PhD Positions

Offer Description

For the academic year 2026/2027 (Cycle 42) the University of Cagliari (UniCa) announces a public selection. The available positions are 149: 109 are ordinary and supported by a scholarship, 17 are without a scholarship; 23 positions are reserved: 19 of them, with scholarship, are reserved for foreign applicants holding a degree issued abroad, 2 are reserved for scholarship recipients from foreign countries and 2 are reserved for international mobility scholarship recipients).

There are 128 scholarships available for attending doctoral programmes:

• 68 scholarships funded through resources from the Regional Programme – European Social Fund Plus 2021–2027 – PR Sardegna FSE+ 2021–2027, for STEP scholarships, of which 39 scholarships under Area of Intervention 145a – Digital technologies and deep-tech innovation, 14 under Area of Intervention 145a – Biotechnologies, and 14 under Area of Intervention 145b – Clean and resource-efficient technologies;
• 36 scholarships funded through the University budget, resources from the “five per thousand” (5x1000) allocation for the 2024 financial year, third-party funds earmarked for PhD programmes, and MUR funds for postgraduate scholarships;
• scholarships funded through resources allocated by the universities participating in the PhD programmes in Capacity Building for Global Health – 3 scholarships: 1 by the University of Ferrara, 1 by the University of Foggia, and 1 by the University of Salerno – and in Data Science – 5 scholarships: 1 by the University of Messina, 1 by the University of Naples Federico II, 1 by the University of Pavia, 1 by the University of Salento, and 1 by the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”;
• 1 scholarship made available by the Department of Physics;
• 4 scholarships made available by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (DIEE);
• 1 scholarship made available by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science (DMI);
• 2 scholarships funded by the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN);
• 1 scholarship allocated by the National Institute for Astrophysics – Cagliari Astronomical Observatory (INAF-OAC);
• 1 scholarship funded by the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN);
• 2 scholarships allocated by the Consortium for the Promotion of University Activities in Sulcis Iglesiente (Consorzio AUSI);
• 2 scholarships funded by the Municipality of Quartu Sant’Elena;
• 2 scholarships allocated by VisioScientiae S.r.l.

PhD Programmes:

1. Capacities Building for Global Health
2. Data Science
3. Philosophy, Epistemology, Human Science
4. Physics
5. Civil Engineering and Architecture
6. Electronic and Computer Engineering
7. Industrial Engineering
8. Mathematics and Computer Science
9. Molecular and Translational Medicine
10. Neuroscience
11. Personalized Medicine and Public Health
12. Research and Social Innovation
13. Life, Environmental and Drug Science
14. Earth and Environmental Sciences and Technologies
15. Innovation Science and Technology
16. Economics and Business
17. Legal Sciences
18. History, Cultural Heritage and International Studies
19. Philological and Literary, Historical and Cultural Studies

Where to apply

Website: https://pica.cineca.it/login

Requirements

Research Field: Other

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Admission to PhD programmes is open to graduates, regardless of nationality, that, by the deadline of the competition, hold (ref. to the Italian university system):

• a degree awarded according to the Italian Ministerial Decree no. 270/2004 (laurea magistrale);
• a degree awarded according to the Italian Ministerial Decree no. 509/1999 (laurea specialistica);
• a degree awarded according to the regulations established before the Italian Ministerial Decree no. 509/1999 (laurea);
• academic qualification (2nd cycle university degree: Master-level) issued by a foreign university recognized as equivalent. The foreign university degree must be evaluated as suitable and equivalent, in terms of duration, level of degree and fields of study to the degree listed above and providing access to PhD programmes in the awarding country.

Languages: ENGLISH

Level: Good

Additional Information

Benefits

The annual amount of the scholarship is EUR 16,243.00, gross of tax deduction (INPS “Gestione Separata” to the beneficiary: 1/3) and net of the University deduction (2/3).

The amount of the scholarship is increased to 50%, according and proportionally to the duration of the PhD student’s stay abroad at universities or research institutions, when he/she is authorized by the Academic Board or, upon its delegation, by the Coordinator, if the stay does not exceed 3 months. The increase on the scholarship is not paid when the PhD student stays in his/her country of origin or residence, except for exceptions authorized by the Rector in relation to special cases.

The Scholarships are paid out exclusively to PhD students not receiving an annual gross income higher than EUR 16,243.00. Exceeding that limit will result in the loss of the scholarship and implies the duty to give back the monthly payments already received for a specific year.

Eligibility criteria

Admission to PhD programmes is open to graduates, regardless of nationality, that, by the deadline of the competition, hold (ref. to the Italian university system):

• a degree awarded according to the Italian Ministerial Decree no. 270/2004 (laurea magistrale);
• a degree awarded according to the Italian Ministerial Decree no. 509/1999 (laurea specialistica);
• a degree awarded according to the regulations established before the Italian Ministerial Decree no. 509/1999 (laurea);
• academic qualification (2nd cycle university degree: Master-level) issued by a foreign university recognized as equivalent. The foreign university degree must be evaluated as suitable and equivalent, in terms of duration, level of degree and fields of study to the degree listed above and providing access to PhD programmes in the awarding country.

The Selection Committee will deliberate on its equivalence, in compliance with the current legislation in Italy and in the Country where it was issued, and with the international treaties or agreements concerning the recognition of qualifications for further studies for the sole purpose of the admission to the PhD programme.

The admission is also open to students who are going to graduate by 31st October 2026. These candidates will be admitted with reservation and will submit a certificate (only for degrees obtained abroad) or a self-declaration of their graduation together with a scanned copy of a valid ID/passport. The certificate/self-declaration should be sent to dottoratiemaster@unica.it.

The degree must be obtained in any case before the enrolment. If the applicant is evaluated positively to be admitted to a PhD programme but he/she will not be awarded the necessary degree by the above-mentioned date, he/she will lose that suitable position as well as the scholarship, if already assigned.

Selection process

The application must be submitted, along with the relevant attachments, under penalty of exclusion, electronically using the computerized procedure "PICA - Integrated Platform for University Competitions", at the address https://pica.cineca.it/login. from the date of the publication of the present Call for applications to 28th September 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (local time).

The guidelines on how to apply are available at https://web.unica.it/unica/en/studenti_s01_ss05.page. At the following link, you will find a list of computers available for applicants: unica.it - Aule informatiche.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: University of Cagliari

Country: Italy

Geofield

Contact

State/Province: Italy

City: Cagliari

Website: http://www.unica.it

Street: Via Università 40

Postal Code: 09124

E-Mail: dottoratiemaster@unica.it

Phone: +390706756494 +390706756492 +390706756459 +390706758446