The PhD call for application is published each year around May (see Admission). The application is submitted on-line following the instructions contained in the announcement and within 30 days from the day of the call announcement.

Applications are invited from candidates, regardless of gender, age and nationality, who hold an Italian academic second-level degree or an equivalent second-level degree obtained abroad (generally equivalent to a Masters), or expect to receive their degree by October of the same year (in this case, admission to the selection will be accepted "subject to approval"). In order to acknowledge the appropriateness of a foreign qualification, which has not yet been declared equivalent to an Italian academic II level degree, foreign candidates will have to submit a request of equivalence along with the application and supply all the documents that could be useful to allow the judging Commission in the acknowledgement of appropriateness of the qualification presented. Attached documents must be translated into Italian and authenticated by competent diplomatic representatives.

The candidate is invited to submit, in electronic format (Pdf) the following documents:

• curriculum studiorum specifying studies, academic background and experiences attaining to the PhD program (as shown in the facsimile form available online in the Call for Application)
• a research project written by the candidate; such research program is uniquely oriented to the selection and will not necessarily be the same research project as the one that will be entrusted
• at candidate's discretion, two presentation letters of Italian or foreign academics.

The Judging Commission carries out the selection in two steps: first, it will review all the applications (evaluation of qualifications and the presented documentation) and form a short list. At the second stage, candidates in the short list will be interviewed, to set the final ranking. The interview, if possible and depending on the Commission's decision, can be held in video-conference and in a foreign language.

Usually each year at least six PhD scholarships are available (the scholarship amount is about 1100 euro/month). Moreover, students in need of accommodation may enroll in the selection for the assignment of available rooms in the student residences that are announced starting from mid-July and ending in September. There is also the possibility to consult the Accommodation Service pages to verify existing availabilities in private flats.