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How to apply for a PhD programme

PhD Programmes attendance at the University of Bologna is conditional upon passing an examination. The provisions governing the selection procedure are laid down in the Call for applications and its attachments.

Who can apply

  • a graduate (second-cycle degree or single-cycle degree programme) of the University of Bologna or of another Italian or foreign university.
  • an undergraduate (second-cycle degree or single-cycle degree programme) of the University of Bologna or of another Italian or foreign university and will graduate by 31 October 2023.

Call for Applications for the A.Y. 2023/2024 (39th cycle)

For the A.Y. 2023/2024 two Calls for Applications for the admission in the PhD programmes will be published.

  • The first Call for Applications is now open. Applications can be submitted up to June 20th, 2023 at 11.59 pm. Read the Call [.pdf 774 KB].
  • A second Call for Applications shall be published in mid-July 2023. Applications' submissions will be possible up to August 22nd, 2023. The second Call shall be limited to the PhD programmes for which further PhD positions will be available.

Overall, between 800 and 1,000 PhD positions covered by scholarship are foreseen.

Select your PhD programme

  1. Check the list of the available PhD programmes and choose which one(s) is a good fit for you
  2. Carefully read the Call for applications and the specific PhD programme table
  3. Check the list of the documents to attach to your application. You can find it in the relevant PhD programme table

Before applying

The application must be submitted using the Studenti Online website only. If you are using it for the first time, you will be required to register submitting your personal data.

If you are registered in Studenti Online, you can use the credentials you are already in possession of. If the credentials have not been used for a long time, an account recovery procedure is available on the University website.

Keep in mind that who has participated even once to a selection procedure or has been enrolled in an academic programme at the University of Bologna, is already in possession of the credentials name.surname@studio.unibo.it. A new registration with the same anagraphic data will not be possible. In this case, the recovery procedure of the previous credentials is required. It is therefore advisable to start your application process well in advance of the deadline.

Submit the application

  • While the call for applications is open, log in Studenti Online
  • Select “Admission application”, then “PhD programme” and ”Next”
  • Select the PhD programme you intend to apply for
  • Fill in the online application form and upload the documents
  • Remember to pay the €5 admission fee, before the deadline, using the PagoPA system only (check the Pago PA system user manual [.pdf 314 KB]).
  • Click on ”Submit”

Applications that have been filled in but not submitted by the deadline of the call will be rejected.

Other opportunities for PhD candidates

For the a.y. 2023/24 a new Call for Application for the admission in the International PhD College will be published. The Call will be addressed to particularly motivated and deserving students successfully admitted to a PhD programme among those of the 39th cycle offered by the University of Bologna.

The International PhD College (I-PHD) is a community of Italian and international PhD students from different study areas and represents the third cycle degree programme of the Collegio Superiore – University of Bologna. PhD students joining the International PhD College may be assigned a free accomodation and must integrate the research activity required by their PhD programmes with interdisciplinary and international training and “coworking” activities on crosscutting themes.

For further information, please, refer to .

For international applicants

Entry visa and residence permit for international PhD candidates

Read the information on entry visa and residence permit for international PhD candidates

Extra-quota positions

If you’ve been awarded a scholarship funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation MAECI or by other Institutions in your Country of origin, and you’ve successfully passed the selection procedure as an eligible applicant, you shall be entitled to an extra-quota position. In order to obtain this possibility, please, submit an official document attesting your scholarship awarding.