The University of Verona has announced its XLII Cycle PhD Scholarships for the academic year 2026-2027, offering 104 fully funded positions across 20 different PhD programs. These scholarships cover diverse fields, including Computer Science, Economics, Medicine, Literature, Biotechnology, and Engineering, making it a great opportunity for aspiring researchers worldwide. This is a great opportunity for international students who want to study PhD in Italy for free.
The scholarships provide a yearly stipend of €17,602 (gross), along with additional benefits like research funding, international mobility support, and a 50% increase in stipend for study periods abroad. Applications are open from 11 May 2026 to 9 June 2026, and the programs officially begin on October 1, 2026.
Scholarship Overview
| Host Country | Italy |
| Scholarship funded by | Italian Government |
| Coverage | Fully funded |
| Eligible Countries | All |
| Program offered | PhD |
| Deadline | 9 June 2026 |
Eligibility Criteria
To apply for a PhD at the University of Verona, candidates must meet the following requirement,
- Hold an Italian Laurea Magistrale (Master’s degree) or an equivalent foreign degree (e.g., M.A., M.Sc.).
- Have a Bachelor’s degree under the old Italian system (pre-1999 reform).
- Final-year Master’s students can apply if they graduate before October 1, 2025.
- Foreign degree holders must provide proof that their qualification allows PhD-level studies in their home country.
- Some programs (e.g., Computer Science, Nanosciences) require a minimum grade (e.g., 106/110 or 102/110).
- Professional degrees (e.g., MBA, MBBS) are not accepted unless they grant PhD access.
Scholarship Benefits
University provides following benefits to its PhD scholarship students,
- Annual stipend of €17,602.57 (before taxes, INPS contributions apply).
- Extra 50% increase during approved study periods abroad (up to 12 months).
- Minimum €1,760 research budget per year (10% of the scholarship).
- No tuition fees for scholarship holders (only €454 administrative fee).
- Exemptions for students with disabilities or from developing countries.
- Double/Joint PhD opportunities with partner universities (e.g., Germany, France, Brazil).
| PHD | PROGRAMMES | Positions funded with scholarship | Positions without scholarship |
| Ph.D. | Accounting and Management | 6 | 0 |
| Ph.D. | Industrial and Environmental Molecular Biotechnology | 7 | 0 |
| Ph.D. | Economics and Finance | 6 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Philology, Literature, and Performance Studies | 4 | 0 |
| Ph.D. | Inflammation, Immunity and Cancer | 7 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Computer Science | 3 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Informatica | 9 | |
| Ph.D. | Intelligent Systems Engineering | 3 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Foreign Literatures and Languages | 4 | 0 |
| Ph.D. | Biomolecular Medicine | 6 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Regenerative Medicine, Technological and Translational Surgery | 3 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Nanosciences and Advanced Technologies | 5 | 0 |
| Ph.D. | Neuroscience, Psychological and Psychiatric Sciences and Movement Sciences | 6 | 3 |
| Ph.D. | Applied Life and Health Sciences | 6 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Archaeology, Art History and History | 6 | 0 |
| Ph.D. | Clinical and Experimental Biomedical Sciences | 6 | 2 |
| Ph.D. | Surgical and Cardiovascular Sciences | 8 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | European and International Legal Sciences | 3 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Human Sciences | 5 | 1 |
| Ph.D. | Smart Agrifood Sciences | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 104 | 15 |
Required Documents
You must submit following documents to apply,
- Online application form.
- Degree certificates (Bachelor’s + Master’s) with full transcripts.
- Research proposal (varies by program, usually 2,000–10,000 characters).
- Euro pass CV (academic background, publications, research experience).
- Two recommendation letters (from professors/researchers).
- Motivation letter (some programs require it).
- Proof of English proficiency (if applicable).
- Foreign degree validation (if required).
Note:
- Disabled applicants must submit medical certificates for accommodations.
- Non-EU students may need legalized/translated documents.
Deadline & Important Dates
- Application opens: 11 May 2026
- Deadline: 9 June 2026 (12:00 PM Italian time, GMT+1)
- Exams: June 2026 (varies by program)
- Results: Published on each PhD program’s website
- Program start: October 1, 2026
Complete Application Process
- Register online at www.univr.it/applicationphd.
- Fill out the form, select your PhD program, and upload documents.
- Print, sign, and email the form + attachments to phd.selection@ateneo.univr.it by May 20, 2025, 1:00 PM.
- Subject line: “Application for the PhD programme in [Your Program], [Your Name]”.
- Wait for confirmation (automatic reply confirms submission).
- Check exam dates (published on the program’s website).
- Interview/Oral exam (conducted in English/Italian, varies by program).
- Final ranking (published online; top candidates receive scholarships).
