Apply (2026)
PHD ADMISSIONS · A.Y. 2026/2027
Cycle XLII admission procedures
A new admission opportunity is available for the 42nd cycle: the second UNICAM Call for Applications, dedicated to innovative PhD scholarships with an industrial focus funded by the Marche Region. The first UNICAM selection and the National PhD Programme in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience follow separate procedures.
IMPORTANT · SECOND CALL ONLY
Specific eligibility requirements for regional scholarships
In addition to the ordinary PhD admission requirements, applicants for this second session must meet all the following conditions on the date they submit their application:
Admission qualification already awarded. Applicants must already hold the degree required for access to the PhD. Applications based on a degree expected to be awarded later are not eligible for this session.
Employment status. Applicants must be inactive, not in employment or unemployed, in accordance with the requirements of the regional funding programme.
Residence or domicile in the Marche Region. Applicants must either be resident in the Marche Region or have been domiciled in the regional territory for at least six months.
Age. Applicants must be under 36 years of age.
Recipients of these scholarships may not be simultaneously enrolled in another university programme during the PhD. Specific obligations concerning research activities, mobility and regional funding also apply. Read Articles 2, 3 and 9 of the official Call before applying.
Read the complete eligibility requirements in the official Call →
01 · SECOND CALL · AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS
Five PhD Programmes · Six Research Topics
Each scholarship is associated with a specific Research Topic. Annex 1 provides the full project descriptions, curricula, supervisors and additional requirements. Consult it carefully before selecting a topic.
| PhD Programme | Scholarship code | Research Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Biotechnology | CHEMREG 1 | Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial and Reparative Activity for Advanced Ophthalmic Devices: Production via Electrospinning and Therapeutic Applications |
| Computer Science and Mathematics | CSMATHREG 1 | Process-Driven Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Twins for Autonomous Production Systems |
| Legal and Social Sciences | LEGREG 1 | GeoWood Marche – Geographical Indications, Design and Innovation to Enhance the Competitiveness of the Marche Wood and Furniture Sector |
| Life and Health Sciences | LIFEREG 1 | Light Therapy and Alzheimer's Disease: Effects on NREM Sleep Microstructure and a Clinical Study of Neurophysiological Biomarkers |
| Life and Health Sciences | LIFEREG 2 | Interconnected Microbiota and Brain: Innovative Postbiotic-Based Strategies for Healthy and Resilient Aging |
| Physics, Earth and Materials Sciences | PEMSREG 1 | Lightweight/insulating eco-sustainable composites based on alkali-activated binders for construction applications |
Available positions: six funded scholarships only. This second session does not offer positions without a scholarship. Any additional allocations depend on further funding and are not part of the six currently available positions.
02 · HOW TO APPLY
Submit your application through the dedicated PICA procedure
The application must be completed in English and submitted exclusively online. Applicants may submit a separate application for each PhD Programme of interest, up to a maximum of three applications. Within the same Programme, up to two available Research Topics may be selected and ranked in order of preference.
APPLICATION & PAYMENT
Complete the application and pay the non-refundable €20 fee for each application by 22 October 2026, 1:00 p.m. Italian time. Saving a draft or paying the fee alone does not constitute submission: complete the final submission procedure and check for PICA's confirmation email.
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS
Prepare the required identity document, CV, a short hypothetical research project in English consistent with your Research Topic, a motivation letter in English or Italian and any other documents and declarations required by the Call and the PICA form. The research proposal is relevant to the evaluation and binding for the research activities that may subsequently be carried out.
REFERENCE LETTERS
Up to three reference letters may be requested after final submission, through the dedicated PICA function. They are recommended but not mandatory. Referees must submit their letters by 23 October 2026, 1:00 p.m. Italian time.
Go to the correct PICA application portal →
Call, Annex 1 & application guidelines →
Use the dedicated PICA link above for this second session. The official Call takes precedence over screenshots or general examples in the application guidelines.
03 · SECOND CALL TIMELINE
Key dates and next steps
22 October 2026 · 1:00 p.m.
Deadline for final submission of applications and payment of the €20 fee for each application.
23 October 2026 · 1:00 p.m.
Deadline for receipt of any reference letters submitted by referees through PICA.
26 and/or 27 October 2026
Remote interviews for shortlisted candidates. The timetable and virtual meeting details will be published on the official UNICAM Call page.
28 October 2026 · provisional
Expected publication of final merit rankings, subject to changes communicated on the official Call page.
31 October 2026
Deadline for acceptance of awarded positions. Applicants with foreign qualifications must also meet the specific document-submission requirements described in Article 9 of the Call by this date.
1 November 2026
Mandatory starting date of the PhD Programme.
Official notifications: interview notices, any changes, shortlists and final rankings will be published on the UNICAM Call page. Candidates must monitor it regularly; publication constitutes official notification.
IMPORTANT · FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS
Check the 31 October documentation deadline before applying
Applicants who obtained their admission qualification abroad must provide the required CIMEA documentation (comparability and verification) or a Declaration of Value, together with the additional qualification documents specified in Article 9. The required recognition documentation must be issued and sent to dottorato@unicam.it by 31 October 2026, under the conditions and consequences set out in the Call.
The Call also requires first- and second-cycle degree documentation and transcripts, with official translations where applicable. Applicants should verify immediately whether they can obtain all documents within the specified timeframe.
04 · FIRST SESSION · UNICAM PHD PROGRAMMES
Main Cycle XLII Call for Applications
APPLICATIONS CLOSED · FINAL RANKINGS PUBLISHED 21 SEPTEMBER 2026
The first-session application deadline expired on 24 July 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Italian time. The selection interviews have been completed and the final merit rankings were published on 21 September 2026. Candidates should consult the official results and accompanying notices for the applicable acceptance and enrolment instructions. The newly opened regional Second Call above is a separate selection procedure with different eligibility requirements and deadlines.
First-session rankings & official notices →
First-session admission details →
First-session PICA portal · closed →
05 · NATIONAL PHD PROGRAMME · SEPARATE PROCEDURE
Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience
APPLICATIONS CLOSED · CHECK THE OFFICIAL CALL FOR RESULTS
Applications for admission to Cycle XLII closed on 24 August 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Italian time. Selection interviews were held on 8 and 9 September 2026. TAN has a separate Call, results and admission procedure. Candidates should consult its dedicated official page for the latest status and any acceptance or enrolment instructions.
TAN Cycle XLII admissions →
Official TAN Call & results →
TAN PICA portal · closed →
CHECK THE CORRECT ADMISSION PROCEDURE
Different Calls have different requirements and deadlines
Second UNICAM Call – Marche Region scholarships: applications open until 22 October 2026 at 1:00 p.m., subject to the regional eligibility requirements detailed above.
First UNICAM Call: applications closed; final merit rankings published on 21 September 2026. Follow the acceptance and enrolment notices associated with that Call.
National PhD Programme in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience: applications closed; consult its separate official Call for results and next steps.
Interested in other PhD opportunities?
Explore the UNICAM PhD Programmes and consult News & Calls for further admission opportunities, official notices and updates.