The call for applications for admission to the School’s PhD programmes has been published. A total of 23 positions are available for the academic year 2026/27, distributed as follows:
4 positions for the PhD in Cognitive Brain Sciences, jointly offered with the University of Pavia and coordinated by Prof. Eleonora Catricalà, including:
- 2 positions funded by IUSS scholarships;
- 2 positions funded by scholarships provided by the University of Pavia.
8 positions for the PhD in Earthquake Engineering, jointly offered with the University of Pavia and coordinated by Prof. Ricardo Monteiro, including:
- 2 positions funded by IUSS scholarships;
- 1 position funded by an IUSS scholarship financed through the “Departments of Excellence” project;
- 2 positions funded by scholarships from the Eucentre Foundation;
- 1 position funded by a scholarship from the University of Pavia;
- 1 position co-funded by the GEM Foundation;
- 1 position funded by a scholarship co-financed by the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering (CEGE) at University College London.
Application deadline: 15 June 2026, 1:00 PM CEST.
7 positions for the PhD in The Human Mind and its Explanations: Language, Brain, and Reasoning, jointly offered with the University of Milan and the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, coordinated by Prof. Andrea Sereni, including:
- 2 positions funded by IUSS scholarships;
- 1 position funded by IUSS within the FIS2 Consolidator Grant project “Humanizing Mathematical Knowledge: Fallibility, Technology, Know-How” (FIS-2023-04053; PI: Silvia De Toffoli);
- 2 positions funded by scholarships from the University of Milan;
- 1 position co-funded by the University of Milan and Kube Partners Italy S.r.l.;
- 1 position funded by a scholarship from the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa.
Application deadline: 12 June 2026, 1:00 PM CEST.
4 positions for the PhD in Theoretical and Experimental Linguistics, coordinated by Prof. Valentina Bambini, including:
- 3 positions funded by IUSS scholarships;
- 1 position co-funded by the Bussolera Branca Foundation and developed in collaboration with the Casa dell’Art Brut.
Application deadline: 16 June 2026, 1:00 PM CEST.
The number of available positions may be increased should additional funding become available before the start of the PhD programmes.
For details regarding scholarships and admission requirements, please consult the individual programme descriptions:
- PhD in Cognitive Brain Sciences
- PhD in Earthquake Engineering (ROSE)
- PhD in The Human Mind and its Explanations: Language, Brain, and Reasoning
- PhD in Theoretical and Experimental Linguistics
Applications must be submitted exclusively online, using the dedicated procedure available on the School’s website: https://iusspavia.esse3.cineca.it/Home.do
A separate application must be submitted for each PhD programme the candidate wishes to apply for, by the deadline specified in the relevant programme description.
Admission to the PhD programmes is open to applicants holding a Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale/Specialistica or equivalent pre-reform Italian degree), or an equivalent foreign qualification comparable in duration and content, granting access to doctoral studies in the country where it was obtained and deemed suitable by the Admissions Committee.
To gain admission to the PhD programmes, candidates must pass the examinations specified in the calls for applications issued by the School and published on the website of the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).