Early Notice of Forthcoming Call for Applications for the Doctoral Programs (2026/27)

Doctoral Programs – XLII CYCLE, ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027

The Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM) advertises that it will accept applications for its Doctoral Programs in the forthcoming academic year 2026/2027 (42nd cycle). An open competition is due to be held in September 2026; the official call for applications is expected to be published on the SSM’s website by late May/ early June 2026.

This early notice is for informational purposes only; terms, conditions, and procedures will be set in the forthcoming official notice.

1. DOCTORAL PROGRAMS

The SSM will offer 10 four-year doctoral programs, four of which in its interdisciplinary Law and Human Sciences Area, and the remaining ones in its interdisciplinary Science and Technology Area. Each program will open no less than 3 positions for fully-funded scholarships; further position will be opened if external funding is made available.

Research topics, teaching activities, and detailed information for each doctoral program can be found on the relevant web pages of the SSM website as well as in the attachments to the forthcoming official notice.

2. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FUNDING

For each doctoral program, no less than three fully-funded positions will be opened, each one carrying with it a four-year scholarship.

The gross amount or each annual scholarship will be of €19,000.00 (including social security contributions payable by the recipient), paid in twelve monthly installments. (Please note that the figure indicated here is based on that currently disbursed to students enrolled in the current academic year, and might be subject to changes if existing regulations are modified). Accepted candidates will be required to spend two semesters abroad and will receive a 50% increase for each monthly installment disbursed while they’re abroad. The increase is disbursed for up to 12 months (extendable to 18 months for co-supervised students).

A research budget – amounting to 10% of the yearly scholarship in the first year and 20% of the yearly scholarship for each subsequent year – is made available to each student and can be used for any research-related expenses sustained either in Italy or abroad.

Apart from a regional contribution for the right to university study, no fees or other levies are required from enrolled doctoral students.

3. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The competition will be open to all those who, on the closing date of the call for applications, hold an Italian specialist or master's degree (as per Ministerial Decree 509/1999 and subsequent amendments and additions), a four-year (at least) Italian degree issued under the old system, or a suitable academic qualification obtained from a foreign university.

No age or citizenship restrictions apply.

Applicants who will obtain the required qualification by the date for which course registration will end (October 31, 2026) are also allowed to participate. However, admission is conditional on achieving the required qualification by that date; should this condition not be met, the position will be assigned to another candidate, namely to the one holding the following highest position in the ranked list of those shortlisted.

4. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Applications will only be accepted if submitted via the dedicated PICA (CINECA) online platform. The following documents are required to be attached to the application, under penalty of exclusion:

• Valid identity document
• Curriculum vitae in accordance with the template provided by the School
• Master's thesis; candidates who have not yet submitted it are required to submit instead an extended abstract (max. 1,000 words) in English
• An affidavit by which the candidate self-certifies the exams taken and, if applicable, the marks received for the degree
• An essay (max. 1,000 words) detailing your research interests and reasons for applying
• A scientific report (SPACE, GEM, MERC, MPHS, MOSES doctoral programs) or a research project (ACMA, GHG, LOSPD, TTCL, CTO doctoral programs), as described in the attachments for each doctoral program
• Any scientific publications (up to a maximum of 3, in a single PDF file)

Applicants may also request letters of reference via the PICA platform. Such letters, however, are not required and lack of them will not constitute ground for exclusion.

5. SELECTION PROCEDURE

Selection is based on qualifications, scientific report/research project, and interview. The Selection Committee has a total of 100 points at its disposal, distributed as follows:

Evaluation of qualifications and scientific report/research project: up to 60 points. Candidates obtaining a minimum score of 40/60 are admitted to the interview.

Interview: up to 40 points. The interview is considered passed with a minimum score of 20/40.

For GEM, GHG, LOSPD, MERC, MOSES, MPHS, SPACE, and CTO doctoral programs, knowledge of English is mandatory, and the interview may be conducted entirely in English. Interviews may also be conducted online.

The final ranking will be formulated in descending order of overall score. In the event of a tie, the younger candidate will prevail. 

6. INDICATIVE TIMETABLE

Please see the attachment. 

7. INFORMATION AND CONTACTS

Website: here

Certified email address: ssm@pec.ssmeridionale.it

Headquarters: Via Mezzocannone 4, 80134 Naples

For specific information on each doctoral program, please write to the email address of the doctoral program of interest (as indicated in the tables above).