The first year of the programme focuses on imparting knowledge of methods and theories in the field of economics and finance so that students develop a solid background to conduct academic research in the following years.

By the end of the second year, the programme provides students with the necessary skills, competencies, and tools to successfully conduct theory-based empirical research in different fields. Students will also have the opportunity to build their own scientific network by attending international conferences and summer schools, and visiting other universities.

Although we encourage PhD students to start writing scientific papers from the beginning, the second half of the programme is primarily dedicated to completing a dissertation that includes at least three high quality research papers targeted for publication in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.

The dissertation is required to be of a cumulative nature, i.e. a collection of at least three scientific papers with a comprehensive introduction and conclusion that highlight the research objectives and the findings. Monographs are not accepted. 

See a breakdown of the programme structure. 

Our faculty members collaborate with colleagues at various prestigious universities and have established with research groups and institutes, such as the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) and CESifo. Our previous PhD students have visited institutions as Autonomous University of Barcelona, BI Norwegian Business School, University College London.

We are proud to that the following internationally reputed colleagues are in the scientific committee of our PhD program:

• Davide La Vecchia, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
• Martin Halla, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria
• Giacomo Ponzetto, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
• Francesco Furlanetto, Norges Bank and BI Norwegian Business School, Norway

The steering committee consists of the following national stakeholders:

• Maurizio Cannistraro, Bank of Italy Bozen-Bolzano
• Diego Ganz, Alperia Group
• Sergio Lovecchio, Euregio Plus SGR
• Georg Lun, Chamber of Commerce, Industry Crafts and Agriculture of Bozen-Bolzano
• Stefan Perini, AFI-IPL | Arbeitsförderungsinstitut | Istituto Promozione Lavoratori
• Christian Pfeifer, Südtiroler Wirtschaftszeitung

These and many more contacts will provide our PhD students with many opportunities to pursue their research interests, to develop and maintain their own important networks, and experience the life of a young scholar on a truly international level. Finally, it will help them tremendously with starting a successful academic career.

We not only seek highly talented, international applicants with an outstanding performance record, but also individuals, who are motivated, self-disciplined, and who possess a high degree of social skills and a sense of responsibility.

You will be required to take part in a public recruitment competition (see call in due time). Admissible applicants should possess or will need to complete their master, a second cycle degree, or an equivalent foreign title with honours preferably in Economics and/or Business Administration or related fields. 

Successful applicants will be expected to reside in South Tyrol during the 4-year period of the PhD scholarship and to contribute actively to our international research environment.

In order to gain admission to the PhD programme, you will need to have obtained 300 ECTS credit points (master degree) and have some relevant academic experience in the field of the programme. You will also have to demonstrate competence in the English language with a recognized language certificate and be successful in a public competition (see call of below).

Application deadline: 14 September 2022, 12:00 midday (CEST)

CALL GENERAL PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE
CALL SPECIFIC PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE

Contact us by phone at +39 0471 012800 or send us an e-mail: phd@unibz.it

The Faculty of Economics and Management may accept PhD students from other universities who would like to visit unibz to undertake a short period of research (i.e. up to four months). We ask for your understanding that we are not able to accept all students who make an application to visit the Faculty and therefore need to be selective based upon qualifications and mutual fit of the research interests.

To facilitate your application and ensure we can manage our limited resources effectively, prospective visiting PhD researchers need to find and contact a faculty member, who is working in the same research area and willing to host the applicant. The host will forward the complete application (CV; purpose and research objective of the stay; topic of a research seminar to be provided at the beginning of the visit) together with a recommendation for approval to the PhD programme committee.

In preparation for your visit with us, the Faculty of Economics and Management is unable to provide access to Italy or any other secure data to visitors or visiting students. If you require this service, please contact your home institute, as they will be required to provide such access. The faculty also recommends you to bring your own laptop with the software you need.