Applicants must have obtained (or must obtain by the deadline specified in the call for applications) one of the following qualifications:

Italian Lauree Magistrali (LM):
LMG/01 Giurisprudenza
LM-1 Antropologia culturale ed etnologia
LM-43 Metodologie informatiche per le discipline umanistiche
LM-52 Relazioni internazionali
LM/DS Scienze della difesa e della sicurezza
LM-62 Scienze della politica
LM-63 Scienze delle pubbliche amministrazioni
LM-64 Scienze delle religioni
LM-78 Scienze filosofiche
LM-81 Scienze per la cooperazione allo sviluppo
LM-84 Scienze storiche
LM-87 Servizio sociale e politiche sociali
LM-90 Studi europei
LM-85 bis Scienze della formazione primaria

Italian Lauree specialistiche (LS) equivalent to the above‑listed LM degrees:
1/S Antropologia culturale ed etnologia
17/S Filosofia e storia della scienza
18/S Filosofia teoretica, morale, politica ed estetica
22/S Giurisprudenza
49/S Metodi per la ricerca empirica nelle scienze sociali
57/S Programmazione e gestione delle politiche e dei servizi sociali
60/S Relazioni internazionali
70/S Scienze della politica
71/S Scienze delle pubbliche amministrazioni
72/S Scienze delle religioni
88/S Scienze per la cooperazione allo sviluppo
94/S Storia contemporanea
96/S Storia della filosofia
97/S Storia medievale
98/S Storia moderna
99/S Studi europei
102/S Teoria e tecniche della normazione e dell'informazione giuridica
   
Italian Lauree equivalent to the above‑listed LM degrees (awarded under the old system)

Equivalent degree obtained abroad (eg Master of Science)

The PhD programme’s research and training activities are strongly interdisciplinary and coherently integrate history, philosophy, and political studies, both at the empirical and at the theoretical-normative level. The programme aims to provide doctoral students with a solid common methodological background and, at the same time, specialised training in the different research areas, fostering their ability to address complex problems, design innovative research, critically use sources and international bibliography, and produce high-level scientific results to be presented at conferences and published.

Great attention is also devoted to the applied and public dimension of research: the programme promotes the dissemination of knowledge, public engagement, collaboration with institutions, social stakeholders and public decision-makers, as well as the development of transferable skills related to communication, teamwork, and the management of complex projects.

Particular emphasis is placed on the international dimension. Teaching is delivered in English, and the programme encourages exchange with scholars from different contexts, participation in international academic networks, research periods abroad, and collaborations with foreign universities and research centres, including within the T4EU network and through cotutelle and joint degree programmes.

Lines of research 

Socio-economic, institutional, political, cultural and religious history 
Cultural heritage and heritage studies 
Migration flows and social and political transformations 
The international socio-political order in historical perspective 
Theoretical philosophy 
History of philosophy 
Philosophy of language 
Religious practices and social transformations in the contemporary world 
Neuroscience and the mind-brain relationship 
Philosophy of the digital 
Democratization 
Political processes and public policies 
Institutionalization of domestic and international regimes 
International relations in the age of globalization 
Area studies 
Security and the complexity of civil-military relations 

The programme combines a solid scientific and methodological training with a strong interdisciplinary orientation in the fields of philosophy, history and political studies. This integration is considered essential for training researchers capable of conducting autonomous, rigorous and innovative research, with results suitable for presentation at conferences and for scientific publication. The PhD programme also promotes argumentative and communication skills, with particular attention to the social, political and cultural transformations of the contemporary world. Special emphasis is placed on the public dimension of research, the dissemination of knowledge, and its application in institutional, cultural and social contexts. The programme’s strong international vocation is reflected in teaching delivered in English, in academic networks, and in opportunities for collaboration with foreign institutions.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the programme, its educational objectives are primarily methodological and aim to integrate historical, philosophical and socio-political studies in a coherent way, both at the empirical and at the theoretical-normative level. The programme is designed to provide doctoral students with a solid common background, both methodological and cultural, together with specialised training in the different research areas, also from a comparative and international perspective. Particular attention is devoted to the ability to identify complex scientific problems, design and carry out innovative research, select appropriate methods and sources, use international bibliography, and produce high-level scientific texts. Through workshops and seminars, the programme also promotes transferable skills related to teamwork, project management, the communication and dissemination of research, and the development of professional paths in academic, institutional and organisational settings.

The PhD graduate trained by the programme has a solid, multidisciplinary and flexible background, enabling them to enter a wide range of highly qualified professional contexts, in both the public and private sectors.

In addition to universities, schools, and national and international research institutions, relevant career opportunities include public administration, government institutions, foundations, think tanks, research institutes, international organisations, and the fields of culture and communication. Other areas of employment include publishing, cultural and scientific journalism, scientific and cultural project design, including at the European and cross-border level, and activities related to the promotion of cultural heritage.

The training provided by the programme also enables graduates to take on roles in research, project design, coordination, consultancy, and specialised communication, including in the fields of education, lifelong learning, and cultural and creative industries.