International School of Advanced Studies

FUTURE PHD CANDIDATES

IMPORTANT

Financial conditions depend on the specific position

The current call, its annexes and the description of each research topic determine whether a position includes a scholarship, its funding source and any additional financial or contractual conditions.

01

Positions with and without a scholarship

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

The absence of a scholarship does not remove the academic obligations of the programme. Before applying, carefully verify the financial status of the selected position in the official topic list.

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.

04

Project-funded and restricted-topic scholarships

Some scholarships are financed by research projects, ministries, public bodies, 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 paid activities.

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.

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 UNICAM regulations, it is normally not lower than 10% of the scholarship amount.

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. The standard UNICAM increase corresponds to 50% of the scholarship for the eligible period.

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.

09

Enrolment contributions, healthcare and insurance

Any enrolment contribution, regional tax or other amount due is determined annually and must be checked in the current 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 before applying

For each position, 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 or income conditions;
• the individual research budget available;
• enrolment, healthcare and personal living costs;
• the consequences of accepting or renouncing the scholarship.

AFTER THE SELECTION

Review the assigned position before accepting it

The candidate awarded a position should verify the scholarship, funding source, research topic, host institution and any additional obligations before formally accepting and completing enrolment.

Need clarification about a funded position?

Contact the SAS Office before applying or accepting the position, indicating the PhD programme, curriculum and research topic code concerned.