27 Best PhD Programs in Italy

There are 27 PhD programs in Italy, spread across 6 universities; the most common length is 4–6 years. Courses from Politecnico di Milano, School of Education Pisa and University Institute of Modern Languages come first, because those universities rank highest.

Subject

Level

University type

Location

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Universities 6 Programs 27 Scholarships 2

25PhD / Doctorate

#78 in Italy Italy

Dottorato in Teologia (Special. in Dogmatica)

Pontificia Università della Santa Croce — The Doctorate in Theology, specializing in Dogmatics at Pontificia Università della Santa Croce, provides an advanced study of theological concepts and doctrines within t...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

26PhD / Doctorate

#78 in Italy Italy

Dottorato in Teologia (Spirituale)

Pontificia Università della Santa Croce — The Dottorato in Teologia (Spirituale) at Pontificia Università della Santa Croce is designed for scholars interested in deepening their understanding of theological prin...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

27PhD / Doctorate

#78 in Italy Italy

Dottorato in Teologia (Storia della Chiesa)

Pontificia Università della Santa Croce — The Dottorato in Teologia with a specialization in Storia della Chiesa at the Pontificia Università della Santa Croce provides a comprehensive study of Church history, de...

PhD / DoctorateLevel

4–6 yearsDuration

Full TimeMode

FallIntake

Social Sciences & Psychology

View program → About the university

Programs at other levels

Bachelor's Programs Master's Programs Professional Programs

Popular collections

Bachelor's Programs Master's Programs Engineering Programs Business & Management Programs Bachelor's Engineering Programs Arts, Design & Architecture Programs Social Sciences & Psychology Programs Master's Business & Management Programs Master's Engineering Programs Medicine & Health Sciences Programs

How these courses are ranked

Only one university here holds a QS World position — Politecnico di Milano at #87 — so it heads the list. Below them, universities follow their research output: Politecnico di Milano is cited most (5,908,035 citations). 1 university have neither a QS position nor a research record yet and appear at the end, marked "Not yet ranked".

What the courses look like

The most common subjects are Science (9), Social Sciences & Psychology (9), Media & Communication (3) and Economics & Public Policy (1). The usual length is 4–6 years and 3 years. 100% are full-time. Start dates lean to Fall (100% of courses with a stated intake). School of Education Pisa offers the widest choice, with 11 of these courses.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best university in Italy for PhD?

Politecnico di Milano (QS World #87), School of Education Pisa (#37 in Italy) and University Institute of Modern Languages (#66 in Italy) lead this list. QS World positions come first; the rest are ranked by research impact.

How long does a PhD course take in Italy?

Most listed courses run 4–6 years, with 3 years the next most common.

When do PhD courses start in Italy?

Fall is the main intake — 100% of courses with a stated start date begin then.

Which university has the most PhD courses in Italy?

School of Education Pisa, with 11, ahead of Pontificia Università della Santa Croce (10).

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