PhD programmes confer the highest level of academic degrees. The doctoral degree is awarded after at least 3 years of courses’ attendance and the drafting of a PhD thesis. At the end of the programme, the PhD student will have to defend his/her dissertation in front of an examination committee.
In order to be admitted to a PhD programme, where no age or citizenship limits are foreseen, candidates must hold:
- an Italian university degree (vecchio ordinamento - 4 years);
- an Italian university degree (laurea specialistica/magistrale - 3+2 years);
- an academic degree awarded by a foreign institution/University, validated as equivalent to an Italian degree by the relevant academic authorities.
To be accepted in a doctoral programme, candidates have to participate in a call for applications based on examination and/or qualifications’ evaluation.
Applications must be submitted online according to yearly announcements (see the box on the right). Details about PhD programmes, number of positions and scholarships, deadlines for applications, examination and enrolment procedures, etc. are specified in each announcement.
Please note that at least 50% of positions have financial support and that extra-quota positions can be assigned to foreign eligible candidates:
a) holding a scholarship from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or from their own Country institutions;
b) from Countries having a specific inter-governmental agreement with Italy and a relevant agreement with Università di Bologna.