Most scholarships in Rome ask what you want to study. The Nostra Aetate Foundation Scholarship asks something different: what are you already doing for interfaith dialogue back home? It is a Vatican-run program that brings young people of non-Christian faiths (Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus and others) to Rome to study Christianity and the theology and practice of interreligious dialogue at pontifical institutions. The host is the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue of the Holy See, and the program is fully funded.
It is a small, niche opportunity. If you are a Pakistani student looking for a degree abroad, this is not it. If you are a young Muslim, Hindu or Sikh already involved in interfaith work and you want a serious, first-hand understanding of Christian belief, it is one of very few programs built for exactly that. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, and this guide walks through what the program involves and how to approach an application.
A Vatican program named after a council declaration
The scholarship was established in 1990 by what is now the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Its name comes from Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council declaration that reshaped the Catholic Church's relationship with other world religions. That background tells you a lot about the purpose. The program invites young followers of other faiths who are already active in dialogue in their own countries to spend a period of study in Rome, learning about Christianity, Church history and interreligious dialogue as a discipline.
Over more than three decades it has hosted students from many religious backgrounds, notably many Muslims and Buddhists. Some alumni have gone on to become recognized figures in interreligious dialogue within their own communities.
One point needs to be clear for Pakistani families who may worry about it: this is not a conversion program. It is explicitly designed so that scholars return home better equipped to take part in, and lead, interfaith dialogue. Nobody is expected to change their religion.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, Holy See (Nostra Aetate Foundation) |
| Funding | Fully funded (full sponsorship of the study period) |
| Level | Certificate or diploma |
| Fields | Theology, religious studies, interreligious dialogue |
| Where | Rome, Italy, at pontifical academic institutions (Vatican City / Italy) |
| Deadline | Varies by cycle; contact the Dicastery for the current call |
| Official site | Nostra Aetate Foundation page |
What a study period in Rome actually includes
The scholarship fully sponsors a period of study at pontifical academic institutions in Rome. Alongside the academic side, scholars have structured engagement with officials of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue on how the Church relates to other faiths.
The curriculum covers:
- the history of the ecumenical and interreligious movement
- the Second Vatican Council's teaching on other faiths
- how the popes have engaged with interreligious dialogue
- a formative visit to Assisi, the home of Franciscan spirituality and a global symbol of interfaith prayer
There is also a less tangible benefit: recognition and a network within global interreligious dialogue circles. For someone who plans to keep working in this space, that network can matter as much as the coursework.
Be realistic about what "fully funded" means here. The source describes full sponsorship of the study period and a fully hosted experience, but it does not publish a breakdown of stipend amounts, flights or insurance. Ask the Dicastery directly what is covered for your cycle, and do not assume details nobody has confirmed in writing. The program also does not lead to a long stay in Europe. Students remain in Rome only for the duration of the program and then return home.
Eligibility: faith, activity and intention
This scholarship screens on who you are and what you do far more than on grades. The listed requirements are:
- You follow a non-Christian religion, for example Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism or Sikhism.
- You are already engaged in interreligious dialogue activities in your home country.
- You are living outside Italy at the time of application, per the program design.
- You have a genuine interest in learning about Christianity for the sake of dialogue, not evangelism or conversion.
- You are willing to return home after the program and continue interfaith work.
For Pakistani applicants, the program is open on the basis of religion rather than nationality, so Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and other non-Christian applicants from Pakistan fit the stated criteria. Pakistani Christians should not assume they qualify, since the core requirement is following a non-Christian faith. If you are unsure where you stand, ask the Dicastery before preparing anything.
The second requirement is where most hopeful applicants fall short. Reading about comparative religion or holding sympathetic views is not the same as being engaged in dialogue. The program wants people who are already doing something: organizing interfaith events, working with a community body, taking part in dialogue forums, teaching, or writing in this area. If you have nothing concrete to point to yet, spend a year or two building that record before you apply.
The paperwork is light, but each piece carries weight
The document list is short:
- The application form, which you get from the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue
- A letter describing your involvement in interreligious dialogue
- Letters of reference, often including one from a religious or community leader
- Your passport and basic personal documentation
Because there are so few documents, the letter about your dialogue work is doing most of the work. Write it around specifics: which initiatives you were part of, what your role was, who you worked with across faith lines, and what you want to take back to your community. Avoid vague lines about peace and harmony that could have been written by anyone.
For references, choose someone who has actually seen your dialogue work. A local imam, pandit, granthi or community organizer who can describe what you did is more useful than a senior figure who barely knows you. A reference from someone of a different faith who has worked alongside you can also strengthen the picture, since it shows the dialogue is real.
For general preparation of passports, letters and certified copies, our documents checklist for international scholarships is a useful starting point.
Applying starts with an email, not a portal
There is no online application system to log into. The process runs through direct contact with the Dicastery:
- Email the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue at nafoundation@interrel.va and request the current call for applications and the downloadable form.
- Complete the application, giving your background and your involvement in interfaith dialogue.
- Submit the form with your supporting letters and references to the Dicastery.
- If selected, you are contacted directly about logistics, visas and the study period in Rome.
Keep your first email short and polite. Introduce yourself, state your faith and your current interfaith activity in two or three sentences, and ask for the current call and form. Then follow up patiently if you do not hear back. This is a niche, low-volume program, and replies may take time.
Why there is no date to circle on your calendar
The application deadline varies by cycle, and no fixed global deadline is published. The status of current dates is unconfirmed, so the only reliable way to know when a call is open is to ask the Dicastery. The general sequence looks like this:
- Contact the Dicastery for the current call (ongoing, with no fixed published deadline)
- Submit your application according to the current call
- Selection and notification, also per the current call
- The study period in Rome, announced after acceptance
The practical advice is to write early, well before you hope to travel. Waiting for an announcement to appear is a weak strategy for a program that does not always publish one widely. Confirm the exact deadline on the official Nostra Aetate Foundation page or by email before you plan anything else.
Where applicants go wrong
The most common mistake is treating this like a general study-in-Italy scholarship. It is not a route to a degree, a job or residence in Europe. The levels are certificate and diploma, and you return home when the program ends. Applying with a hidden plan to stay will show in your motivation and will likely sink your application.
The second mistake is framing motivation badly. Write about dialogue and mutual understanding. Do not write as though you are exploring a change of faith, and do not write as though your aim is to debate or refute Christianity. Both miss the point of the program.
The third is thin evidence. Saying you believe in interfaith harmony counts for very little. Dates, events, organizations and your specific role count for a lot. Keep records, photos, certificates or letters from the initiatives you have been part of.
Finally, think about visas early. Selected candidates are contacted about visas, but you will still need a valid passport and clean documentation ready. Our guide to common student visa rejection reasons for Pakistani students covers problems worth avoiding even on a short, sponsored stay.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pakistani Muslims apply for the Nostra Aetate Foundation Scholarship?
Yes, provided they meet the other criteria. The program is for followers of non-Christian religions, and Islam is named among them. You also need to be already engaged in interreligious dialogue in Pakistan and living outside Italy when you apply.
Will I be asked to convert to Christianity?
No. The program is explicitly about mutual understanding and dialogue, not conversion or evangelism. Scholars are expected to return home and continue interfaith work within their own communities.
Is there a fixed annual deadline?
No single global deadline is published. Contact the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue at nafoundation@interrel.va for the current call for applications.
Is this a degree program?
No. The eligible levels are certificate and diploma, with study at pontifical academic institutions in Rome. Students stay in Rome only for the duration of the program.
What exactly does the funding cover?
The scholarship is described as fully funded, with full sponsorship of the study period, structured engagement with Vatican officials and a visit to Assisi. A detailed cost breakdown is not published, so confirm specifics such as travel and living costs with the Dicastery.
Before you write that first email, check the official Nostra Aetate Foundation website for any current notice, and keep our Nostra Aetate Foundation Scholarship page handy for the summary.