.

At that time, my main interests were entrepreneurship and how companies can expand internationally. Unfortunately, Iran isn’t an ideal place to study international business. Due to recent developments, very few foreign companies operate there, and I also wanted to pursue my master’s degree in English. Italy has some strong universities and is welcoming to international students, so I eventually chose the University of Pavia.

Invest Your Talent in Italy Details

During the two years of master’s studies, I received the Invest Your Talent in Italy (IYT) scholarship. It is an Italian government scholarship that supports students from specific countries who want to study a master’s degree or postgraduate course in Italy.

The website has a list of participating universities. If you apply to one of them and get accepted, you can then be considered for the scholarship. It covers three fields: Engineering and Advanced Technologies, Architecture and Design, and Economics and Management.

The scholarship is competitive, and the decision is based on your academic background. When you apply, you need an English certificate at B2 level. You also have to submit your transcripts, your CV, a motivational video of yourself, and a copy of your passport.

To keep the scholarship and be eligible to receive it in the second year, you need to take an Italian course and get a certificate, and also find an internship related to your field before a set deadline.

When I received it, the payment in the first year was 900 euros per month for 9 months, and it increased to 1,000 euros per month in the second year. The amounts may have changed since then, so please check the official website for the latest details:

https://investyourtalentapplication.esteri.it/SitoIYT/EN/invest-your-talent-in-italy

Educational Background

While living in my home country, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management at one of the best universities in Tehran, Iran, called Shahid Beheshti University. From the very beginning, I knew I wanted to take this field to a higher level, so I took it seriously and was always among the top students in my major. I graduated with a final grade of 17.64 out of 20 in their system, which is equal to a 3.6/4 GPA.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the University of Pavia?

How Did You Find Information About Invest Your Talent in Italy and University of Pavia?

I spent a lot of time researching universities in Italy in the year before I applied. I looked for highly ranked universities with a program that matched my interests and my bachelor’s degree. I was also searching for scholarships available for master’s students, and that is how I found the IYT website.

Since I already knew I wanted to apply for this scholarship, I applied to two universities from the IYT list: the University of Pavia and Ca’ Foscari University in Venice. I also applied to a few other universities, just in case I got rejected.

I think it’s a good strategy to apply to a variety of universities rather than relying on just one.

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

I knew that the scholarship deadline was earlier than the university deadlines and that it required an English certificate, so I started preparing for the IELTS Academic in the summer. I took the exam in January and got 7.5 overall.

To prepare, I used the Cambridge IELTS books, which contain tests from previous exams. At first, I practiced each section under timed conditions. In the final months, I completed a full exam each time, then checked my mistakes and wrote them down in a notebook.

I also watched Simon’s videos for writing. For speaking, I practiced for one hour every day with a friend who was also preparing for the IELTS. We asked each other the common speaking questions.

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

Preparing for the scholarship was not very different from preparing for the university applications, since their requirements overlap. In a way, the preparation started on the first day of my bachelor's degree. I studied hard to graduate with a good GPA, and I kept improving my English during those years, so the IELTS would not be too difficult for me.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Italian?

The University of Pavia offers a lot of courses, some in Italian and some in English. My master’s degree was taught entirely in English.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Italian?

In my opinion, English is enough at Italian universities if your courses are taught in it, but for the rest of your life, like daily activities, making friends, and feeling that you belong, you need at least a basic level of Italian.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think my GPA, the university where I earned my bachelor’s degree, and my IELTS score made me stand out.

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

If I could go back in time and apply again, I would not leave everything to the last moment. Whether it was a university or a scholarship, I would apply in the first days after the application opened, not in the last days.

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

First of all, don’t prepare only the minimum requirements. To stand out among other applicants, you need to be better than the others, not just meet the basic criteria. So try harder to increase your GPA and your scores in the IELTS, GMAT, or other tests, and make your CV impressive.

Secondly, there are a lot of scholarships and opportunities you might be eligible for without knowing they exist. So use the time you have and search as much as you can. Ask people who have already taken the path you want to take and find out how you can improve your CV and prepare yourself better for the future, and don’t underestimate yourself.