Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna PhD Programmes

Benefits & funding

• Annual scholarship of €19,740 gross, including social security contributions, paid in monthly instalments.
• Housing allowance of €2,200 gross per year in addition to the scholarship.
• Research budget of at least 10% of the annual scholarship amount for research expenses.
• Scholarship increased by 50% during periods of study and research abroad authorised by the Faculty Board.
• No tuition fees; enrolment requires the €140 regional tax for the right to university study for 2026/2027, with exemptions for holders of regional scholarships and for students with a recognised disability of 66% or more.
• Accident, civil liability and health insurance cover provided by the School, including authorised travel off campus.
• The scholarship covers the full length of the programme and is confirmed each year when the Faculty Board approves progression.

Eligibility

• Open to applicants of any nationality; the call states participation is without citizenship restrictions.
• Requires an Italian laurea vecchio ordinamento, laurea magistrale, magistrale a ciclo unico or specialistica, or a non-Italian master’s-level degree assessed as equivalent by the selection committee on level, nature, content and academic rights.
• Candidates who have not yet graduated may apply if the degree is obtained by 31 October 2026; failing to obtain it means losing the place.
• Anyone who has already received any instalment of a PhD scholarship in Italy is excluded.
• Knowledge of English is assessed at the interview for every programme.
• Admission requires full-time and exclusive commitment to the doctorate.
• No age limit and no residency requirement are set in the call.

Application process

1. 1
   Pick one doctoral programme and read its factsheet in the call, which lists the research lines, the required documents and the scoring scheme for that programme.
2. 2
   Register on the Esse3 online platform at https://sssup.esse3.cineca.it/Home.do and complete the application form there.
3. 3
   Upload a valid identity document, the degree certificate and transcript of exams with credits, grades and grading scale (in English for non-Italian qualifications), a CV, a motivation letter and a research project matching the programme’s research lines, plus any programme-specific documents such as a thesis copy or referee contacts.
4. 4
   Submit before the deadline: 15 May 2026 at 12:00 CEST for all programmes, 15 April 2026 at 12:00 CEST for Economics. Confirmation arrives by email.
5. 5
   The selection committee scores qualifications and the research project, then interviews shortlisted candidates in Pisa or remotely via Teams or WebEx, with most programmes requiring 70 out of 100 overall to enter the ranking.
6. 6
   Check the published ranking on the School website; individual notices go only to admitted candidates, who must confirm acceptance within seven days.
7. 7
   Enrol, pay the regional tax and start on 1 October 2026; candidates delayed by visa processing can normally postpone arrival by up to 30 days.

Program timeline

1. Application deadline for the PhD in Economics, 12:00 CEST

   Apr 15, 2026

2. Application deadline for all other programmes, 12:00 CEST

   May 15, 2026

3. Economics ranking published by this date

   Jun 15, 2026

4. Rankings for the remaining programmes published by this date

   Jul 15, 2026

5. Doctoral programmes begin in Pisa

   Oct 1, 2026

6. the next cycle call is expected on the same page; dates are not yet published

   Early 2027