International School of Advanced Studies

FUTURE PHD CANDIDATES

IMPORTANT

Financial conditions depend on the specific position

The relevant Call, its annexes, the description of each research topic and the final assignment determine whether a position includes a scholarship, its funding source and any additional financial or contractual conditions. The current Regione Marche second-session positions are all scholarship-funded and are subject to specific additional requirements and obligations.

Calls and application information → Cycle XLII admissions →

01

Positions with and without a scholarship

Admission to a PhD programme may concern a position with a doctoral scholarship or, where expressly provided by the relevant Call, a position without a scholarship.

The absence of a scholarship does not remove the academic obligations of the programme. For the current Cycle XLII second-session Calls, however, all seven available positions are funded by Regione Marche and no unfunded positions are available.

02

Scholarship amount, duration and payment

The scholarship amount cannot be lower than the minimum established by national legislation. The precise amount and any special conditions are stated in the Call or in the documents relating to the funded position.

Scholarships are normally paid in deferred monthly instalments. A personal bank account must be provided to UNICAM for scholarship payments and reimbursements.

03

Annual confirmation of the scholarship

The scholarship normally covers the standard duration of the programme, but its continuation is subject to the positive annual evaluation of the doctoral candidate's research and training activities and, where applicable, compliance with the obligations of the funding programme.

04

Project-funded and restricted-topic scholarships

Some scholarships are financed by research projects, ministries, public bodies, regional programmes, companies, partner universities or international programmes and are linked to a specific research topic or host institution.

Additional obligations may concern research activities, mobility periods, project deadlines, reporting, acknowledgement of the funding body, use of logos or limits on other activities. The current Regione Marche-funded scholarships are linked to specific Research Topics and include additional eligibility, mobility and funding obligations that must be checked in the relevant Call and Annex 1.

05

Compatibility with employment and other funding

A doctoral scholarship cannot automatically be combined with other scholarships, research grants or forms of financial support. Exceptions and specific incompatibilities are determined by national legislation, UNICAM regulations and the funding source.

Paid working activities require prior assessment and authorization and must remain compatible with the full-time research and training obligations of the PhD programme. Funded positions may establish stricter limits. In particular, applicants to the current Regione Marche second-session Calls must satisfy the specific employment-status requirements at the time of application, and scholarship recipients must comply with the incompatibilities established by the relevant funding rules.

Working activity rules → Dual enrolment and related funding rules →

06

Social security contributions

Doctoral scholarships are subject to Italian social security contributions under the INPS Separate Management scheme.

Scholarship holders must register with the relevant INPS scheme. The applicable contributions are deducted from the scholarship and paid by the University. Any previous registration with another social security fund must be reported during enrolment.

07

Individual research budget

Each doctoral candidate, with or without a scholarship, is guaranteed a budget for research activities in Italy and abroad. Under the applicable national and UNICAM rules, this budget is not lower than 10% of the scholarship amount. Specific provisions may apply to National PhD Programmes and externally funded positions.

The budget is not additional personal income. It may be used, after the required authorization, for eligible research and training expenses such as missions, courses, conferences, publications, consumables and bibliographic resources.

08

Scholarship increase for mobility abroad

Scholarship holders may receive an increase for authorized training or research periods abroad. Under the current general framework, the scholarship is increased by 50% for the eligible period, while specific funding conditions may provide for equivalent or additional mobility arrangements.

Mobility must be planned and authorized in advance. Payment is subject to the required documentation and to certification by the host institution of the period and activities actually completed. The current Regione Marche-funded scholarships also require a mobility period abroad of at least three and no more than six months, under the conditions of the relevant Call. The scholarship-increase procedure does not replace the separate mission authorization.

Mobility abroad guidance → Scholarship increase procedure →

09

Enrolment contributions, healthcare and insurance

Any enrolment contribution, regional tax or other amount due is determined annually and must be checked in the relevant Call and enrolment instructions.

Doctoral candidates benefit from the insurance coverage provided by UNICAM for institutional activities. Healthcare and residence-permit requirements may involve additional personal costs, particularly for international candidates.

10

Check the financial conditions of your PhD position

Before applying for a current or future Call, or before accepting a position already offered to you, verify:

• whether the position includes a scholarship;
• the scholarship amount and duration;
• the funding body and research project;
• the expected host institution and mobility periods;
• any reporting, exclusivity, employment or income conditions;
• the individual research budget available;
• enrolment, healthcare and personal living costs;
• the consequences of accepting or renouncing the scholarship.

Current Cycle XLII positions → Calls and position details →

AFTER THE SELECTION

Review the assigned position before accepting it

For first-session Cycle XLII procedures, candidates should verify the assigned research topic, scholarship status, funding source, host institution and any additional obligations before completing the formal acceptance procedure. Final rankings are now available for both the general UNICAM Call and the separate TAN procedure.

For the current second-session Regione Marche Calls, all available positions include a scholarship. Successful candidates must carefully check the funding conditions and specific obligations attached to their Research Topic and follow the acceptance instructions applicable to the relevant Call. Awarded positions must be accepted by 31 October 2026, and the PhD Programme begins on 1 November 2026.

Acceptance and enrolment instructions → Enrolment and first steps →

Need clarification about a funded position?

Contact the SAS Office before applying or accepting the position, indicating the PhD Programme, curriculum, Research Topic code and the admission Call concerned.