PhD Scholarships at University of Trieste— 42nd Cycle, Academic Year 2026/2027
- Omran Aburayya
- 9 hours ago
- 5 min read
If you are a Master's degree holder looking to launch a fully funded research career in Europe, the University of Trieste in Italy has officially opened applications for its 42nd cycle of Doctoral Programmes for the 2026/2027 academic year — spanning disciplines from Artificial Intelligence and Nanotechnology to Philosophy and Molecular Biomedicine, with funded positions open to international candidates worldwide.
🎓 Scholarship at a Glance
Location: Trieste, Italy
Host Institution: Università degli Studi di Trieste
Study Level: PhD (Doctoral)
Target Group: Master's degree holders, including international graduates from EU and non-EU countries
Fields of Study: Technology and Science, Life and Health Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities
Value: Annual gross stipend of €16,243 — increasable by up to 50% for research conducted abroad
Award Duration: 3 years (36 months), renewed annually based on satisfactory progress
First Session Deadline: 25 May 2026 at 1:00 PM (Italian time)
Second Session Deadline: 31 August 2026 at 1:00 PM (Italian time — subject to position availability)
Programme Start Date: 1 November 2026
Eligible Nationalities: All nationalities (EU and non-EU)
📚 Scholarship Overview
The Università degli Studi di Trieste has announced its official call for admission to its 42nd cycle of Doctoral Programmes for the 2026/2027 academic year, offering fully funded scholarship opportunities across a wide range of disciplines. Accepted candidates will engage in full-time, exclusive research, complete specialised training activities, and contribute to original scientific discoveries over a three-year period.
📘 Available PhD Programmes
The 42nd cycle covers three broad clusters:
Technology and Science
Applied Data Science and Artificial Intelligence
Chemistry
Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture
Earth Science, Fluid-Dynamics and Mathematics: Interactions and Methods
Industrial and Information Engineering
Nanotechnology
Physics
Life and Health Sciences
Biodiversity, Evolution and Adaptation
Molecular Biomedicine
Neural and Cognitive Sciences
Personalized Medicine and Innovative Therapies
Social Sciences and Humanities
Advanced Interdisciplinary Legal Studies
Circular Economy
Philosophy, History and Political Studies
Transcultural and Transmedia Studies: Literature, Linguistics, Interpreting and Translation
Each programme has its own specific call attachment outlining available positions, specialised requirements, and selection schedules. Applicants are strongly advised to review the attachment for their chosen programme on the university's official notice board before applying.
🧩 Structure & Training
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 — and demonstrating results of scientific relevance and originality. Scholars must also write and submit a final doctoral thesis, which will be published in Open Access upon completion.
A portion of positions are funded through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) under the Friuli Venezia Giulia Operational Programme 2021–2027. ESF+ funding specifically targets skills development, digital competencies, and labour market integration, while also strengthening connections with the regional production system and research institutions through cooperation with companies or technology transfer of research results.
🎁 Scholarship Benefits
Annual gross stipend of €16,243.00, subject to national insurance deductions, paid for the full 3-year duration and renewed annually based on satisfactory academic progress
Stipend can be increased by up to 50% for research stays conducted abroad
Doctoral candidates are entitled to an additional budget equivalent to at least 10% of the standard scholarship to cover specific research expenses
Full tuition fee exemption for the duration of the programme
Access to university research infrastructure, laboratories, and libraries
Opportunities for industry collaboration and technology transfer through ESF+ and Industrial PhD tracks
Additional funding may be available for research activities and conference participation in some programmes
Note: Scholarships cannot be granted to students who have been awarded a doctoral scholarship before, even partially, and cannot be combined with other grants.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following conditions:
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 at Master's level that allows access to doctoral studies in the issuing country
Qualifications from both EU and non-EU countries are accepted and will be assessed by the Board of Examiners for equivalence
Candidates who have not yet obtained their degree may apply, provided they graduate by 31 October 2026
Candidates who already hold a PhD cannot be admitted to a programme deemed equivalent to their previous doctorate
Must not have previously received a doctoral scholarship, even partially
Must be available to commit full-time and exclusively to doctoral studies for the entire duration of the programme
ℹ️ Need resources to prepare for your TOEFL OR IELTS Exam? CHECK:
1). List of TOEFL Prep Audio Books (Free With Audible Free Trials) 👇
2). List of TOEFL Prep Materials on Amazon (Free With Audible Free Trials) 👇
3). List of IELTS Prep Materials on Amazon (Free With Audible Free Trials) 👇
*earns commission*
⭐ Selection 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 the application. Candidates are ranked based on their combined scores, and places and scholarships are awarded in ranking order.
Where two or more candidates score equally in the selection process, preference is given to the candidate with the lowest family income (ISEE).
Competitiveness varies by field — STEM and AI-related programmes tend to attract higher numbers of applicants, while niche humanities fields may offer better odds for well-aligned candidates.
📝 How to Apply
Step 1 — Review the Official Call: Visit the University of Trieste PhD portal at https://portale.units.it/en/research/phd/call and read the call attachment for your chosen programme carefully before proceeding.
Step 2 — Register on the Portal: Create an account on the University of Trieste student portal to obtain your login credentials.
Step 3 — Submit Your Application: Log into online services, navigate to "Admission test (restricted access and master degrees)," select your desired PhD programme, and follow the guided procedure to upload all required documents.
Step 4 — Request Remote Interview (if needed): If you wish to attend the interview by videoconference rather than in person, submit the specific request form during the application process.
Step 5 — Pay the Application Fee: Pay the non-refundable application fee of €30.00 via the PagoPA system before the deadline. Applicants from specific developing countries listed in Ministerial Decree no. 176/2026 are exempt from this fee.
Step 6 — Submit Before the Deadline: First session closes on 25 May 2026 at 1:00 PM Italian time. A second session closes on 31 August 2026, though position availability in the second session is not guaranteed for all programmes.
📂 Required Documents
Degree certificate(s) with official transcripts (and certified translations if not in Italian or English)
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Research proposal or statement (where required by the specific programme)
Contact details for reference letter writers (where required by the specific programme)
Valid identification document
Refugee applicants or candidates with special status should include relevant supporting documentation
Specific document requirements vary by programme. Always consult the individual programme attachment for the precise list.
ℹ️ Contact & Further Info
Official PhD Portal: https://portale.units.it/en/research/phd/call
University Address: Piazzale Europa, 1 — 34127 Trieste, Italy
Phone: +39 040 558 7111
PEC (Certified Email): ateneo@pec.units.it
✍🏻 The first session deadline of 25 May 2026 is fast approaching — early submission is strongly recommended. Share this opportunity with any researcher or Master's graduate who is ready to take their academic career to the next level in Europe.
