PhD in
Management
This programme jointly offered by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and the University of Trento aims to equip talented young people with the mindset and principles of responsible management and sustainable leadership, preparing them to contribute to a better future world and economy by balancing social, ecological, and economic aspects appropriately.
Course description
Our vision is to be an internationally recognised hub for excellent and responsible management research, shaping future scholars who generate rigorous, innovative, and impactful knowledge that integrates economic viability with social and environmental responsibility for the benefit of organisations and society.
The mission of this joint PhD programme is to equip highly talented researchers for academic and research-driven careers through interdisciplinary, ethically grounded, and internationally embedded doctoral training. The programme fosters independent scholarship, scientific integrity, and creativity to advance responsible management research and education.
The core objectives are:
- develop internationally competitive scholars with strong theoretical, methodological, and analytical expertise in management,
- advance high-quality, original research addressing major societal and organisational challenges through responsible management,
- combine broad foundational training, individualised specialisation, and advanced research skills,
- promote interdisciplinary and international research,
- cultivate ethical research conduct,
- critical thinking, creativity, and intellectual autonomy through close mentoring, and
- prepare graduates for academic careers and research-intensive positions in public, private, and international organisations.
The programme invites Master's graduates to explore, learn, and grow in a vibrant environment. Our PhD students benefit from the resources and capabilities of two diverse universities, inspiring collaborations and exciting networking opportunities.
As a PhD student in our programme, you will be mentored and taught by engaged, experienced, and research-active senior and junior academic staff. Our joint faculty brings together experts from a range of disciplines, offering a distinctive and comprehensive approach to responsible management research.
A wide range of educational opportunities - from research seminars delivered by national and international scholars to workshops for early-career researchers and an extensive selection of language courses at our trilingual university - will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to develop and implement your own research projects and to excel in your chosen field.
Moreover, being part of our community means connecting with a broad and strong network of national and international scholars and institutions that offer support, guidance, and opportunities for professional development.
How Do You Benefit from Our Joint PhD Programme?
One specific feature of this programme is that you will have two tutors/supervisors: one from Bozen-Bolzano and one from Trento. This dual supervision structure is beneficial because:
- Scope of expertise: You gain exposure to a wider range of knowledge and perspectives from two distinct research environments.
- Networking opportunities: You become part of two different professional networks, expanding your academic connections.
- Support and guidance: Access to different perspectives allows you to consider alternative viewpoints and refine your work.
- Opportunities for collaboration: Co-supervision can lead to increased interaction between your supervisors, which may ultimately result in joint publications and enhanced research impact.
Research Focus and Methodology
The joint programme is inspired by the principles of responsible management education and research. It aims at developing theoretical and applied research in business and management sciences through the acquisition of specialised skills and competencies.
Our faculties' research focuses on decision-making and behaviour within and by organisations at different levels of analysis and in different contexts (e.g., start-ups, SMEs, multinational corporations, cooperatives). The following areas are of particular interest for investigating the practical application of sustainability and responsible management:
- Entrepreneurship and innovation management
- Application of advanced information and communication technologies, including AI
- Organisation design and human resource management
- Tourism, hospitality, and regional development
- Strategy and knowledge management
- Accounting and accountability
Applicants for a PhD position can use the overview of current research interests of potential supervisors as orientation and contact the respective Lecturers' Committee directly to see if their own research ideas are of interest and can be supported.
In collaboration with:
In collaboration with:
At a glance
Duration of the programme: 3 years
Courses will be taught in English
Places available: 6 with scholarship + 1 without scholarship
Scholarships awarded per year 28,000 €
Campuses: Bozen-Bolzano and Trient-Trento
Stay abroad: 4 to 6 months stays at renowned research institutions
Programme structure
The three-year full-time programme combines core seminars in quantitative and qualitative methods, relevant organisational and management theories, and research strategies with additional individual training. Your research foci, theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and target journals and conferences are discussed and decided in close engagement with your two supervisors.
This topic-specific individual support and mentoring, the promotion of interdisciplinary approaches and critical thinking, as well as financial support for extended research stays at renowned universities and research institutions outside the two alma maters, generous scholarships, and individual research funds are features that set our programme apart from comparable programmes.
Year-by-Year Overview
Year 1: Foundation and Proposal Development
At the start of the program, students are matched with a dual-tutorship team, one from unibz and one from the University of Trento, to ensure a smooth integration into the joint research environment and to build a strong foundation for the candidate's research journey.
The first six months are devoted to intensive training modules that provide foundational knowledge of methods and theories in responsible management, ensuring all doctoral students develop a common skill set regardless of their background. Depending on your research interests, specialist training opportunities will be provided. By the end of the first year, you should ideally complete a working paper. Over the summer, you will develop a research proposal in close consultation with your supervisors and present it to the Lecturers' Committee in early September. A positive review is a prerequisite for approval to continue the doctoral programme.
Year 2: Development and Dissemination
The second year is used to further develop your specific research topic, present initial results at conferences, expand your methodological and conceptual knowledge, and ideally develop a second working paper. You may spend part of an external research stay at partner institutions. The academic year ends with a second progress review/exam, which determines whether you can continue in the doctoral programme.
Year 3: Completion and Submission
The third year is devoted to completing or refining publishable research and submitting it to academic conferences and journals. The dissertation, consisting of at least three published or publishable articles, is submitted in early summer and defended at year's end after external review. Successful doctoral candidates receive a doctorate from both participating universities.
Resources and Support Available to You
You will be introduced to specific research areas of both faculties and will have the opportunity to participate in innovative research projects. You will benefit from a powerful combined set of resources, including libraries, datasets, laboratories, and facilities to conduct relevant, international research. The international academic staff of both partner universities offers a wide range of research opportunities.
Applicants for a PhD position can use the overview of current research interests of potential supervisors as orientation and contact the respective Committee members directly to see if their own research ideas are of interest and can be supported.
International Research Collaborations
The Faculty and Collegio members of both partner universities have close academic networks within their specific research areas, too numerous to list here. Our PhD programme benefits from the guidance and support of an Advisory Board of leading, internationally recognised colleagues from different countries and disciplines, which currently consists of the following members:
- Massimo Contrafatto, University of Sussex, Great Britain
- Fabrizio Ferraro, IESE, Spain
- Claudia Gabbionetta, University of York, Great Britain
- Christoph Grimpe, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
- Giuseppe Grossi, Nord University, Norway
- Nadine Kammerlander, WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany
- Linda Osti, Bangore University, United Kingdom
- Tanja Rabl, TU Kaiserslautern, Germany
- Martin Schnitzer, Universität Innsbruck, Austria
Additionally, our faculty members have established partnerships with colleagues, research groups, and institutes for instance from:
- Baruch College, USA
- Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
- Lee Kong Chian School of Business – Singapore Management University, Singapore
- Manchester Business School, UK
- NYU – New York University Stern;
These and many more professional contacts will provide our PhD students with numerous opportunities to pursue their research interests, to develop and maintain important networks, and to experience the life of a young scholar on a truly international level. Finally, it will be of help with starting a successful academic career.
People
PhD Programme Coordinator: Prof. Michael Nippa (photo) and Prof. Fabio Zona (at UniTrento)
Student Representative in the Lecturer's Committee: Anton Pustovalov
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Studying at unibz
Living in South Tyrol, Housing, Scholarships and more
Coming to unibz from Abroad
Application procedure, Visa, Residence permit and more
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)
In order to gain admission to this PhD programme, you will need to have:
- Applicants holding a postgraduate degree as per Italian Ministerial Decree no. 509/1999, a postgraduate degree as per Italian Ministerial Decree no. 270/2004 in the indicated degree classes (LM-18, LM-31, LM-47, LM-49, LM-50, LM-51, LM-52, LM-55, LM-59, LM-63, LM-75, LM-76, LM-77, LM-91, LMG-01) with a minimum final grade of 95/110
or
- an equivalent qualification (Master degree) obtained abroad at an officially recognised academic higher education institution. Applicants achieving one of the above-mentioned titles within the enrolment deadline. In the latter case, applicants will be conditionally admitted to the public competition and are required to present the qualification by the enrolment deadline, under penalty of forfeiting admission to the programme. The minimum grade required for foreign degrees is ECTS or GPA 3.00 out of 5.00.
Applicants whose mother tongue is not English must document their language skills by presenting a language certificate (minimum level C1), such as TOEFL, IELTS or the First Certificate in English (grade "A") recognised by the Language Centre of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. Knowledge of English may also be demonstrated by qualifications (secondary school/bachelor/master) related to a program held entirely in English. In this case, Italian and EU candidates must declare this on the pre-enrolment portal.
Non-EU citizens must upload a copy of their diploma and any additional documentation indicating the language of instruction related to the foreign qualification. Candidates demonstrate their language proficiency in the application portal (in the section “upload language certificates” and/or “enroll for language exams”) after they have created an application in the section “create/manage applications”.
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 further questions contact us by phone at +39 0471 012800 or send us an e-mail: phd@unibz.it
Application
Visiting PhD students and sabbatical stay
The Faculty of Economics and Management at unibz and the Department of Economics and Management at UniTrento may accept PhD students from other universities who would like 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 Faculties 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 Collegio 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 Collegio.
In preparation for your visit with us, neither the Faculty of Economics and Management of unibz nor the Department of Economics and Management of UniTrento are able 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. Both faculties also recommend that you bring your own laptop with the required software.