Admission requirements
FUTURE PHD CANDIDATES
Check the academic, scientific and documentary requirements for admission to a UNICAM PhD programme before starting your application. Requirements and deadlines may differ between Calls, including different admission sessions within the same PhD cycle.
CHECK THE CORRECT CALL
Cycle XLII has separate admission procedures
UNICAM Second Call – Regione Marche: 6 scholarships across UNICAM PhD Programmes. Applications open until 22 October 2026, 1:00 p.m. Additional regional eligibility requirements apply.
First UNICAM Call: applications closed on 24 July 2026; final merit rankings published on 21 September 2026.
National PhD Programme in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience: a separate second-session Call is open for 1 Regione Marche-funded scholarship until 22 October 2026, 1:00 p.m. Final rankings for the TAN first session have also been published.
SECOND-SESSION CALLS · SPECIFIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Who can apply for the Regione Marche scholarships?
In addition to the ordinary academic requirements for doctoral admission, applicants to the current Regione Marche-funded second-session procedures must meet all four conditions below on the date they submit their application.
01 · Degree already awarded
You must already hold the academic qualification required for admission. It is not possible to apply on the basis of a degree that you expect to obtain later.
02 · Employment status
You must be inactive, not in employment or unemployed, in accordance with the requirements of the regional funding programme.
03 · Residence or domicile in the Marche Region
You must be resident in the Marche Region or have been domiciled in the regional territory for at least six months. The six-month requirement specifically concerns domicile.
04 · Age
You must be under 36 years of age.
Additional conditions: the two current procedures offer seven funded positions in total: six through the UNICAM Second Call and one through the separate TAN Second Call. No unfunded positions are available. Scholarship recipients must also comply with the specific research, mobility and regional funding obligations established by the relevant Call and Research Topic.
UNICAM Second Call requirements → TAN Second Call requirements →
01
Required academic qualification
You may apply if you hold an Italian second-cycle or single-cycle degree, or another university qualification obtained abroad that allows access to doctoral education and is recognized as suitable for admission.
SECOND-SESSION CALLS · REGIONE MARCHE
The required admission qualification must already have been awarded when you submit your application. Check Article 9 of the relevant Second Call and the academic requirements of your selected Programme and Research Topic.
02
Qualification to be obtained after applying
Some PhD Calls may permit candidates to apply before completing the required degree, provided that it is obtained by a deadline expressly established in that Call. This possibility does not apply automatically to every admission procedure.
FIRST UNICAM CYCLE XLII CALL · APPLICATIONS CLOSED
Under the first-session Call, candidates who had not yet obtained the required qualification had to obtain it by the date of enrolment and communicate its completion to dottorato@unicam.it within five days of obtaining the qualification. The conditional status could be resolved only after the necessary checks.
CURRENT SECOND-SESSION CALLS · APPLICATIONS OPEN
A pending degree is not accepted for the Regione Marche scholarships.
For both current second-session procedures, you must already hold the required degree when submitting your application. Obtaining it after submission or before the PhD starting date does not satisfy this requirement.
03
Academic qualifications obtained abroad
A foreign qualification must be issued by an officially recognized institution and must give access to third-cycle studies in the education system of the country in which it was awarded.
The relevant Call specifies which degree certificates, transcripts, translations and recognition documents must be submitted, and whether CIMEA documentation or a Declaration of Value is required for enrolment.
SECOND-SESSION CALLS · DOCUMENTATION DEADLINE: 31 OCTOBER 2026
Check whether you can obtain the required documents in time
Applicants with foreign qualifications must provide the required CIMEA comparability and verification documentation or, alternatively, a Declaration of Value. Under Article 9 of the relevant Call, the recognition documentation must be issued and sent to dottorato@unicam.it by 31 October 2026, under the conditions established by the Call.
The relevant Call also requires degree documentation and transcripts, with official translations where applicable. Applicants should verify immediately whether they can obtain all documents within the specified timeframe.
04
Consistency with the programme and research field
Your academic background, previous research experience and scientific interests should be consistent with the selected PhD Programme, curriculum and research field. Carefully compare your profile with the descriptions contained in the relevant Call and its annexes.
Current second session: the UNICAM Call offers six Research Topics across five PhD Programmes. Candidates may apply to up to three Programmes through separate applications and select up to two Topics within the same Programme, where available. The separate TAN Call offers one scholarship linked to one specific Research Topic in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience.
05
English and language requirements
UNICAM doctoral education has an international profile and English is widely used in applications, training and research activities. The selection procedure assesses the candidate's ability to work in the foreign language or languages indicated in the Call.
Current second-session Calls: the online application must be completed in English. The research project must be written in English, while the motivation letter may be submitted in English or Italian. Remote interviews will preferably be conducted in English.
06
Research project and statement of purpose
Applicants are generally required to present a concise research proposal demonstrating their ability to formulate a research question, identify suitable methods and explain the potential relevance of the proposed work.
The statement of purpose should explain your motivation, research interests, previous experience and the consistency between the chosen PhD opportunity and your academic development.
SECOND-SESSION CALLS · PROJECT-SPECIFIC APPLICATION
For the current second-session procedures, submit a short hypothetical research project in English, consistent with the selected Research Topic, describing its objectives, expected results and methodology. The proposal is used for evaluation and is binding on the research activities that may subsequently be carried out during the PhD. The motivation letter may be written in English or Italian.
07
Curriculum vitae and supporting documents
Prepare an updated academic CV presenting your education, thesis work, research experience, professional activities and relevant technical or methodological skills.
Where applicable, include publications, conference presentations, awards, scholarships, training activities and any other evidence requested or permitted by the relevant selection procedure.
Current second-session Calls: upload a valid identity document, CV and all other attachments required by the relevant Call and PICA procedure. The research project and motivation letter have dedicated application fields. Check that all uploaded PDFs are complete and readable.
08
Referees and reference letters
The application procedure may allow you to indicate professors or researchers who know your academic and research work and can support your application through a reference form or letter.
Contact potential referees in advance, use their current email addresses and verify the number of references and submission deadline stated in the Call.
SECOND-SESSION CALLS · 23 OCTOBER 2026, 1:00 P.M.
Up to three referees may be nominated after final submission through the dedicated PICA function. Reference letters are recommended but not mandatory. Referees must submit them through the online procedure by 23 October 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Italian time. Do not upload reference letters as ordinary application attachments.
09
Position-specific and reserved requirements
Some positions are connected with a specific research project, funding programme, partner organization, host institution or international agreement.
These opportunities may include additional academic, professional, mobility, nationality, employment or research requirements. Reserved conditions apply only when expressly indicated in the Call or in the relevant topic description.
SECOND-SESSION CALLS · REGIONAL SCHOLARSHIP OBLIGATIONS
The Regione Marche scholarships require full-time research and training, participation in the funded research project, a period of mobility abroad lasting at least three and no more than six months, and compliance with the applicable regional funding rules. Simultaneous enrolment in other university programmes is not permitted. The relevant Annex 1 may also specify topic-related research and training periods at partner organisations.
10
Final eligibility check
Before submitting an application, verify that:
• your qualification gives access to doctoral education and is held by the deadline required by your Call;
• your Programme and Research Topic have been selected correctly;
• you are using the PICA procedure corresponding to your Call;
• all mandatory documents are complete and readable;
• translations and foreign-degree documents meet the stated requirements;
• your research project and statement of purpose follow the instructions;
• your referees have received the automatic request, where applicable;
• any specific conditions attached to the position are satisfied;
• the application fee and final PICA submission have been completed by the applicable deadline.
• your Programme and Research Topic have been selected correctly;
• you are using the PICA procedure corresponding to your Call;
• all mandatory documents are complete and readable;
• translations and foreign-degree documents meet the stated requirements;
• your research project and statement of purpose follow the instructions;
• your referees have received the automatic request, where applicable;
• any specific conditions attached to the position are satisfied;
• the application fee and final PICA submission have been completed by the applicable deadline.
SECOND-SESSION CALLS · FINAL CHECK BEFORE 22 OCTOBER
1. Degree already obtained when applying.
2. Required employment status, Marche Region residence or domicile, and age requirements satisfied.
3. Correct Programme, Research Topic and application procedure selected.
4. Application completed in English and required documents uploaded.
5. €20 fee paid for each application.
6. Final submission completed by 22 October 2026, 1:00 p.m. Italian time, with confirmation received.
2. Required employment status, Marche Region residence or domicile, and age requirements satisfied.
3. Correct Programme, Research Topic and application procedure selected.
4. Application completed in English and required documents uploaded.
5. €20 fee paid for each application.
6. Final submission completed by 22 October 2026, 1:00 p.m. Italian time, with confirmation received.
NEXT STEPS
Apply to the current Second Calls or follow your first-session result
UNICAM Second Call: if you meet the specific regional requirements, apply for one of the six available scholarships through the dedicated PICA procedure by 22 October 2026 at 1:00 p.m.
TAN Second Call: one Regione Marche-funded scholarship is available through the separate Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience procedure, with the same application deadline.
First-session applicants: final merit rankings are now available for both the general UNICAM procedure and the National PhD Programme in Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience. Follow the acceptance and enrolment instructions applicable to your result.
Unsure whether your qualification or circumstances meet the requirements?
Contact the Advanced Studies Office for administrative guidance. For qualification-related enquiries, provide clear information about your degree, awarding institution, country, duration and access rights to further university studies. For technical problems with an application, use the Support function on the PICA page corresponding to your Call.