The PhD represents the third cycle of education within the Italian academic system and is designed to provide the skills necessary to conduct high-level research at universities, public institutions, or private organizations. It also serves as a pathway to careers in public administration and integration with highly innovative professional fields (Ministerial Decree 226/2021).
PhD training:
- aims to advance knowledge through training in both basic and applied research
- promotes interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and transdisciplinary training opportunities
- contributes to strengthening transnational and international research collaborations
- includes the development of transferable skills to facilitate their transfer and enhancement in scientific and professional contexts
A Master's degree or equivalent qualification obtained abroad, recognized as suitable.
For some doctoral programmes, additional admission requirements may be specified in the call for applications.
Admission to PhD programmes is granted through a dedicated competitive selection process.
Applicants of any age or nationality may apply to doctoral programmes provided they hold a Master’s degree, a Specialist degree, a degree awarded under pre-reform regulations (prior to Ministerial Decree 509/1999), or an equivalent foreign qualification.
The annual call for applications is issued by Rector’s Decree and published on this website, the European EURAXESS portal, and the Ministry’s website.
Selection is based on qualifications and examinations. Examinations consist of a written test and an oral interview. Candidates are also required to demonstrate proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Each PhD programme offers a set number of places, some with scholarships and others without.
The programme concludes with the preparation of a doctoral thesis carried out using scientific methodology. Upon successful completion of the final examination, which consists of the defence of the thesis, the title of Doctor of Philosophy ("Dott. Ric." or "Ph.D.") is conferred. The programme concludes with the preparation of a doctoral thesis carried out using scientific methodology. Upon successful completion of the final examination, which consists of the defence of the thesis, the title of Doctor of Philosophy ("Dott. Ric." or "Ph.D.") is conferred.
Upon request, the University issues the standard Diploma Supplement for all doctoral programmes.
Minimum 36 months.
PhD in Linguistic, Philological and Literary-Artistic Studies
The PhD program offers training in the areas of historical, theoretical, descriptive, and applied linguistics, language teaching methodology, and Italian linguistics, including the use of digital technologies. Other key areas include the study of Italy’s linguistic, textual, and literary tradition from its origins to the present day, as well as philology, encompassing investigations into paraliterary, documentary, and editorial forms. These study paths are part of a broader project to enhance the value of the Italian language worldwide, in conjunction with the study of its artistic and audiovisual expressions from the Middle Ages to the present.
Coordinator: Prof. Francesca Malagnini
PhD in "Frontier Sciences in Sustainability, Diplomacy and International Cooperation"
The doctoral programme offers a transdisciplinary educational and research pathway focusing on strategically important topics for contemporary society. Areas of study encompass research paths spanning the three dimensions of sustainability (economic, social, environmental), in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, with particular attention to diplomacy, international cooperation, and conditions of vulnerability.
Coordinator: Prof. Francesco Asdrubali