Global Studies. Economy, Society and Law
Dottorato di Ricerca

The Ph.D. Programme in Global Studies aims to provide interpretive tools and methods for the in-depth analysis and understanding of different aspects and mechanisms of globalization processes. A stimulating, international learning environment will be offered to train qualified experts at the cross-roads of different disciplines, able to undertake research and/or operational responsibilities in different (private/public/business/academic) institutions.

English will be the working language throughout the entire programme, developed over three years.

The first year will be dedicated to courses, data-labs, workshops and other teaching and research activities in Urbino, in the context of this Renaissance city, part of the part of UNESCO World Heritage. 

We envisage this initial year as fully residential in Urbino with the aim to favour face-to-face activities involving students and lecturers from different parts of the world.

All activities will be undertaken complying with safety regulations imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Urbino University is also fully equipped to offer online lectures, workshops and seminars in case it were necessary or useful. 

Introductory and background courses will be held online in September and October 2021, in order to fill gaps in students’ competences in Economics, Business, Political Science, Legal studies and Quantitative Methods.

Courses with exams will take place at Urbino University and will be structured into intensive teaching modules organised over two-month periods: six weeks of teaching, one week fully dedicated to individual study, one week of exams (written tests and/or papers). An additional exam session will be offered in September 2022. See "Course Structure" section for details on courses taught during the first year of this PhD Programme.

Data Labs will provide opportunities for hands-on work on databases and for the application of empirical research methods.

Seminars and workshops with no final examinations will be organized to address specific research issues, and to enhance Ph.D. student’s skills in English, informatics, research methods and valorisation of the research. See "Course Structure" section for an illustrative list of topics discussed in seminars, workshops and mini-courses during the first year of this PhD Programme.

By the end of the year, Ph.D. students will identify their supervisors, will  define structure and contents of their research project, and will initiate their dissertation work.

Admission to the second year will depend on students’ achievement of a satisfactory score at final exams in each teaching module and on the attendance of the different activities. 

The second year of the Ph.D. Programme will include:

- further development of research project,  and major steps ahead in the preparation of the Ph.D. thesis;

- at least six months of research abroad at international Universities and/or Institutions, to be agreed upon with the supervisor and the Ph.D. Director;

- attendance of at least one of the courses with final evaluation offered as part of the second thematic area addressed in the next edition of the Ph.D. programme: Global Society, Cross-border Mobility and Law;

- presentation of the advancement of  research projects and of dissertation work at Ph.D. Seminar sessions to be held  in Urbino

- attendance of advanced courses, seminars and workshops, summer and winter schools in Italy and abroad, agreed upon with the supervisor.

The third year will be devoted to the following activities, both in Urbino and at international universities:

• completion of the Ph.D. thesis;
• presentation of the advancement of  research projects and of dissertation work at Ph.D. Seminar sessions to be held  in Urbino
• participation in selected courses and conferences relevant for the Ph.D. dissertation work, agreed upon with the supervisor;
• presentation of papers at international workshops as well as writing and publication of research works.

Please note: Introductory courses will be offered online between September and October 2021. We are quite confident that it will be possible to regularly schedule core courses in presence in Urbino, starting from November 2021 as usual. Should the Covid 19 emergency not be over by then, however, lectures and seminars will be delivered online. 

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In the edition starting in the academic year 2021-2022 - International Economic Policy, Business and Governance - the following provisional calendar of activities will be followed:

FIRST YEAR

- Introductory and background courses (Math&Statistics, Economics, Business, Politics, Legal Studies)

First semester

- First Teaching Module: Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, English for Academic Purposes, Microeconomics, International Business

- Second Teaching Module: Applied Statistics, International Macroeconomics, Global Sustainability and Environment; International Corporate Governance and Accounting

- Data labs.

- Weekly seminars and workshops on specific topics including inter alia: the social, political and economic consequences of COVID-19; the green transition of regions and industries; global entrepreneurship and local contexts; challenges and tensions in EU integration.

Second semester

-Third Teaching Module: Applied Econometrics; History of Economic Thought; Politics and Global Governance; International Production and Trade

- Fourth Teaching Module: International Economic Policy, History of Globalisation; Economics of Innovation and Technology Transfer; Globalisation and the Changing Role of the Nation State 

- Data labs.

- Weekly seminars and workshops on specific topics including inter alia: changes in geopolitics and international relations; the new populisms; inequalities across and within countries; human capital mobility and migrations of talents; geography of innovation; trade policies and multilateral relations. 

- PhD Student Seminar Sessions

- Identification of Supervisors, refinement of research project, and start of dissertation work

SECOND AND THIRD YEAR

- One course with final evaluation, to be chosen amongst those offered in the XXXVIII cycle (A.Y. 2022-2023)

- Development of research project, preparation and conclusion of the Ph.D. thesis, with the supervision of distinguished scholars and experts at the University of Urbino and at other international institutions

- Presentation of research project and advancement of dissertation work at the PhD seminar sessions held in Urbino

- Research period(s) at European and foreign Universities and institutions (minimum 6 months, maximum 18 months)

- Attendance of seminars, workshops, advanced courses, summer and winter schools in Italy and abroad related to the topic of the research project

- Presentation of papers at international conferences, publication of research works and other dissemination activities.

The Ph.D. in Global Studies allows participants to develop a wide variety of skills and competences useful for an international career in research/teaching or in the private/public sector: strong analytical skills, ability in collaborative work, effective oral and written communication skills, deep cross-cultural competences, wide knowledge of the global socio-institutional context.

Notably, Ph.D. graduates will be well placed to apply for the following professional opportunities:

- academic positions/careers in University Departments/ Research Centres active in Global Studies and in the main related disciplines;

- positions/careers as managers/analysts in:

• International governmental organizations and NGOs active in the economic-social setting, in both advanced and developing countries
• Local, national and transnational organizations and agencies supporting the internationalization processes of SMEs and social companies
• Business enterprises and professional firms (consulting/legal sector) active in international projects