University of Perugia PhD Scholarships 2027 in Italy: How to Apply Guidance
University of Perugia PhD Scholarships 2026/2027 are open in Italy under the PR Umbria European Social Fund Plus funding call. This XLII-cycle competition offers 31 funded positions, with research areas ranging from science and engineering to medicine, economics, law and the humanities.
Your first task is to identify a programme that fits your qualification and research interests. A promising PhD title is only the starting point: its programme sheet determines which academic backgrounds are accepted and how candidates are assessed. If your degree was awarded abroad, you also need evidence that allows the committee to evaluate it.
How should you approach the application? Start with the programme rules, build your document checklist, then complete the correct PICA competition form. Admission and funding are considered through this selection; saving an application draft does not secure either. This guide helps you choose where to apply, understand the remaining costs and complete the submission steps. Applicants outside Europe should also read the eligibility clarification below before paying.
From your research interests to a submitted Perugia application
01 Which Perugia PhD fits your degree?
Choose a programme whose accepted qualifications and research scope match your background. Foreign qualifications must be comparable to an Italian second-cycle degree/EQF Level 7 and permit PhD entry in the awarding country; the committee assesses equivalence.
The ministry’s subject listing helps you start a shortlist. Use the questions below to decide which programme sheets deserve your attention; these are research-area groupings, not a substitute for the exact courses and positions in Annex 1.
| Research areas in the official listing | Question to answer before choosing |
|---|---|
| Physics, chemistry and Earth sciences | Which advertised research direction matches the methods you used in your thesis? |
| Civil, industrial and information engineering | Can you demonstrate the technical preparation needed for the specific position? |
| Biology, medicine, agriculture and veterinary sciences | Does the programme accept your qualification, and is your previous research relevant? |
| Economics and statistics | How would your analytical training support the proposed research? |
| Law, politics and social sciences | Which legal, policy or social question connects your previous work to this PhD? |
| History, literature, education and philosophy | Can you explain your research question, sources and approach clearly? |
For each shortlisted course, record its accepted degrees, available positions, required attachments, assessment criteria and interview arrangements. Then compare those requirements with evidence you already have: your thesis, methods training, research experience and relevant outputs.
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02 How will Scholarship and fees affect your budget?
This is a competition for funded doctoral places, with full-time research commitment. Your budget should include accommodation, travel and the initial costs of moving to Perugia.
The call specifies €156 for first-year enrolment, covering regional tax and stamp duty, and €140 in regional tax in subsequent years. These charges are separate from the application contribution. Declining the scholarship also means declining the position; this call does not offer unfunded places.
Before accepting an award, ask the Doctoral Office how scholarship payments are calculated, when the first payment arrives and what costs you must cover before it does. This gives you a practical starting budget.
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03 How do you Submit the funded PhD Application?
Submit through PICA using the competition code DOTTORATO_XLII_REGIONE. Follow this sequence to turn your shortlist into a completed application.
- Read the regional call and annexes. Open the official University of Perugia call page. Read the main call, Annex 1 for course-specific selection rules and Annex 2 for application instructions. Applicants outside Europe should resolve the eligibility question in the FAQ before paying.
- Prepare the attachments your course requests. Build your checklist from the annexes and form. Assemble qualification evidence and any CV, thesis summary, proposal, publications or language evidence requested. For foreign degrees, provide records that explain the qualification’s level and its access to doctoral study.
- Tailor any required research proposal. Connect your question, methods and experience to the selected position. Our research-proposal writing guide can help you develop that argument; your Perugia programme’s instructions determine whether a proposal is required and its format.
- Open the correct PICA competition. Register or sign in through the live regional PhD application page, choose your programme and complete every required section. Check your contact details and uploaded files before proceeding.
- Pay through PagoPA. Complete the contribution within the application period. Each additional programme requires its own application and payment, so assess your fit before adding another course.
- Sign and submit. Use PICA’s “Sign and Submit” procedure and follow the signature option presented. For manual signing, the guide instructs applicants to download, print, sign, scan and upload the application, then send it. Keep the confirmation email and unique application identifier.
- Prepare for selection and monitor university notices. Use the programme’s assessment rules to prepare your research explanation and interview. Successful candidates must then follow the published enrolment instructions and deadlines through SOL.
Before closing the browser: confirm that PICA records a submitted application, then save your receipt, payment evidence and final attachments together. A form still marked as a draft needs further action.
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04 Perugia PhD application questions to resolve
Can applicants outside Europe apply for these regional scholarships?
Confirm eligibility with the Doctoral Office before paying. The university call accepts qualifying foreign degrees without stating a citizenship restriction in Article 2, while the ministry listing tags nationality and residence as “Europe.” Send your nationality, residence and chosen programme to [email protected] for clarification.
Is a professor’s acceptance letter required before applying?
The main call does not state a universal supervisor-acceptance-letter requirement. Check the selected programme’s annex and attachments before treating a letter as necessary. Contacting a relevant academic may help clarify research fit, but the required competition application still goes through PICA.
Can I apply without IELTS?
The main call gives no common IELTS score for every programme. Check your course’s language assessment and required evidence in Annex 1 and the application form. Ask the programme whether your existing English qualification is accepted before booking a test.
Should I submit this scholarship application through Universitaly?
No—the regional PhD competition application must be submitted through PICA. SOL enrolment and any required Universitaly visa pre-enrolment are separate procedures. Follow the university’s instructions for those stages after selection; they do not replace your competition submission.
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05 When must your application and degree be ready?
The last date to apply for the University of Perugia PR Umbria-funded PhD Scholarships 2026/2027 is 28 October 2026 at 23:59, as displayed in PICA. Applications opened on 28 September 2026, and the application contribution must also be paid by the closing date.
Your qualifying degree must be obtained by 31 October 2026. If you graduate after the application deadline, notify the Doctoral Office immediately and send degree evidence within 10 days of graduation, no later than 10 November 2026.
The call schedules publication of selection-calendar notices from 19 October 2026. Check the university’s notices for your interview and, if selected, the separate enrolment deadline.
