Cycle XLII · A.Y. 2026/2027
Italian PhD admissions are competitive public selections (concorso) run by each university. Many use the national PICA platform (pica.cineca.it); others use Esse3 or their own portals (PoliMi, PoliTo, Bologna, Sapienza Infostud, etc.). Cycle XLII = A.Y. 2026/2027.
51 universities curated · 273 English-friendly PhD courses listed · Updated 2026-09-08
From shortlist to visa
A Dottorato lasts usually 3 years (sometimes 4). You apply to a specific PhD course/school, not a free-form supervisor-only track (though supervisors matter). Most funded seats include a scholarship (borsa di dottorato).
Each year MUR cycle numbers advance (XLII = 2026/27). Read the university Call (bando) + programme annex: seats, scholarships, topics, documents, interview dates, and whether English is allowed.
PICA: register at pica.cineca.it (or use SPID) then open that university’s competition link. Esse3: university student portal. Own: PoliMi Online Services, Apply@PoliTo, Studenti Online (Bologna/Florence), Infostud/Delphi, etc. Never email applications unless the call explicitly allows it.
You need a second-cycle degree (Laurea Magistrale / MSc or equivalent EQF-7) by the date in the call (often 31 Oct of the start year; visa applicants may have earlier dates). Foreign degrees may need CIMEA comparability/verification or DOV later for enrolment/visa.
Typical pack: passport/ID, CV, degree + transcripts (IT/EN), abstract of thesis, research proposal (progetto di ricerca), motivation letter, publications if any, English certificate if required, reference letters if asked, PagoPA fee receipt (€20–€50 typical).
Match the PhD curriculum themes or a predefined topic (tema vincolato). State problem, methods, data, timeline, and fit with the school. Many boards score the project heavily before interview.
Upload PDFs only, respect size limits, print-sign-scan where required. You can save drafts on PICA. Deadlines are usually Italian time and strict.
Common pattern: evaluation of CV/qualifications ± project, then oral interview (often remote for candidates abroad). English is frequently assessed at interview even when the formal language is Italian.
Rankings list winners with/without scholarship. Accept and enrol on the portal by the deadline. Scholarship is roughly €16,200–€17,600 gross/year (MUR rules; exact amount in the call), with possible increase for approved research periods abroad.
After admission, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment if required, prepare CIMEA/DOV as instructed, then study visa via Embassy Islamabad or BLS Karachi (Sindh/Balochistan). PhD is a full-time research commitment.
Central login: pica.cineca.it. Each university still opens its own competition URL on that platform — or uses Esse3 / its own system instead.
Fully English-taught PhD ‘degrees’ are less common than English-friendly STEM/social-science programmes where coursework, research, thesis, and interviews can run in English. Always read the programme sheet language line.
National baseline scholarship is set by MUR decree (often cited around €16,243–€17,600 gross/year depending on year/call). Budget for living costs until the first payment; some unis pay after enrolment/arrival.
Non-EU students usually need Universitaly pre-enrolment and a study visa after winning a seat. Confirm with the PhD office — procedures differ slightly from bachelor/master tracks.
Per university
Calls change every cycle. Programme lists below were curated from official university/PICA pages for XLII (2026/27). Always re-check the live bando before you apply.
Official English page lists one PhD delivered in English: Law and Social Change: the challenges of transnational regulation. Broader PhD course units in English also exist. Documents for foreign degrees may be submitted in Italian or English.
Deadlines: Closed 14 July 2026, 14:00 Italian time
English informational call available. Many programmes publish English catalogue pages; Doctoral School courses for Chemical Processes are completely taught in English. Interviews/foreign-language tests vary by programme page. Thesis/docs often accepted in English.
Deadlines: Closed 17 June 2026, 14:00 CET
Official English courtesy translation of the call and Annex A published on the bandi page. Research-project templates provided per course; English use for interview/docs depends on annex (not all programmes are fully English-taught).
Deadlines: Closed 31 August 2026, 12:00 Italian time (rankings expected by ~12 Oct 2026)
English summary of the call and EN Delphi application UI available. Several programmes have English titles (e.g. Computer Science, Control and Geoinformation; Data Science; Materials for Sustainable Development). Linguistic competence requirements are stated per course page.
Deadlines: Main call closed 9 June 2026, 12:00 (applications from 8 May 2026); limited integrations to 22 June 2026 for specified courses; €35 fee by same-day 23:59
English PhD opportunities hub. Admission exams assess aptitude and knowledge of at least one foreign language; thesis may be in a foreign language. Engineering for Energy and Environment uses an English programme title. Oral exams via videoconference possible for residents abroad.
Deadlines: Closed 18 August 2026, 14:00
Full English call PDF published alongside Italian. CV, self-declarations, and research proposal templates available in English. Interviews/selection notices posted per doctoral course code.
Deadlines: Closed: PICA window 16 June 2026 15:00 – 16 July 2026 15:00
International applicants have a dedicated vademecum on the PhD hub. Full English-taught PhD list not prominently published as a separate catalogue; many research interviews can be English-friendly—verify each course scheda. Brochure 2026 linked from hub.
Deadlines: PICA open from 10 June 2026; closed 9 July 2026, 12:00 CET
At least one programme uses a bilingual title (Agricultural, forest and food sciences). No verified fully English-taught PhD catalogue found. International non-EU visa applicants referred to Universitaly rules.
Deadlines: Unknown for XLII — re-check Unibas dottorati hub / Albo; historical calls annual via Euraxess/MIUR
Bilingual notice and 'How to apply online – Guidelines for PICA' in English. Research project and reference-letter templates provided. Not all programmes are fully English-taught; check XLII course schede.
Deadlines: Open/closing 7 Aug 2026 18:00 – 28 Sep 2026 23:59 local time
No separate verified English-taught PhD catalogue found on the transparency notice. International applicants should check course annexes for interview language; English documentation commonly accepted in Italian PhD calls.
Deadlines: Closing 21 September 2026, 12:00 Italian time
Bilingual PICA calls: ordinary track and separate track reserved for foreign degrees (dottorato42-stra). Call/application pages in IT/EN. Fully English-taught programmes not separately verified—check course sheets annexed to the call.
Deadlines: Closed 18 June 2026 14:00 – 17 July 2026 14:00
Several 2026/27 programmes have English titles on the official dottorati page (e.g. Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science; Public Health and Clinical Research; Economics, Management and Decision Making). Delivery language still confirm on each course page; contact dottorati@unict.it.
Deadlines: Not clearly extracted from hub snapshot — check Unict bandi/Albo for XLII application dates
Official English call PDF. CV, research project, and reference letters may be in English. Oral interview includes English proficiency assessment and may be conducted entirely in English on request.
Deadlines: Closing 8 September 2026, 13:00 Italian time
English university portal exists. Fully English-taught PhD programmes not verified from official pages in this pass.
Deadlines: Unknown from verified pages at research time — monitor Univaq bandi and pica.cineca.it/univaq/
Esse3 available in Italian or English. Several programmes have English titles (Economics, Management and Statistics; Sustainability Sciences; Translational Molecular Medicine and Surgery). Oral exam verifies language required in annexes 1–15; remote interviews via Teams possible. Not all programmes are fully English-taught (e.g. Humanities written test in Italian).
Deadlines: Call references application deadline aligned with published bando (regional funding note cites mid-July 2026 context); confirm exact clock time on Unime bandi page / PDF
International PhD courses page lists programmes in English. Documents must be translated if not in English. Good knowledge of a foreign language (EN/FR/ES/DE) required; some programmes require English oral. Thesis in Italian or English (or other language with board approval) with English summary.
Deadlines: Closed 21 July 2026, 12:00 Italian time
PICA call title in Italian; no verified fully English-taught PhD catalogue found. Confirm interview language in course annexes.
Deadlines: Closed 10 June 2026 00:01 – 31 July 2026 23:59 (extended seats via DR 541/2026)
Call page bilingual for deadlines/interview window. Schede corsi 1–33 attached. Fully English-taught list not separately verified; many STEM/topic codes suggest English-capable research—check each scheda.
Deadlines: Closed 12 August 2026, 14:59 Italian time (published 13 July 2026); orals ~7 Sep–12 Oct 2026
Hub publishes bilingual PhD Call labels. National industrial PhD title in English: Regulation, Management and law of Public Sector Organizations. Most home programmes not verified as fully English-taught.
Deadlines: Main 12-course call closed 5 Aug 2026 23:59; national industrial PhD call closed 6 Aug 2026 23:59
Several XLII courses use English titles (e.g. Data Science, Accounting & Management; Educational and Social Research). Confirm teaching/interview language on each scheda. ESSE3 student area used for university services.
Deadlines: Applications open from 6 July 2026; closed 6 August 2026, 15:00
English university portal exists. No verified fully English-taught PhD catalogue found; STEM chemistry programme may allow English research—confirm in bando.
Deadlines: Chemical Sciences XLII call closing 8 September 2026, 13:00 (other Uniss XLII courses: verify central bandi)
English Research/PhD Courses page exists for international students. Fully English-taught programme list not verified from the short EN page snapshot; check Italian bandi/PICA annexes.
Deadlines: Closed 27 April 2026 11:00 – 27 May 2026 11:00 (early among southern calls)
English pages and guides available; interviews for some courses allow remote participation for residents abroad. Language of instruction varies by course/curriculum—check Annex A.
Deadlines: July–mid August (main XLII call); interviews September
Application form mandatory in English; international doctoral school; programmes run with English as working language for international candidates.
Deadlines: Late June–late July (1st session XLII)
English call and Annexes published; interview may be in a foreign language specified per programme. Several programmes branded International Doctorate (e.g. Atomic and Molecular Photonics, Structural Biology, Civil and Environmental Engineering).
Deadlines: May–mid June (main); early August (Pegaso regional scholarships)
English call and tables published; applications in Italian or English; foreign-language knowledge tested (often English among options). Digital Humanities topic explicitly bilingual.
Deadlines: Mid May–mid June
Full English Call + Annex 1 published. Many courses allow interview in English; International Doctoral Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering is explicitly international. English research project required for some engineering curricula.
Deadlines: July–mid August
English calls and programme sheets published. Several interviews entirely in English (e.g. Clinical and Translational Sciences). High Performance Scientific Computing and national AI doctorate are strongly international/English.
Deadlines: Early June (Call A) and early–mid August (Call B)
English Annexes published. Several programmes named fully in English (BiBiM 2.0, Economics, Experimental Physics, Life Sciences, Information Engineering and Science). Pegaso applicants need English ≥B2 and age ≤35.
Deadlines: June–late July (two notices)
Certified English ≥B2 required at enrolment (or by stated later deadline, e.g. 31 Mar 2027 for summer call programmes). Many programmes taught mainly in English (Economics, Management, Computer Science, Climate Change, Polar Sciences, Environmental Sciences).
Deadlines: Spring call earlier; summer additional call July–early September
Most STEM PhD programmes officially English-only. Education and Social Sciences is trilingual IT/EN/DE. Strong international applicant support.
Deadlines: March–April (1st call); July–late August (2nd call)
PhD School requires at least one training course entirely in English; many programmes (e.g. Information Technology) teach courses in English. Application and research materials commonly in English.
Deadlines: Multiple sessions across the year (spring, September, January, April)
English B2 certificate mandatory among listed certificates (or exemption cases). Programmes operate internationally; documentation accepted in English.
Deadlines: April; mid-October–mid-November; mid-January–mid-February
Many programme titles in English; ENG guidelines, CV and research-project templates published. Strong English-facing STEM and management offers.
Deadlines: May–mid June
Documents must be Italian or English. Many programmes bilingual English/Italian (e.g. Mathematics). Programme Tables specify language of exams.
Deadlines: Late March (1st round); mid June (2nd round)
English operative instructions for Esse3 published. Programme language mix Italian/English—verify each course sheet in the decree annex.
Deadlines: June–late July
Several programmes titled fully in English. English call PDF available. FAQs: proof of English NOT required. Some programmes force in-person oral exams only.
Deadlines: June–mid July
English pages for calls; International Doctorate in Architecture and Urban Planning highlighted. Interview language varies by programme.
Deadlines: June
English hub and instructions PDF. Security, Risk and Vulnerability and other STEM programmes commonly English-friendly; verify Annex A for each course language.
Deadlines: June–early July
English call page. Programmes such as Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Physics and Astrophysics listed with EN ranking notices.
Deadlines: June–early July
Multiple programmes entirely in English (e.g. Multiscale Integrative Biology). English B2 certificate required by end of first year (exemptions for prior English-taught Master's).
Deadlines: June–mid July
English Doctoral School pages and Session II ENG decree. Programmes such as Marine Sciences, Technology and Management (MTM) have EN communications. Language of each programme in description sheets.
Deadlines: March–April; early–late July (Session II)
Many programmes titled in English (ICT, Physics and Nano Sciences, Agri-Food, Molecular and Regenerative Medicine, etc.). English call page available.
Deadlines: Late May–end of June
Extensive EN course sheets (many labelled -eng). Several curricula fully English (Economics and Management curricula, Animal and Food Science, Space sciences, Civil Engineering, Human Rights joint programme).
Deadlines: April–May (main); August (summer additional)
English call text and Annex A. Many course titles bilingual; documents may be in English; research project can be in English unless course form requires otherwise.
Deadlines: Early–late July
English calls for main and bis rounds. Degree certificates accepted in Italian or English.
Deadlines: June (main); additional summer second-part call
Many doctoral programmes officially English (Information Engineering and Computer Science; International Studies; Economics & Finance with unibz; Industrial Innovation).
Deadlines: April–June (most programmes); some August extensions
English materials available for some programmes; selection language per Allegato. Strong STEM tradition with international candidates.
Deadlines: May; late August
Bilingual call page and PICA form. Programme sheets (Annex 1) specify language; many STEM/SSH courses accept English interviews/docs.
Deadlines: May–early June
English programme pages and annex tables. Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and several engineering/science programmes are English-facing.
Deadlines: May–early June; late August–late September
Several programmes require English oral exams (Computer Science; Economics and Finance; Nanosciences). English language skills required across many programmes even when Italian oral allowed.
Deadlines: May–early June
