Milano Bicocca Italian University Opens 130 Scholarships for Phd Admissions

A second opportunity to pursue a PhD in Italy with scholarship funding has opened at the University of Milano-Bicocca. The university is now accepting applications under Session II of its 42nd-cycle doctoral admissions for the 2026/2027 academic year.

This is not a routine reopening of the university’s main doctoral competition. Session II has been created for PhD programmes that received additional scholarships from companies, external institutions or university departments after Session I was published. Consequently, only the programmes and research projects listed in the new Session II documents are available in this round.

That distinction matters because several social-media posts describe the opportunity as “130 Milano-Bicocca PhD Scholarships 2027.” The university does not state that 130 new awards are available in Session II. A figure of 139 funded positions has circulated in connection with the earlier Session I competition, while older posts have used the number 130 for previous admissions. Applicants should therefore check the current Session II project sheets rather than relying on recycled scholarship graphics.

What Is Different About Session II Admissions at Italian Universities?

Most major admissions at Italian universities are organised through annual public competitions. Candidates do not simply send a CV to a professor and wait for an offer. They apply through an official call, submit the required academic documents and are ranked through the selection process described for that doctoral programme.

Milano-Bicocca’s Session II is more targeted. Many positions are linked to a defined research project, company partnership, departmental grant or external funding agreement. A candidate may therefore have an excellent academic profile but still be unsuitable if their education and research experience do not match the advertised project.

The first task is not writing a motivation letter. It is reading the individual description sheet and answering a tougher question: Does my academic background genuinely fit this particular scholarship?

Who Can Apply for a PhD at Milano-Bicocca?

The Milano Bicocca Scholarships are open to qualified Italian and international applicants holding a master’s degree, second-cycle qualification or an eligible foreign degree that permits access to doctoral study.

Students who are still completing their master’s programme may also apply, provided they obtain the qualifying degree by October 31, 2026. Some doctoral programmes may additionally reserve particular scholarships for candidates who graduated from foreign universities or who reside outside Italy.

Eligibility must still be checked separately for each project. Depending on the research position, the university may look for applicants from fields including education, physics, astronomy, computer science, medicine, biotechnology, psychology, neuroscience, economics, statistics, environmental science or other related disciplines.

A general interest in Scholarships in Italy will not be enough. Applicants need to demonstrate why their previous degree, thesis, laboratory experience, research methods or professional skills are relevant to the advertised work.

Are the Milano-Bicocca PhD Positions Fully Funded?

Milano-Bicocca’s doctoral guidance lists the standard PhD scholarship at €16,243 gross per year, with an indicative net payment of approximately €1,200 per month. The precise financial package may vary where a position is financed through a company, research project or external institution.

Applicants should examine the funding entry in the project sheet instead of assuming every position carries identical conditions. Some scholarships may be connected to a compulsory research topic, an industrial placement, work at a partner laboratory or a period at another institution.

The scholarship can support a modest doctoral lifestyle, but Milan’s housing market is an important consideration. Current discussions among PhD students repeatedly ask whether an Italian doctoral stipend is enough for rent, food and transportation in cities such as Milan. The practical answer is that shared accommodation may be necessary, particularly for researchers who do not have additional savings.

How to Prepare the Milano-Bicocca PhD Application

Candidates must apply through the university’s online admission system. Before beginning, they should read both the general competition rules and the description of the selected doctoral project.

The required documents vary by programme but may include:

• Academic CV
• Bachelor’s and master’s degree records
• Transcript of courses and grades
• Identification document
• Research proposal
• Master’s thesis abstract
• Motivation statement
• Publications or conference contributions
• Reference letters
• Documents proving research or professional experience

Applicants may manage their uploads before formally completing the application for this Italian University of Bicocca Scholarship Program, but after final submission the application cannot be modified, withdrawn and resubmitted simply to replace a document.

Questions Applicants Asking About PhD Scholarships in Italy in 2027

Can international students get a fully funded PhD in Italy?

Yes. Italian and international applicants holding an eligible second-cycle qualification can compete for funded doctoral places at Italian universities. A standard Italian doctoral scholarship is currently listed at €16,243 gross per year, normally paid in 12 monthly instalments. Some externally funded projects may offer different financial conditions or additional research benefits.

Applicants must still check whether the position is marked with scholarship, without scholarship, company-funded or reserved for candidates with foreign qualifications. Admission to a PhD programme does not automatically mean that every admitted candidate receives funding.

Are all PhD admissions at Italian universities fully funded?

No. A university call may include funded scholarships, industrial PhD positions, places reserved for particular applicants and positions without a scholarship.

Students looking specifically for a fully funded PhD in Italy should read the funding column and individual project description before applying. A headline stating that a university has opened PhD admissions does not prove that every available place carries a stipend.

Can I apply for a PhD scholarship in Italy without IELTS?

Possibly, but there is no nationwide rule saying that every Italian university accepts PhD applicants without IELTS.

English-language requirements are determined by the university, doctoral programme and sometimes the individual research project. One programme may accept a Medium of Instruction letter, another may assess English during the interview, while another may require IELTS, TOEFL or an equivalent certificate.

The phrase “scholarship in Italy without IELTS” normally means that an alternative form of English-language evidence may be accepted. It does not necessarily mean that applicants can apply without proving English proficiency in any form.

Is a Medium of Instruction letter accepted instead of IELTS in Italy?

An MOI letter may be accepted when the official PhD call expressly recognises previous education taught in English as valid language evidence.

Applicants should not assume that an MOI accepted by one Italian university will be accepted by every other institution. Social-media discussions repeatedly show applicants receiving conflicting advice on this point because MOI policies differ between universities and programmes.

The MOI should normally be issued by the previous university and clearly confirm that the relevant degree was taught and examined in English.

Is “without IELTS” the same as “without English proficiency”?

No. These are not the same thing.

An Italy scholarship without IELTS may still require applicants to demonstrate English ability through:

• A Medium of Instruction certificate
• A different recognised language test
• Previous education completed in English
• An English-language interview
• A university-administered assessment
• Another certificate accepted by the programme

Applicants should therefore search the call for terms such as language requirements, English proficiency, B2 level, admission interview and supporting documents rather than looking only for the word IELTS.

Can the Italian Embassy require language evidence when the university has waived IELTS?

University admission and the Italian student-visa process are related but separate procedures.

A university may accept an MOI letter or waive a standardised test, but the diplomatic mission remains responsible for assessing the visa application and supporting documents. Non-EU candidates should follow the instructions issued by the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for their place of residence.

Applicants should keep the university’s official language-waiver or admission confirmation available for their visa documentation rather than relying on a consultant’s verbal assurance.

Do I need to contact a professor before applying for a PhD in Italy?

Not always. Many PhD admissions at Italian universities are conducted through public calls in which candidates apply directly to the university and are ranked through document assessment, a research proposal, written examination or interview.

Contacting a professor is worthwhile when:

• The call asks candidates to identify a supervisor
• The research project requires preliminary discussion
• You have a specific academic question not answered in the notice
• The programme follows a supervisor-led admission model

A generic email requesting an “acceptance letter” is unlikely to help where the university does not require one. Applicants should read the project description and recent work of the research group before contacting faculty members.

Can I win a PhD scholarship in Italy without publications?

Yes. Publications can strengthen an application, but they are not universally compulsory.

Many applicants on social media assume that two or three journal articles are required before they can compete for PhD scholarships in Italy. In reality, selection panels may consider several indicators of research potential, including:

• Master’s thesis quality
• Relevance of the previous degree
• Research proposal
• Laboratory or field experience
• Technical and analytical skills
• Conference presentations
• Academic references
• Performance during the interview

The number of publications needed is therefore not fixed. Applicants should check the scoring table because some programmes allocate points to publications while others place greater weight on the proposal and interview.

Is a research proposal required for an Italian PhD scholarship?

It depends on the doctoral programme.

Some Italian PhD calls require applicants to submit their own research proposal. Others advertise a predetermined project and ask candidates to explain how they would investigate that topic. Certain programmes evaluate applicants mainly through qualifications, examinations and interviews.

Where a proposal is required, it should normally explain:

• The research problem
• Existing academic knowledge
• The unanswered question
• Research objectives
• Proposed methodology
• Expected contribution
• Feasibility within the PhD period

A proposal should be tailored to the advertised scholarship. Reusing the same generic proposal for unrelated PhD positions is one of the quickest ways to appear poorly matched.

Can final-year master’s students apply for PhD programmes in Italy?

Many Italian universities permit candidates who are completing their master’s degree to apply conditionally, provided they graduate by the date specified in the doctoral call.

The graduation deadline is not identical across universities. Candidates should look for provisions concerning applicants who have not yet obtained the qualifying degree and check which interim transcripts, declarations or expected-graduation documents must be uploaded.

For Milano-Bicocca’s 2026/2027 doctoral competition, eligible candidates awaiting completion of their degree must obtain it by the deadline stated in the university call.

Are Italian PhD interviews conducted online for international applicants?

Many programmes permit interviews by videoconference, particularly for candidates living outside Italy, but this cannot be assumed for every university.

The programme sheet should identify:

• Whether the interview is online or in person
• The interview date
• The platform used
• The language of assessment
• Identification requirements
• Whether candidates must present their proposal

Common questions concern the applicant’s master’s thesis, research methods, motivation, project fit and understanding of the proposed topic. Applicants should be prepared to defend their methodological choices rather than simply memorising a presentation.

Is Italian language proficiency required for a PhD in Italy?

Not necessarily. Italy offers doctoral programmes and research projects conducted partly or entirely in English.

A candidate applying to an English-language PhD may not need Italian for academic admission unless the call states otherwise. However, basic Italian can still be valuable for housing, healthcare, administration and everyday life.

Applicants should distinguish between the language of the PhD programme and the practical language needed to live in Italy.

Is a PhD scholarship enough to cover living costs in Italy?

That depends heavily on the city and the applicant’s lifestyle.

The standard scholarship may be manageable in smaller Italian cities, especially with shared accommodation. Milan, Rome, Bologna and Florence can be more difficult because rent may consume a substantial part of the monthly stipend. The affordability of Italian PhD funding is consequently one of the most frequent concerns raised by doctoral applicants online.

Before accepting an offer, candidates should compare the net scholarship amount with:

• Average room rent
• Utility charges
• Transport costs
• Health insurance or healthcare registration
• Food and personal expenses
• Initial visa and relocation costs

The word fully funded means that a scholarship is provided; it does not guarantee a luxurious or completely expense-free life.

Can I apply for more than one PhD scholarship in Italy?

Generally, candidates may submit applications to different Italian universities and, where permitted, more than one doctoral programme at the same university.

Each application must follow the relevant call and may require a separate fee, proposal and document package. Applicants should not submit identical materials everywhere. A well-targeted application showing strong research alignment is more competitive than numerous generic submissions.

Is admission to an Italian university the same as receiving a scholarship?

No. University admission and scholarship selection may be combined in one PhD competition or handled through separate procedures.

For doctoral admissions, the final ranking usually indicates which successful candidates receive scholarships and which candidates qualify for places without funding. For bachelor’s and master’s programmes, regional scholarships are normally managed separately from academic admission.

Applicants should never assume that an admission letter automatically includes tuition coverage, accommodation or a living stipend.

Do international students have a fair chance of winning PhD scholarships in Italy?

International candidates are permitted to compete for Italian doctoral scholarships, and some positions are specifically reserved for applicants holding foreign qualifications. Official selection is based on the criteria and scoring system stated in the call.

Online discussions sometimes raise concerns about local candidates having stronger connections or familiarity with the system. The most practical response is to target projects that closely match your previous research, follow every documentary requirement and prepare carefully for the interview.

A strong academic record alone may not secure admission if the proposal, technical experience or project fit is weak.

Do non-EU PhD students need to apply through Universitaly?

Non-EU candidates requiring a study visa should follow the university’s international-enrolment instructions and complete the required pre-enrolment procedure through Universitaly when instructed.

The university evaluates admission and foreign qualifications, while Universitaly supports the official pre-enrolment process needed for the subsequent visa procedure. PhD applicants should normally complete the university competition first and then follow the institution’s directions for pre-enrolment and visa documentation.

Applicants should not confuse a Universitaly submission with the university’s own PhD application. Completing one does not automatically complete the other.