The University of Milano-Bicocca is accepting Session II applications for admission to its XLII-cycle PhD programmes for the 2026/2027 academic year. The available opportunities include scholarships financed by the university, departments, companies and external organisations. Applications must be completed by 22 July 2026 at 12:00 noon, Italian time.
Programme Snapshot
Programme: PhD Programmes – XLII Cycle
Category: Doctoral admission and scholarship opportunities
Host: University of Milano-Bicocca
Country: Italy
Location: Milan
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Programme Start: 1 November 2026
Application Deadline: 22 July 2026 at 12:00 noon, Italian time
Scholarship Amount: €16,243 gross per year
About the University of Milano-Bicocca PhD Programmes
The call regulates admission to PhD programmes administered by the University of Milano-Bicocca. The selection process is organised in separate sessions, and Session II covers positions made available through company, external-body and departmental funding after the first session.
Some scholarships that remained unassigned after Session I have also been included again. These may include university-funded awards, departmental scholarships, externally funded awards and positions reserved for foreign candidates residing abroad.
PhD Programmes Included in Session II
The Session II description sheets list opportunities across the following PhD programmes:
• Chemical, Geological and Environmental Sciences
• Computer Science
• Converging Technologies for Biomolecular Systems
• Education in the Contemporary Society
• Materials Science and Nanotechnology
• Nursing and Midwifery
• Neuroscience
• Physics and Astronomy
• Psychology, Linguistics and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Public Health Epidemiology, Statistics and Economics
• Strategic Innovation for Sustainable and Smart Ecosystems
• The New Public Administration: Data and Human Resources
• Translational and Molecular Medicine – DIMET
Applicants must consult the relevant programme description sheet because the available positions, research topics, scholarship sources, selection procedures and required project formats differ between programmes.
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Scholarships and Research Support
The standard PhD scholarship is worth €16,243 gross per year. It is renewed annually when the doctoral student passes the assessment required to continue to the following year and is paid in monthly instalments.
Confirmed scholarship-related support includes:
✓ Annual gross scholarship of €16,243
✓ Research budget equal to 10% of the scholarship amount
✓ A 50% scholarship increase during approved periods abroad
✓ Increased support abroad for up to 12 months
✓ Support for up to 18 months abroad for jointly supervised theses or associated PhD programmes
✓ Annual renewal subject to satisfactory progression
Scholarships linked to a particular project or topic can only be awarded to applicants who select the relevant option and are declared eligible by the selection board.
Positions Reserved for Candidates Residing Abroad
Certain programme description sheets include scholarships reserved for foreign candidates who reside outside Italy.
Candidates competing for these positions must upload an official residence certificate issued by a foreign local authority. The certificate must have been issued no more than six months before the application.
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Who Can Apply?
Applications are accepted without citizenship restrictions from candidates who hold an eligible second-cycle academic qualification.
Eligible qualifications include:
• An Italian specialist or master’s degree
• A degree obtained under the Italian system preceding Ministerial Decree 509/1999
• A second-level academic qualification issued by an AFAM institution
• A foreign qualification comparable in duration, academic level and subject area to the Italian qualification required for the selected programme
The relevant selection board evaluates the suitability of foreign qualifications.
Candidates who have not completed their qualifying degree may also apply. However, they must obtain it by 31 October 2026 and provide the required confirmation to the PhD School Sector by 2 November 2026.
Applicants already enrolled in the same PhD programme at the University of Milano-Bicocca cannot apply. Candidates who enrolled through Session I are also excluded from participating in Session II.
Required Application Documents
Candidates must complete the application online and provide their identity-document details. They must also upload the identity document and a digital passport-size photograph with a minimum resolution of 300 × 400 pixels.
The application documentation includes:
• A signed curriculum vitae et studiorum, preferably in Europass format
• A research project prepared according to the selected programme’s instructions
• Full publications or conference papers, where submitted for assessment
• Documentation concerning research or study collaborations, where applicable
• Documentation concerning periods of study or research abroad, where applicable
• Self-certification of completed examinations and grades for eligible candidates who have not yet graduated
• Additional programme-specific documents listed in the relevant description sheet
Files required in PDF format must not exceed 25 MB each.
Candidates with foreign qualifications must also provide the academic qualification and transcript documents applicable to their citizenship and residence status. Documents issued in languages other than Italian or English must be accompanied by the required translation.
Application Fee and Enrolment Contributions
A mandatory €10 application fee applies to every submitted application. Candidates applying to more than one PhD programme must pay the fee separately for each application.
The Session II payment deadline is 23 July 2026. The fee is non-refundable, and late payment results in exclusion from the selection process.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, admitted PhD students must pay €146 at enrolment. This consists of €16 in stamp duty and a €130 advance payment towards the regional right-to-study tax. Further contributions depend on the student’s ISEE position and scholarship status.
Selection Process
The exact selection method varies by PhD programme. Each programme description sheet specifies:
• How academic qualifications and publications are assessed
• The required research-project structure
• Whether reference letters are required
• The assessment stages and scoring system
• The language and format of examinations
• Examination and results-publication dates
• Research topics linked to individual positions or scholarships
Applicants should review both the general call and the description sheet for their selected programme before completing the application.
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How to Submit an Application
Applications must be submitted electronically through the University of Milano-Bicocca Online Registry. Paper applications are not accepted.
Applicants should:
• Read the general call and the description sheet for the selected programme
• Confirm that they meet the academic requirements
• Register on the university’s Online Registry or use existing credentials
• Log in and select “Segreteria / Ammissioni”
• Complete the online application form
• Upload the identity document, photograph and required PDF files
• Submit the application before final completion
• Pay the €10 application fee through PagoPA
Documents may be changed before the application is finalised. After final submission, the application cannot be modified, resubmitted or cancelled.
Key Dates
• Session II opened: 1 July 2026
• Application deadline: 22 July 2026 at 12:00 noon, Italian time
• Application-fee deadline: 23 July 2026
• Reference-letter deadline, where required: 23 July 2026
• Deadline to obtain a pending qualifying degree: 31 October 2026
• PhD programmes begin: 1 November 2026
• Deadline to submit confirmation of a newly obtained degree: 2 November 2026
Apply Here
Submit your application through the official University of Milano-Bicocca Online Registry below.
