The University of Trento invites aspiring scholars to apply for its prestigious PhD program in “European Cultures: Environment, Contexts, Histories, Arts, Ideas for the 2025/2026 academic year.

The University of Trento is offering seven fully funded PhD scholarships for the 41st cycle of its doctoral program beginning November 1, 2025. The scholarships, financed by the University of Trento, cover a 3-year program aimed at fostering advanced research in the humanities.

This three-year program is for candidates with a Master’s degree or equivalent, including those who expect to graduate by May 31, 2025. Conducted primarily in Italian, it nurtures critical thinkers and researchers who aim to contribute to the academic understanding of European cultural and intellectual heritage.

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Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadline: May 29, 2025, 4:00 p.m. (CEST)
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Host Institution: University of Trento
• Eligible Countries: All nationalities
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: Graduates with a Master’s degree or equivalent
• Field: European Cultures, Philosophy, Cultural Heritage, History
• Study Level: PhD
• Degree Required: Master’s Degree or equivalent
• Number of Opportunities: 7 funded positions
• Duration: 3 years
• Program Language: Italian
• Host Country: Italy

Scholarship Benefits

• Seven full scholarships for chosen candidates with a total of €18,345 per year by the University of Trento
• Tuition fee exemption for scholarship holders
• Access to academic resources, research training, and international collaborations

Note: Additional scholarships may be available if further funding becomes available.

Research Topics

Curriculum 1: Philosophy

• Ethical, pedagogical, and political models
• Philosophy of nature, political theology, and dialogical philosophy
• Applied aesthetics, epistemology of natural sciences

Curriculum 2: Cultural Heritage

• Rituality, representation, and cultural heritage
• Territorial histories, conservation, devotional sites, and political imagery

Curriculum 3: History

• European identities, memory (oral and written)
• Community and conflict in medieval/modern times
• War and governance in European history

Research Areas Include:

• Anthropology
• Prehistory and Protohistory
• Roman History
• Classical Archaeology
• Christian, Late Antique, and Medieval Archaeology
• Methods of Archaeological Research
• History of Medieval Art
• History of Modern Art
• History of Contemporary Art
• Museology, Art, and Restoration Criticism
• Performing Arts
• Musicology and History of Music
• Hebrew
• Theoretical Philosophy
• Logic and Philosophy of Science
• Moral Philosophy
• History of Philosophy
• History of Medieval Philosophy
• Geography
• Medieval History
• Modern History
• Contemporary History
• History of Christianity and Churches
• Archival Science, Bibliography, and Librarianship
• Aesthetics
• Economic History
• Political Philosophy
• History of Political Institutions

Eligibility Criteria

Below are the admission requirements that all applicants must meet:

• The application is open to all nationalities, genders, and ages.
• Applicants must have one of the following:
  • Holders of an Italian Master’s Degree (Laurea Specialistica or Magistrale).
  • Holders of a second-level degree from an Italian AFAM Institute
  • Holders of a recognized foreign Master’s degree equivalent to an Italian Laurea Magistrale
• Foreign degrees are mandatory to access PhD programs in the country of origin and are deemed suitable by the committee.
• Applicants graduating by May 31, 2025, may apply conditionally (certificate due by June 6, 2025).
• Applicants must provide all relevant documents for assessment; the university may ask for additional documents.
• Those with a previous PhD can only apply if the subject and field differ from their former PhD.
• Past PhD scholarship holders in Italy are ineligible for another scholarship.

Required Documents

Prepare and submit the following documents:

Compulsory Attachments:

• Valid ID (passport for non-EU, ID card for EU citizens).
• Academic degree documents:
  • For Italian degrees: self-declaration of exams, grades, and credits.
  • For foreign degrees:
    • Degree certificate with title, date, and grade.
    • Transcripts of both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees with marks and a credit system.
    • Provisional enrollment certificate if the degree is pending (with transcript).
    • Translation in Italian or English if not in IT/EN/DE/FR/ES.
    • Optional supporting documents: original diploma, diploma supplement, declaration of value, or CIMEA comparability statement
• Final dissertation summary (in IT or EN, max 5,000 characters).
• CV (in IT or EN, preferably Europass format)
• Research proposal (in IT or EN), including:
  • Title aims (max 1,000 characters),
  • Originality (max 5,000),
  • Methodology and timing (max 3,000),
  • Bibliography (max 6,000),
  • Optional: planned activities and international collaborations (max 1,000 each).

Optional Attachments:

• List of publications (in PDF format).
• Language certificate (minimum CEFR B2) in EN, FR, DE, or ES (IT accepted if not mother tongue).
• Any other documents supporting research ability (awards, scholarships, and more).

Selection Process and Criteria

The selection process is as follows:

• Committee Appointment: The Rector forms an Admissions Committee of at least three experts in the relevant research field, including external experts, if needed.
• The committee will evaluate:
  • Your CV and academic qualifications
  • Your research proposal
  • An oral interview
• Topic-Specific Grants (Optional): If you want to apply for a topic-specific scholarship, you must request it before your document evaluation and pass a specific subject test.
• Evaluation Scoring Breakdown (Total: 100 points)
  • CV and qualifications: 20 points
  • Research proposal: 30 points
  • Oral exam: 50 points
  • You need at least 30 points from your CV + proposal to move to the oral exam.
  • The Oral Interview will be in Italian, and your research area knowledge level and B2 language certificate will be tested. Non-Italian speakers must demonstrate good Italian.
  • You must score at least 30 points to pass the oral exam.

How to Apply?

Follow these steps to complete your applications:

• Submit Your Application Online by May 29, 2025 – 4:00 p.m. (Italian time)

Apply here

• Choose how to Log In using one of the following:

• • SPID or CIE: For those with an Italian ID and Tax Code.
  • UniTrento account: If you already have a UniTrento email.
  • Guest account: This is for international applicants without an Italian ID. Create here.

• Pay the Application Fee of €30 (non-refundable) through the pagoPA system during the online application.
• Submit and confirm your application completely. Look for a confirmation email. If you don’t get one, your application isn’t complete.
• Conditional Admission: All applications are accepted conditionally, pending checks on your documents and eligibility.
• Document Verification: If your degree or information doesn’t meet the requirements, you can be excluded at any time, even after being admitted.
• Special Assistance: If you have a disability or learning difficulty, request support or extra time in your online form.
• Self-Certification: By applying, you’re self-declaring the accuracy of your personal info and academic background.

Further details and information regarding this scholarship are available on the official University of Trento website.

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