PhD in
This PhD programme addresses the study of education and social sciences in an interdisciplinary context, providing the necessary skills to face research in the theoretical and empirical-experimental field and promoting the development of innovative application practices.
The programme responds to the growing need in international research to develop complex interpretations of socio-cultural and educational systems and to deepen conceptual, theoretical and methodological models. The study plan foresees different activities to ensure that PhD students acquire basic epistemological skills, methodological skills, both qualitative and quantitative, as well as transversal skills.
Students and professors from different countries, different disciplines and scientific fields guarantee the international and interdisciplinary orientation of the programme.
Over the three-year period, several teaching activities are offered: lectures, practical sessions and seminars that aim to develop and illustrate the programme’s subjects and research areas and to focus on the most recent findings in the education and in the social sector.
The main teaching areas are philosophy of science, epistemology of related disciplines, research methodology, currrent questions and methods drawn from the international context.
The cycles of compulsory and optional lectures, workshops and seminars (study plan) are defined by the PhD Course Committee at the beginning of the cycle.
Duration of the programme: 3 years
Courses will be taught in Italian, German and English
Places available: 7 with scholarship + 1 without scholarship
Campus: Brixen-Bressanone
Tuition fees: € 180 per year
This is a full-time PhD programme and you can choose between two research areas: Education (which includes Pedagogical and Didactics fields) and Social science. The research areas share modules on research epistemology and on qualitative and quantitative research methods.
During the three years, you will have to take part in diversified teaching activities: a series of introductory lessons, workshops and seminars that illustrate and explore in depth the issues and research fields available in the programme and the most recent developments in education and the social sciences.
During your PhD you are required to spend at least three months abroad. You can choose to split your trip abroad into three stays of at least three consecutive weeks each.
Our faculty collaborates with many universities and research centres in Italy and abroad. Among our partners, besides the two Euregio universities of Innsbruck and Trento, are also the universities of Vienna, Vechta, Dresda, Oviedo and Thessaly.
PhD Programme Coordinator: Prof. Giulia Cavrini (photo)
Student representative in the Lecturer's Committee: Renate Klotz
Living in South Tyrol, Housing, Scholarships and more
All you need to know to come to unibz as an international student or exchange student
You can find key information to apply and gain admission to this PhD Programme. For detailed information browse the general and specific calls below.
In order to gain admission to the PhD programme, you will need to have obtained 300 ECTS credit points (master degree). You will also have to demonstrate competence in the languages of the PhD programme with a recognized language certificate and be successful in a public competition.
Application deadline: 15 June 2023, 12:00 midday (CEST)
Admission interviews: online 21 - 22 - 23 June 2023
Communication of the evaluation of the project proposal: by 20 June 2023
Communication of the interview details: by 20 June 2023
Publication of ranking lists: by 14 July 2023
Applicants with grant: starting from 14 July 2023 until 27 July 2023;
Applicants without grant: starting from 27 July 2023 until 04 August 2023.
Enrolment: Starting from 27 July 2023 until 31 October 2023, 12:00 midday (CEST)
Admission interviews: 15 September, 2023, online via Microsoft Teams
Publication of ranking lists: by 28 September 2023
Applicants with scholarships: starting from 28 September 2023 until 16 October 2023;
Enrolment: Starting from 17 October 2023 until 31 October 2023, 12:00 midday (CET)
Total positions: 8
Positions with university grants: 4
Positions with grants covered by MD 118/2023 (PNRR): 2
Position without grant: 1
Positions with grants covered by MD 118/2023 (PNRR): 1
Research areas: 03 - Psychology and wellbeing promotion in educational contexts
Topics: Executive functions and social-emotional skills in the transition between pre-school and primary school.
Project description: The general aim of the study is to investigate early risk and protective factors beyond potentially socially maladjusted developmental trajectories in the transition from preschool to primary school. The study will focus Executive Functions and socioemotional-skills.
Research areas: 06 - Educational Contexts, Disciplines and their Teaching in the Nursery and Primary School
Topics: Plant Blindness: Can science education prevent it in primary school pupils?
Project description:Plant Blindness is the inability to see or notice the plants in one's own environment. Is it possible to avoid this through science education in primary school? If yes, what is the most efficient way?
Research areas: 06 - Educational Contexts, Disciplines and their Teaching in the Nursery and Primary School
Topics: Metaphors in STEM Education.
Project description:Metaphors are used by scientists, teachers, and textbooks when presenting, describing, and explaining science. The project will explore their use with respect to both real phenomena and abstract concepts in different disciplines (physics, mathematics, biology…).
All citizen, regardless of sex, age and nationality may apply to be admitted to a PhD:
If the required document is not uploaded by the time of enrolment, the applicant will be enrolled with reservation.
All candidates have to be proficient in at least two of the three languages of the programme: Italian, German, English. Language certification at B2 level (CEFR) in two of the three languages of the PhD programme (Italian, German, English) is a prerequisite for participating in the selection process according to the table of the unibz recognized language certificates.
Knowledge of the language may also be demonstrated by qualifications (secondary school/bachelor/master) related to a programme held entirely in the language to certificate. In this case, Italian and EU candidates must declare this on the pre-enrolment portal, both in the section related to the general application and in the one related to the language certificates. Also non-EU citizens must upload a copy of their diploma and any additional documentation indicating the language of instruction related to the foreign qualification in both sections. Candidates demonstrate their language proficiency in the application portal (in the section “upload language certificates”) after they have created an application in the section “create/manage applications”.
Candidates without the certification of language proficiency are excluded from the admission procedure.
Applications to the selection procedure can be submitted from the date of the announcement of the public competition.
Each application is subject to a payment for administrative expenses (30 €). This registration fee cannot be reimbursed under any circumstances.
In order to apply, you need to follow these steps:
Completing the application online is the only way to submit the application. Applications will not be considered if:
It is necessary to upload the required documentation for each PhD programme chosen in the portal. A traffic light system indicates complete/incomplete documentation (missing documents will be marked in red).
Only documents uploaded by the deadline will be evaluated. It is advisable to apply online well in advance and to check the portal regularly to take note of any notes concerning missing and/or incorrect documents.
After the deadline, it will no longer be possible to complete/correct incomplete applications.
The University is not liable if the portal is overcharged, due to the net or to the software itself.
In the application portal, applicants must upload, otherwise excluded:
Only one research project can be submitted per application.
Research project can be written in Italian or German or English (max. 3 pages, 10,000 characters using the attached template, Times New Roman 11 font, 10,000 characters including spaces).
Admission is based on the successful outcome of the selection procedure. The selection procedure consists of the assessment of a research project, which applicants upload to the application portal, and a personal interview. The interviews will take place in video-call: MS Teams.
Those candidates whose project receives a minimum score of 40/60 points will be admitted to the oral examination.
The research project to be submitted/uploaded to the portal contains the following information at the top of the first page:
Maximum length 10,000 characters using the attached template, font Times New Roman 11.
The research project can be completed in Italian, German or English, according to the free choice of the applicant.
Evaluation criteria for the research project:
Composition of the Admission Board:
Prof. Giulia Cavrini, President
Prof. Annemarie Augschöll
Prof. Demis Basso.
Substitute members: Prof. Monica Parricchi, Prof. Elisabeth Tauber, Prof. Beate Weyland.
Online admission interviews: 15/09/2023 at 15 (local time) via Microsoft Teams. Click here to start the interview.
At the end of the exam period, the Admission Board will draw up a rank list of candidates (see Article 6 of the public competition announcement, general Call).
Fees amount to € 180
In order to confirm your study place, you need to log on to the application portal and pay the tuition fees (€ 180) which includes the provincial tax for the right to study of € 164 and a revenue stamp of € 16. by one of the methods indicated on the portal by the deadline indicated above.
If you do not respect this deadline, you will automatically lose your study place. If, by paying the instalment you have confirmed the study place, there will be no refund of the tuition fees unless you are a non-EU applicant resident abroad and you do not receive the necessary documents from the Italian authorities in your country.
Application deadline: by 15 June 2023, 12:00 midday (CEST)
CALL GENERAL PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE
CALL SPECIFIC PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE
Application deadline: by 11 September 2023, 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