International School of Advanced Studies

FUTURE PHD CANDIDATES

IMPORTANT

Always follow the official call and online procedure

The official call, its annexes, subsequent amendments, institutional notices and the instructions displayed by the application platform prevail over any summary information published on this page.

01

Read the call and all annexes

Before starting the application, read the complete call, the research fields and topics list, the application guidelines and any amendments or notices published after the opening of the selection.

02

Choose the correct programme and research field

Identify the PhD programme, curriculum, research field and topics that are consistent with your qualifications and research interests. Carefully follow the limits on the number of programmes, preferences or applications established in the current call.

03

Access the online application platform

Applications are submitted through the online PICA platform indicated in the relevant call. Access may be available through SPID, institutional credentials or registration on the platform, according to the options displayed.

Separate calls, including national PhD programmes, may use a different PICA procedure. Always enter the platform through the link published on the official call page.

04

Complete the application and upload the documents

Enter your personal and academic information and upload all mandatory documents in the format and language required by the procedure.

Documents may include:
• a valid identity document;
• curriculum vitae;
• academic qualifications and transcripts;
• research project or proposal;
• statement of purpose;
• foreign-degree documentation and translations;
• publications or other supporting material permitted by the call.

05

Enter your referees correctly

Where the procedure permits or requires references, enter the current email addresses of professors or researchers who are familiar with your academic and research work.

The platform sends an automatic request to each referee. Contact them in advance and remind them that their reference must be submitted within the separate deadline indicated in the call.

06

Pay the application fee

When required by the call, complete payment through the online procedure for each application submitted. Payment is normally non-refundable and must be completed within the application deadline.

After paying, return to the application dashboard and verify that the payment status has been correctly acquired before proceeding with final submission.

07

Sign and submit the application

Saving a draft does not constitute submission. After checking every section, use the final Sign and submit function and complete the signature procedure requested by PICA.

Applications submitted through SPID may not require a separate signature, but the candidate must still click the final submission button. The application is valid only after successful delivery through the platform.

08

Verify successful submission

After submission, check that the application appears as submitted in your dashboard and that you have received the confirmation email containing the application identification number.

Keep the confirmation, application PDF, payment receipt and identification number for any subsequent communication concerning the selection.

09

Modify a draft or withdraw a submitted application

A saved draft may be reopened and modified until it is finally submitted or until the deadline expires.

Once submitted, an application can no longer be edited. Where permitted, it may be formally withdrawn through the dashboard before the deadline. Follow the PICA instructions and do not assume that an email request replaces the online withdrawal procedure.

10

Selection procedure and interviews

The selection may include an initial evaluation of eligibility, curriculum, research proposal and motivation, followed by an interview for shortlisted candidates.

Consult the current call for the evaluation criteria, minimum scores, interview language, format and calendar. Interview dates normally cannot be changed to accommodate individual candidate requests.

11

Shortlists, rankings and official communications

Shortlists, interview calendars, corrections, final rankings and subsequent notices are published on the official UNICAM call page and, where indicated, on the SAS website.

These publications may constitute official notification to candidates. Regularly monitor the institutional pages and do not rely solely on receiving an individual email.

12

Technical and administrative support

For questions about eligibility, documents or the selection procedure, contact the PhD administration. For technical problems with PICA, use the support link displayed at the bottom of the relevant application page.

Submit support requests well before the deadline and include the programme, application identification number, a clear description of the problem and, where useful, a screenshot.

AFTER THE SELECTION

Check the results and be ready to accept your position

Candidates awarded a position must follow the acceptance instructions within the short deadline established by the call. Failure to respond may be treated as renunciation.