Program Overview

International PhD College Admission

The International PhD College at the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna is now accepting applications for the academic year 2025/2026. This program is open to highly motivated and deserving Italian and international students who have been admitted to one of the PhD programs activated by the University of Bologna.

How to Apply

To apply, students must access the "Studenti Online" website using their credentials created during the PhD program application process. They must then select the "Collegio Superiore" course type, enroll in the selection named "Bando di concorso per l’ammissione all’International PhD College del Collegio Superiore dell’Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna di studenti di III ciclo iscritti al primo anno di un Corso di dottorato UniBo," and complete the procedure.

Applicants are required to attach the following documents in PDF format:

• Front and back photocopy of their ID card/Passport with a photo
• Curriculum Vitae (in Italian or English)
• Statement of purpose for participation in the activities of the I-PHD College
• A concise proposal for a possible interdisciplinary project aimed at public engagement or dissemination to society (maximum 2500 characters including spaces, in Italian or English)
• A summary or abstract of the Master's degree thesis (if any) or a research/internship project completed during the Master's degree
• A valid residence permit (if any) issued in Italy for international or temporary protection

Selection Criteria

Admission to the International PhD College is based on merit and high scientific quality of candidates. The selection process consists of a preselection based on the evaluation of the required qualifications and an interview.

• Preselection (up to 70 points)
  • Candidate's curriculum vitae (up to 25 points)
  • Candidate's statement of purposes (up to 15 points)
  • Concise proposal for a possible interdisciplinary project for scientific dissemination or societal engagement (up to 15 points)
  • Summary or abstract of the Master's degree thesis (if any) or a research/internship project undertaken during the Master's degree programme (up to 15 points)
• Interview (up to 30 points)

Timeline

The Admission Board will formulate two separate ranking lists based on the average scores obtained by the applicants in qualifications and the oral interview. One ranking will be for the humanities and social sciences discipline area, while the other will be for the scientific and technological discipline area. The top 5 eligible applicants from each ranking list will be declared winners.

The winners will receive an official admission email to the I-PHD College and must accept the position within 7 calendar days from the date of the email. Failure to accept within the specified timeframe will be considered a withdrawal of admission.

Short lists will be published on the Portale Bandi and on the Collegio Superiore website on December 15, 2025 (December 11 if no ties occur). This publication will be the only legally valid means of announcing the results of the selection process. Successful candidates must accept their place within 5 (five) calendar days from the date of publication. Failure to accept within the specified timeframe will be considered a waiver of admission.

Obligations of International PhD College Students

The admitted PhD students are required to:

• Actively participate in the interdisciplinary “coworking” activities and to all training, cultural activities and other scientific events organized by the International PhD College
• Attend dedicated interdisciplinary learning activities
• Spend the entire duration of their PhD programme at the University of Bologna
• Submit on a yearly basis a report summarizing the carried out scientific activities, with attached the Tutor evaluation to be submitted to the Academic Board for the evaluation of the accommodation benefit renewal
• Acknowledge the support of- and the affiliation to the International PhD College in the thesis and in all derived publications

Additional Information

For further details, please refer to the official call for applications for the academic year 2025/2026.