Summary The Università degli Studi di Trieste (University of Trieste) has announced its official call for admission to its 42nd cycle of Doctoral Programmes for the 2026/2027 academic year. The program offers fully-funded scholarship opportunities across a wide range of disciplines. Accepted candidates will engage in full-time, exclusive research, complete specialized training activities, and contribute to original scientific discoveries over a three-year period.
Designation Doctoral Candidate / PhD Student
Location University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Research Areas & Doctoral Programmes
The university offers doctoral positions in the following research areas:
| Doctoral Programme | Research Area / Field |
|---|---|
| Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence | Computer Science, AI, Data Science |
| Biodiversity, Evolution and Adaptation | Biology, Ecology, Environmental Sciences |
| Molecular Biomedicine | Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology |
| Chemistry | Chemical Sciences |
| Circular Economy | Economics, Sustainability, Environmental Studies |
| Philosophy, History and Political Studies | Humanities, Political Science |
| Physics | Physical Sciences |
| Civil-environmental Engineering and Architecture | Engineering, Architecture |
| Industrial and Information Engineering | Industrial Engineering, IT |
| Personalized Medicine and innovative therapies | Medicine, Healthcare, Pharmacology |
| Nanotechnology | Nanoscience, Materials Engineering |
| Neural and Cognitive Sciences | Neuroscience, Psychology, Cognitive Science |
| Earth Science, Fluid-dynamics and Mathematics | Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Fluid Dynamics |
| Advanced Interdisciplinary Legal Studies | Law, Legal Studies |
| Transcultural and Transmedia Studies | Literature, Linguistics, Interpreting, Translation |
Note: Specific details, available positions, and specialized requirements for each program can be found in the official call attachments.
Eligibility and Qualifications
To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Academic Background: Hold an Italian second-level qualification (Laurea Magistrale or Laurea Specialistica), a degree under the former Italian university system, or a comparable foreign academic qualification (Master’s level) that allows access to doctoral studies in the issuing country.
- Graduating Students: Candidates who have not yet obtained their degree may apply, provided they graduate by 31 October 2026.
- International Degrees: Qualifications from both EU and non-EU countries are accepted and will be assessed by the Board of Examiners for equivalence.
- Note: Candidates who already hold a PhD cannot be admitted to a program deemed equivalent to their previous doctorate.
Scholarship Details and Funding
- Standard Amount: The scholarship provides a standard annual gross amount of €16,243.00 (subject to national insurance deductions).
- Duration: The funding is granted for the entire 3-year (36 months) duration of the program, renewed annually based on satisfactory progress.
- Research Abroad: The scholarship amount can be increased by a maximum of 50% for uninterrupted research stays abroad lasting at least 30 days.
- Research Funds: Doctoral candidates are entitled to an additional budget equivalent to at least 10% of the standard scholarship to cover specific research expenses.
- Income Limits: Candidates may maintain outside employment provided their total annual income from work does not exceed €15,000 (after social security contributions).
Job Description (Doctoral Project Duties)
Successful candidates will be required to commit full-time to their doctoral studies. Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and executing an individual research project under the guidance of at least two supervisors.
- Attending mandatory courses, disciplinary training, and complementary skills training (earning at least 20 CFU/credits over three years).
- Demonstrating results of scientific relevance and originality.
- Writing and submitting a final doctoral thesis, which will be published in Open Access upon completion.
Selection and Admission Process
- The selection process consists of an assessment of qualifications and a public interview (which tests both subject knowledge and English proficiency).
- Interviews can be attended in person or remotely via videoconference (a specific request form must be submitted during application).
- Candidates are ranked based on their combined scores, and places/scholarships are awarded in ranking order.
How to Apply
The application process is strictly online and consists of three main steps:
- Registration: Register on the University of Trieste student portal to obtain login credentials.
- Application: Log into the online services, navigate to Admission test (restricted access and master degrees), and select your desired PhD Programme. Follow the guided procedure to upload all required documents (including international degree certificates, transcripts, and official translations). If required by the specific program, input contact details for your reference letter writers.
- Application Fee: Pay the non-refundable application fee of €30.00 via the PagoPA system before the deadline. (Note: Applicants from specific developing countries listed in Ministerial Decree no. 176/2026 are exempt from this fee).
Last Date for Apply (Deadlines)
The university is running two separate application sessions for the 2026/2027 academic year (programmes officially start on 1 November 2026):
- First Session Deadline: 25 May 2026 (before 13:00 / 1:00 PM)
- Second Session Deadline: 31 August 2026 (before 13:00 / 1:00 PM) (Note: Availability of positions in the second session is not guaranteed for all programmes).
