The Graduate School of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore invites pre-applications for its PhD in Economics and Finance. The PhD program lasts four years, starting in the second half of October 2025. The precise starting date will be announced in due course.

We offer at least four fellowships (for a period of four years) to the highest-ranked applicants. Our fellowships provide a grant of €16,243 (gross income) per year. The monthly allowance may be increased by up to 50% for PhD students visiting academic or scientific institutions abroad. The number of scholarships may increase if sponsorships for specific research projects become available. Additionally, allowances (research funds) for short-term mobility (€1,624 per year) are provided.

Further information about the program is available at: https://scuoledidottorato.unicatt.it/defap.

Selection procedure 
 

The selection process consists of two stages, conducted via the University website, as detailed below.

Stage 1 (Pre-Application): Candidates can apply by uploading the required documents, as specified below. Applicants should have a solid background in Economics and will receive feedback on their academic qualifications. No application fee is required at this stage.

• Deadline for submission: April 24, 2025, at 15:00 CET
   
• Notification of outcome: By May 9, 2025, via email
   

Stage 2 (Application): The official Call for Applications (Bando di Concorso) is expected to be published in the Italian Official Journal (Gazzetta Ufficiale) in late spring 2025. It will also be posted on the University and DEFAP websites.

Applicants participating in Stage 2 will be required to pay a fee (expected amount: €100), payable by credit card. Further details about the payment process will be included in the official Call for Applications.

All documents submitted during Stage 1 will remain valid for Stage 2.

How to Submit a Pre-Application
 

Candidates must submit a pre-application by logging in at: https://iscrizioni.unicatt.it/iscrizioni/. All required documents, except for recommendation letters (see below), must be uploaded through this link.

Pre-Application requirements 
 

Pre-applications are accepted from applicants of all ages and nationalities who hold one of the following qualifications:

• An Italian degree (Diploma di laurea quadriennale, laurea specialistica, laurea magistrale) or an Italian degree obtained under regulations in place before the Ministerial Decree of November 3, 1999 (n. 509) and its subsequent amendments.
• A foreign academic qualification already recognized as equivalent by academic authorities or in accordance with inter-university cooperation and mobility agreements.
• A foreign academic qualification that has not yet been formally recognized as equivalent to an Italian degree, provided the applicant submits all necessary documents to determine equivalence for the sole purpose of admission to the PhD program.
   

Applicants who have not yet graduated but expect to receive their degree by October 31, 2025, may also apply.

Qualifications and documents

The following documents must be submitted with the completed pre-application form (PDF format preferred):

• Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of an identification document
• Passport-size photo
• Research statement (max. 15,000 characters, spaces included), outlining research interests and any other relevant information
• Degree certificate (for graduates), including transcript with final grade and full list of courses and grades
• Certificate of enrollment (for pending qualifications), including transcript with courses attended and grades received
• Two confidential letters of recommendation, to be sent directly by the recommenders from their professional or institutional email addresses to: defap@unicatt.it. Candidates are not allowed to send recommendation letters themselves, nor upload them to the website. If a recommender uses a personal email, they must provide a justification (e.g., retirement).

The following optional materials may strengthen a pre-application but are not mandatory:

• Certifications of additional qualifications, with transcripts of courses attended and grades received
• Up to four publications (of any type)
• GMAT or GRE scores
• Certification of English proficiency, such as:
  • Anglia Examination England
  • BULATS
  • Business English Certificate
  • Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
  • Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
  • First Certificate in English (FCE)
  • IELTS
  • ISE (I, II, III, IV)
  • PTE Academic / PTE General
  • Preliminary English Test (PET)
  • TOEFL iBT
  • TOEIC Listening & Reading / Speaking & Writing

The Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is not responsible for mailing delays or document losses due to incorrect or incomplete handling by applicants. Information about the Selection Committee, selection procedure, scholarships, doctoral student rights and duties, degree awarding, and additional relevant matters will be detailed in the official Call for Applications. This document will be published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale and uploaded to the PhD website in due course.

For further inquiries regarding the pre-application and application procedures, please contact us at: defap@unicatt.it.