How Yusuf Özkan, a Turkish Scholar, Secured a Partially Funded Master’s Through the Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship

Hello everyone, I am Yusuf Özkan from Turkey. After graduating in Electronics Engineering and working for 1.5 years in Turkey, I want to continue with an MSc to improve myself and see education and industry worldwide. Thus, I have applied to the MSc in Electronics Engineering at Politecnico di Milano in Italy.

Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarship offered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. This scholarship offers 10.800 Euros each year, and winners are exempt from paying enrolment fees and university contributions.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

I was also awarded a scholarship from DSU, which depends on your income in your home country. It also offers a tuition fee reduction and some cash depending on your income level, but since I was already awarded the Invest Your Talent scholarship, I am not allowed to get both.

Educational Background

I graduated with a BSc in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Ankara University with a 3.62 GPA out of 4.00. During my studies in Ankara, I chose the Electronics path and took lectures on electronics to go into the Electronics field.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Politecnico di Milano?

How Did You Find Information About the Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship and Politecnico di Milano?

I wanted to go to top universities worldwide, and I checked rankings on QS University Rankings and did some research on the internet to see what they offer as scholarships by checking institutions' websites and global forums.

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

Since the medium of instruction for my BSc degree was English, I didn’t have to take any English proficiency exam. However, Invest Your Talent in Italy requires IELTS or TOEFL. I applied with TOEFL, but I prepared for it by solving a prep test that has a similar structure to the real exam.

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

For the Invest Your Talent in Italy scholarship, you have to record a 1-minute video talking about your reasons for choosing Italy and what you want to do later. I did some research into what my university offers me while I am studying there, such as labs, networks, projects, and connections to industry. I provided reasons and results proportionally.

How Is Your Experience at Politecnico di Milano?

Lectures are quite hard and detailed, and the schedule is very busy. I have 22 hours of lectures even for just 3 courses, so at Politecnico di Milano, you have to study a lot.

How Do You Rate Politecnico di Milano Academically?

The university offers you many research projects to participate in, many of which are global research projects and have many top partner universities and companies.

How Does Politecnico di Milano Support International Students?

Politecnico di Milano is a very international university. It hosts many international events, seminars, and more.

Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Italian?

English

What Did You Pursue After the Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship?

After graduation, I want to work for a while to match my theoretical knowledge to the needs of industry. Then, I want to do a PhD.

Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Italian?

No

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

My GPA, work experience, and how I related what I have to what I expect in Italy and what I want to do later.

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

Nothing, because I got the scholarship.

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

You have to indicate and match your previous studies and work experience to what you want to study and do later very carefully in your cover letters or motivation videos.