PhD in

Linguistics

This PhD programme is offered jointly by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and the University of Verona.

The PhD programme, offered jointly with the University of Verona, offers specializations in all aspects of linguistic analysis (phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, lexicon) as well as in the following research areas: sociolinguistics, dialogue analysis, conversation analysis, discourse analysis, language acquisition (both typical and atypical), language teaching, Germanic and Romance philology, and language policy. The programme offers an International Doctoral Track, in cooperation with the University of Marburg (Germany), which allows candidates to obtain both an Italian and a German PhD.
The Bolzano-Verona programme collaborates with private research institutes such as Eurac Research in corpus linguistics and language technologies as well as with institutions active in the protection and promotion of minority languages. PhD projects can be proposed for all topics in linguistics compatible with the interests and expertise of members of the PhD board.

The PhD programme focuses on multilingualism, language contact and dialectology, especially but not exclusively with respect to German and the Romance languages. These research topics are shared between the partner universities Bolzano and Verona.

Languages of instruction are English (main language), German and Italian.

At a glance

Duration of the programme: 3 years
Courses will be taught in German, Italian and English
Available positions: 6 with scholarship
Campus: Brixen-Bressanone

Programme structure

The goal of the PhD programme is to develop professionals who have mastered the contents and methods of their field of specialization at a high scientific level. Graduates will have competence in all domains of linguistic analysis sufficient for teaching at the introductory university level. They will also be able to extend their expertise to new fields of specialization.

PhD coursework is offered at winter and summer schools as well as in specialized seminars and interdisciplinary courses.
Instruction is in English, German and Italian and takes place at the Brixen-Bressanone, Bozen-Bolzano and Verona campuses.

Each PhD student is assigned two supervisors who support their research project. PhD students may also acquire additional research methods developed by members of the PhD board in research projects (PRIN, DFG, SNF, PNRR), often in collaboration with local institutions.

Research period abroad

In the interest of strengthening national and international scientific relations, the PhD programme encourages students to advance their projects by spending research time at other universities in Europe or overseas. To arrange research periods abroad, the PhD programme works through existing networks such as Erasmus partnerships at the PhD level and academic partnerships with universities such as Marburg (Germany) or Tromsø (Norway). On request, new contacts can be established in the form of cotutelle agreements.

Course offering - unibz

Course Catalogue

People

PhD Programme Coordinator: Prof. Birgit Alber (photo) 
Student representative in the Lecturer's Committee: --

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Partner universities and institutions

The PhD programme has a bilateral agreement with the University of Marburg which simultaneously confers an Italian and a German PhD degree upon successful completion. PhD candidates selected for this International Doctoral Trackspend at least 6 months at the partner university.

Stakeholders:

ARLEF Agenzia Regionale per la Lingua Friulana, Udine - sponsor of a PhD fellowship for the 40th cycle
Region Trentino-Südtirol, Bozen-Bolzano, Trient-Trento - sponsor of a PhD fellowship for the 39th cycle
Eurac Research, Bozen - sponsor of a PhD fellowship for the 37th cycle
Bersntoler Kulturinstitut/Istituto Culturale Mòcheno, Palai en Bersntol/Palù del Fersina, Trient-Trento
Istitut Ladin 'Micurà de Rü', St. Martin in Thurn, Bozen-Bolzano
Istitut Cultural Ladin 'Majon di Fascegn', San Giovanni di Fassa, Trient-Trento
Istitut Cultural Ladin 'Cesa de Jan’, Colle Santa Lucia, Belluno
Casa Editrice e centro di formazione Erickson, Trient-Trento
Biblioteca Capitolare, Verona

Academic stakeholders:

These are universities and research institutes interested in recruiting researchers at the postdoc level, principally those with which the members of the PhD board have active scientific relationships: the universities of Marburg, Trier, München (LMU), Köln, Konstanz, Stuttgart and Göttingen (Germany) Tromsø (Norway) Paris (France) and the State University of New York (U.S.A.)

Application and Admission

You can find key information to apply and gain admission to this PhD Programme. Detailed information will be available from 27 March 2025 at this page in the general and specific calls.

In order to gain admission to the PhD programme, you will have to demonstrate competence in the languages of the PhD programme and be successful in a public competition.

1st Call

Publication of the call: from 27/03/2025
Application deadline: by 29/04/2025 (by noon local time)
Admission interviews (online): the date will be announced by 27/03/2025. The Interview will be held in person at the Faculty of Education in Brixen-Bressanone or via MS Teams.
Publication of ranking lists: by 16/06/2025

Confirmation of the PhD position - 1st Call

Applicants with scholarship: by 01/07/2025
Applicants without scholarship: by 17/07/2025
Enrolment: Starting from 02/10/2025 until 31/10/2025 (by noon local time)

Total Positions: 6

1st Call

Positions with university scholarships: 6

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.

To confirm your study place, you need to log in to the application portal and pay the following fees (€ 250 in total) using one of the payment methods indicated on the portal by the specified deadline.

Administrative fees: € 50
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.