If you are planning to study in Italy with financial support, the NATO Defense College Fellowship is one of the best opportunities available for international students. This scholarship provides fully funded programs across a wide range of fields. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the NATO Defense College Fellowship, including its benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a detailed step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The NATO Defense College Fellowship 2026-2027 is a fully funded research scholarship for international students. This fellowship will provide a stipend to cover the costs of his/her stay in Rome and his/her travel expenses.
The NATO Defense College Fellowship is open for international students to undertake research courses in Italy. The NATO Defense College presently offers eight fellowships per year linked to NATO and its partners in the area of defense and security policy studies.
The aim is to encourage study and policy analysis in fields of specific concern to the Member States of NATO, as well as nations that are components of the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP), Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), and Other Military Cooperation (OMC)/Partners throughout the Globe (PAG). The college has granted a total of 109 scholarships in the years up to and including 2017 since the program was launched in 1993.
NATO Defense College’s task is to undertake academic studies and to promote the broader objectives of the Alliance.
The overarching objective is to promote research and policy analysis in areas of particular interest to NATO Member States, as well as to countries that are part of the Partnership for Peace (PfP), Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), and Other Military Cooperation (OMC) / Partners Across the Globe (PAG) frameworks.
The Resident Fellowship Programme has the following specific objectives:
- to contribute to the Research Directorate’s calendar of activities by working on topics of interest to the Alliance;
- to contribute to research on NATO’s agenda in NATO member and partner countries;
- to provide Fellows and Scholars with an opportunity to learn from the NATO community, and acquire a thorough understanding of the College and of working in an international environment;
- to expand understanding of NATO and the work of the NDC in NATO partner and member countries;
- to provide lectures to the Senior Course (SC) and the NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC) on a case-by-case basis;
- to contribute to NDC educational activities;
- to help foster the development of scholars on NATO-related issues.
Scholarship Summary
- Level of Study: Research
- Institution: NATO Defense College (NDC)
- Study Destination: Italy
- Opportunity Focus Areas:
– PhD Candidate Eisenhower Fellowship
– Early-Career Nuclear Strategists Workshop (ECNSW)
– Annual Future Leaders’ Conference (AFLC) - Program Period: From 3 to 5 months
- Number of Scholarships: Eight fellowships each year
NATO Defense College Fellowships Application Deadline
The application deadline for the NATO Defense College Fellowships is in May. (Applications for Fellowships are closed until 1 April 2026.)
Scholarship Coverage
NATO Defense College Fellowships provide the recipients with the below benefits:
- Each fellow will receive a stipend to cover the costs of his/her stay in Rome and his/her travel expenses.
Eligibility Criteria for NATO Defense College Fellowships
To be eligible for NATO Defense College Fellowships, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Required Languages:
- A very good level of English language proficiency is required.
- Knowledge of French and/or Italian would also be of benefit but is not essential.
- Eligible Countries: NATO Member States, as well as countries that are part of the Partnership for Peace (PfP), Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), and Other Military Cooperation (OMC)/Partners Across the Globe (PAG) frameworks.
- Candidates must have a good working knowledge of English or French and be computer literate.
- English Language Requirements: A very good level of English language proficiency is required. Knowledge of French and/or Italian would also be of benefit, but is not essential
How to Apply for NATO Defense College Research Fellowships?
Please follow the instructions to avail yourself of this scholarship.
- Fill out the online application.
- Send separately in a single PDF file a CV, ID (Passport or national ID), and a short biography to the following email address: fellowships@ndc.nato.int
Website
To learn more about NATO Defense College Fellowships, please visit the official website: