Scholarships and funding for PhDs

For each PhD there are several positions with scholarships, the main ones being listed below:

• Open-topic positions: these do not tie the PhD research to a specific research topic and are awarded on the basis of the overall merit ranking. In any case, both the research project and the supervisor will be assigned to each PhD student at the first meeting of the Academic Board;
• Restricted-topic positions: these restrict the PhD research to a specific research topic indicated in the PhD programme overviews. Restricted-topic positions are not awarded on the basis of an overall merit ranking, but require a specific assessment by the Committee, in addition to the general one, and therefore allocation follows the order of the ranking of the PhD candidates who have been assessed as eligible for the topic pertaining to each scholarship;
• Reserved positions: these are intended for candidates with further requirements in addition to those of a scientific nature linked to the merit evaluation carried out by the Competition Committee (e.g. Advanced Apprenticeship). Reserved positions are not awarded on the basis of an overall merit ranking, but require a specific assessment by the Committee, in addition to the general one, and therefore allocation follows the order of the ranking of the PhD candidates in possession of specific requirements;
• Scholarships for international candidates: international candidates are eligible for all the scholarships offered. In some PhD programmes, there may be positions dedicated to international candidates; you can check these in the overview of the PhD programme.

This depends on the PhD programme. Scholarships have a gross amount payable ranging from a minimum of EUR 16,243 to a maximum of EUR 19,367 per year.

Scholarships funded by the University of Bologna

These are generally open-topic positions: they do not tie the PhD research to a specific research topic and are awarded on the basis of the overall merit ranking.

Scholarships funded by organisations or companies

Organisations and companies may fund one or more restricted-topic scholarships for PhD programmes activated by the University of Bologna, defining the research area of interest and participating in the selection of PhD candidates.

For more information, see the call for applications of your programme

Vinci scholarships

Each year, Université Franco Italienne publishes the Vinci Programme to support cooperation initiatives between Italian and French Universities. Three-year scholarships are provided to attend PhD programmes granting a double degree, based on an agreement between an Italian and a French university.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation awards scholarships to foreign citizens and Italian citizens residing abroad who register for PhD programme degrees at Italian Universities.

This programme envisages the assignment of extra places to participants in a University of Bologna call for applications for a PhD position who have passed the entrance tests, subject to the formal awarding of a MAECI scholarship.

The FutureData4EU - Training Future Big Data Experts for Europe programme is an international call for applications through which 53 candidates will be selected for as many research grants. Co-funded by the European Commission for a total of EUR 9 million, FutureData4EU is coordinated by the University of Bologna in cooperation with the Emilia-Romagna Region and all the other universities in the region. 

Find out more

First-rate Chinese students may be admitted to PhD programmes at the University of Bologna with funding from the China Scholarship Council.

Find out more

Every year, DAAD funds scholarships for PhD programmes that award a double degree, on the basis of an agreement between an Italian and a German university.

This programme envisages the assignment of extra places to candidates who have passed the entrance tests and have proved eligible (but have not been awarded a position) in the general merit ranking of one of the PhD programmes activated by the University of Bologna.

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie-Doctoral Networks Actions, as part of the Horizon Europe Programme, provide funding for the creation of PhD programmes carried out by international, interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral networks, aimed at creating training and research pathways of excellence.

In addition to the standard Doctoral Networks, there are two other types of doctoral schemes:

• Industrial Doctorates (DN-ID). The network is characterised by the involvement of the non-academic sector in the training of PhD students to foster entrepreneurship skills;
• Joint Doctorates (DN-JD). The network is committed to awarding a joint, double or multiple degree that is recognised in at least two countries, based in a Member State or associated with Horizon Europe.

PhD students involved in such a PhD programme are selected by the network in international contexts, once the funding is approved, and are awarded extra places on University of Bologna PhD programmes, without any requirement to participate in the call for applications published by the University.

PhDs include a period abroad at foreign universities and research organisations. As part of your studies and research path, you will come into contact with international companies and teams, acquire language skills, and enrich your competencies and knowledge.

For stays abroad lasting at least thirty continuous days, it is possible to apply for a scholarship increase. Moreover, from the first year of your programme, whatever financial support you receive, and also in the case of a position with no scholarship, you will have a budget at your disposal of at least 10% of the value of the scholarship corresponding to your PhD programme, to support research and training activities in Italy and abroad.

For more information and other funding opportunities, see the University intranet (enrolled PhD students only).

PhD Students may apply for an ER.GO scholarship if they do not receive other scholarships, research fellowships or forms of support for the same purposes as the ER.GO scholarship. The call for applications is published every year in July approximately. To apply, you must have a PhD-related ISEE, an ordinary ISEE or an ISEE for the right to higher education at university, referred to income and assets for the previous year.

For more information, see the ER.GO website