Forza Italia proposes merit-based income for Italian students

Senators from the Forza Italia party have introduced a bill titled ‘Provisions regarding merit income and incentives for excellence for meritorious students’ to combat the ‘brain drain’ of Italian talent.

The proposed legislation aims to provide monthly payments ranging from 500 to 1,000 euros to high-achieving university students. Eligibility for these funds would be determined by a ‘merit tier’ calculated through several factors, including weighted grade point averages, the timely acquisition of all required university credits, regularity of the study path without delays, and continuity between different degrees.

To qualify, students must be legally and stably resident in Italy for at least one year and enrolled in a bachelor’s, master’s, or single-cycle degree program. Once the initial payments are received, students would be required to participate in mandatory professional training and educational paths designed to enhance skills and facilitate entry into the workforce. This initiative is intended to complement existing scholarships that are currently based on economic status.