Program Overview

PhD in Architecture and Design Cultures

Overview

The PhD in Architecture and Design Cultures is a 3-year program offered by the University of Bologna. The program is taught in English and Italian and is coordinated by Prof. Matteo Cassani Simonetti.

Details

• Academic Year:
• Subject area: Engineering Studies
• Cycle: 41
• Coordinator: Prof. Matteo Cassani Simonetti
• Language: English, Italian
• Duration: 3 years
• Scholarship amount: Minimum € 1,195.48 net per month (the amount may vary if you are a member of Italian professional pension funds or if you have other employment income that leads to a reduction in the social security rate)

Research Topics

The program covers a range of research topics, including:

• Architecture
  • Architectural composition
  • Theory of architectural design
  • Autonomy of architecture
  • Space, form and structure in architecture
• Planning and Urban Design
  • Sustainability in planning and in urban design
  • Relations between planning and environment/landscape protection and promotion
  • Urban and rural regeneration: techniques, tools and experimentations
  • Theories of planning and urban design
• Construction Technologies and Building Performances
  • Sustainable building design
  • Energy efficient building
  • Architectural building renovation
  • Project construction management
  • Innovation Technologies
  • Indoor quality and building performances
  • Outdoor quality, climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies
  • Acoustics
• Advanced Design
  • Design driven product and service innovation
  • Advanced design cultures: beyond processes and thinking
  • Design thinking social innovation
  • Industry 4.0
  • Cultural and Creative Industries
  • Social Innovation
  • Visions of the futures in material forms: a dynamic relationship between past, present, and future
• Cultural Heritage
  • Protection, Restoration and Preservation
  • Technologies for conservation
  • Digital Heritage
  • Design for Cultural Heritage in the digital era
  • Humanities and Technology for Cultural Heritage
  • Cultural Heritage and sustainability
• Architectural Humanities
  • History of architecture
  • History of design
  • Aesthetics of design and architecture
  • Aesthetics of everyday life
  • Philosophy and architecture
  • Architecture and arts
  • Architecture and literature, film, tv
  • Urban and visual culture

Job Opportunities and Potential Areas of Employment

Job opportunities are directly related to research activities in the field of architecture with particular reference to the areas described in general terms: Architectural composition; Urban Design; Construction Technologies; Advanced Design; Restoration and Preservation; Humanities and Technology for Cultural Heritage; History of architecture; Aesthetics of design and architecture.

Admission Board

The Admission Board consists of the following members:

• Apollonio Fabrizio Ivan, Università di Bologna, Member
• Assumma Vanessa, Università di Bologna, Member
• Formia Elena Maria, Università di Bologna, Member
• Pretelli Marco, Università di Bologna, Member
• Rossl Stefania, Università di Bologna, Member
• Conticelli Elisa, Università di Bologna, Substitute
• Fallavollita Federico, Università di Bologna, Substitute
• Gasparotto Silvia, Università di Bologna, Substitute
• Signorelli Leila, Università di Bologna, Substitute
• Trentin Annalisa, Università di Bologna, Substitute

Operating Centre and Main Department

The operating centre is located in Bologna, and the main department is the Department of Architecture - DA.

Application Deadlines and Enrolment

• Application deadline for the second round: Jul 01, 2025, at 11:59 PM (Expired)
• Enrolment: From Jul 29, 2025, to Sep 01, 2025
• Doctoral programme start date: Nov 01, 2025
• Application deadline for the first round: Apr 03, 2025, at 11:59 PM (Expired)
• Enrolment: From May 19, 2025, to May 29, 2025
• Doctoral programme start date: Nov 01, 2025

Funding Approval

The Emilia-Romagna Regional Council approved the funding of research training projects for the 41st cycle ‘Alte competenze per la resilienza del territorio e delle comunità’ (Pr fse+ 2021/2027) with resolution no. 315 of 10/03/2025.