PhD in
Education and Social Sciences
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.
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Course description
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.
At a glance
Duration of the programme: 3 years
Courses will be taught in Italian, German and English
Places available: 4 positions with scholarship, 1 position without scholarship
Scholarships awarded per year 28,000 €
Campus: Brixen-Bressanone
Programme structure
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.
Course structure
Research Activities Abroad
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.
Partner universities and institutions
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 Dresden, Hildesheim, Oviedo, Thessaly, Vienna e Vechta.
People
PhD Programme Coordinator: Prof. Dorothy Louise Zinn (photo)
Student representative in the Lecturer's Committee: Nicol Ellecosta
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Application and Admission
You can find key information to apply and gain admission to this PhD Programme. Detailed information will be published in March 2026 below in the general and specific calls (PDF).
In order to gain admission to the PhD programme, you will have to demonstrate competence in the languages of the PhD programme with a recognised language certificate and be successful in a public competition.
1st Call
Publication of the call: 09/03/2026
Application deadline: by 21/04/2026 (by noon local time)
Admission interviews (online): to be defined
Publication of ranking lists: by 05/06/2026
Confirmation of the PhD position - 1st Call
Applicants with scholarship: by 18/06/2026 (by noon local time)
Applicants without scholarship: from 19/06 until 03/07/2026 (by noon local time)
Enrolment: Starting from 19/06 until 30/10/2026 (by noon local time)
Total positions: 5
1st Call
Positions with university scholarships: 4
Positions without scholarship: 1
In order to apply to this programme you need one of the following qualifications:
- a postgraduate degree as per Italian Ministerial Decree no. 509/1999
- a postgraduate degree as per Italian Ministerial Decree no. 270/2004
- a degree of the former Italian university system, or an equivalent degree obtained abroad (university level education of at least five years).
If you have not yet achieved one of the above mentioned titles within the enrolment deadline, you will be admitted conditionally to the selection procedure and you must produce the degree certificate within the enrolment’s deadline. If not, your application is considered null and void.
Prerequisites for admission to the doctoral programmes are an appropriate educational and/or cultural background and/or experience in the research. Qualifications in the field of interest of the PhD programme are preferred.
The Commission reserves the right to decide and to assess whether or not previous qualifications are suitable for admission purposes.
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 application portal, and upload the qualification 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 (50 €). This registration fee cannot be reimbursed under any circumstances.
In order to apply, you need to follow these steps:
- Create an account at Application Portal and upload in electronic format a passport-size colour photo and a valid ID (passport or identity card, front/back);
- In the application portal, select the PhD programme and pay the registration fee of 50 € (see instructions in the portal);
- Fill in the online form in the same portal and upload the additional required documents (see the specific attachments to the call for each PhD programme).
Completing the application online is the only way to submit the application. Applications will not be considered if:
- incomplete or without compulsory entry qualifications/requirements;
- sent by e-mail.
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.
To create an application in the portal you need to pay the following fees:
- Administrative fees: € 50
To confirm your study place, you need to log in to the application portal and pay the following fees using one of the payment methods indicated on the portal by the specified deadline.
- One-off registration fee: € 200, including a € 16 revenue stamp
If you fail to meet this deadline, you will automatically lose your place. Once you have confirmed your place by paying the instalment, there is no refund of tuition fees unless you are a non-EU applicant living abroad and you have not received the necessary documents from the Italian authorities in your country.
There are no other fees to be paid.
1st Call
CALL GENERAL PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE
CALL SPECIFIC PART (PDF): EN – IT – DE
For more information contact us by phone at +39 0471 012800 or send us an e-mail: phd@unibz.it