Dipartimento di Economia, Società, Politica
| A.Y. | Cycle | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 | XLI | Urbino |
Learning Objectives
Themes
The PhD programme, now at its ninth edition, focuses on the economic, socio-political and legal aspects of globalization processes.
Two triennial research and training paths are undertaken in alternate years. The first one, starting in 2025-2026 (XLI Cycle), refers to International Economic Policy, Business and Governance. The second one, focusing on Global Society, Cross-border Mobility and Law, will start in 2026-2027 (XLII Cycle).
THE 2025/26 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS CAN BE ACCESSED FROM THE SECTION "HOW TO APPLY FOR THE PHD PROGRAMME IN GLOBAL STUDIES BELOW. 11 POSITIONS AVAILABLE. DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: JUNE 10TH 2025 AT 1 PM CEST.
The 2025/2026 edition, addressing the first thematic area International Economic Policy, Business and Governance, will devote specific attention to the following main topics:
(a) Growth, inequalities, and transformations of economic systems, national and supranational responses to major recessions, to tensions in politics, trade and finance, to technological change and Artificial Intelligence, and to environmental challenges;
(b) Evolution of multinational companies and SMEs, industry and the public sector, finance and work in a context of international fragmentation of production and of growing economic and political instability;
(c) Geo-political processes and political choices of European, international, regional and national institutions for the governance of globalization and international relations.
Applicants to the 2025/26 edition will have to submit research projects referring to the general themes listed above.
The second thematic area, Global Society, Cross-border Mobility and Law, to be launched in 2026-27, will train students to carry out research on the evolution of societies, institutions and rights in the European and global arenas.
FLYER PH.D. PROGRAMME GLOBAL STUDIES - AY 2025-26 - XLI CYCLE
Career prospects
Objectives
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 and de-globalisation 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 exposed to global challenges such as: the international fragmentation of production, the intensification of migration flows, the digital transition, the emergence of new technologies and of artificial intelligence, environmental change, geo-political imbalances and financial instabilities. The programme offers analytical tools to examine these phenomena at the level of individuals, firms, sectors, countries, regions and supra-national institutions.
Contents and structure of the course / Syllabus
Activities of PhD Students
English will be the working language throughout the entire programme, developed over three years. Training and research will take place at the University of Urbino and, for periods ranging from six to twelve months, at other international academic institutions. Co-tutelle agreements can be signed with other institutions to undertake research abroad for periods longer than one year.
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 interactive learning and face-to-face activities involving students and lecturers from different parts of the world.
Introductory and background courses will be held online in September and October 2025, in order to fill gaps in students’ competences in Economics, Business, Political Science, Math and Computing tools.
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 2026. 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 with no final examinations will be delivered to address specific and cutting-edge research issues. Workshops will be also organised to enhance Ph.D. student’s skills in English for academic purposes, informatics, research methods and valorisation of the research. See "Course Structure" section for an illustrative list of topics discussed during the first year of this PhD Programme.
During the first 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;
- Research 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; alternatively, students may choose activities offered by other PhD programmes or agree with their supervisor and PhD coordinator for a Substitutive Learning activity of equivalent relevance;
- 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, also in collaboration with scholars at other international institutions;
- 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.
Information about final examination
Course structure and research training
In the edition starting in the academic year 2025-2026 - International Economic Policy, Business and Governance - the following provisional calendar of activities will be followed:
FIRST YEAR
- Introductory and background courses (Math & Statistics and computing tools , Economics, Business, Socio-politics)
First semester
- First Teaching Module: Mathematics for Social and Economic Research, Qualitative Research Methods, Economics, Politics and Global Governance, and Language Labs
- Second Teaching Module: Data Analysis, Applied Statistics, History of Globalisation, History of Economic Thought, International Trade and Economic Policy, International Business, Data Labs
- Weekly seminars and workshops on specific topics
Second semester
-Third Teaching Module: Applied Econometrics, International Production; a choice of topics on Economics and Management of Globalisation (International Corporate Governance, Global Financial System) or on Socio-politics of Globalisation (The Changing Role of Nation States, Democracy and Globalisation
- Fourth Teaching Module: A choice of topics on Economics and Management of Globalisation (Economics of Innovation, Digital Economy, Environmental Change, Global Value Chains) or on Socio-politics of Globalisation (Geopolitics, Territorial Policies, Welfare Policies, Global Demography)
- Data labs
- Weekly seminars and workshops on specific topics
- 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 XLII cycle (A.Y. 2026-2027); alternatively, students may choose activities offered by other PhD programmes or agree with their supervisor and PhD coordinator for a Substitutive Learning activity of equivalent relevance
- 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 Ph.D. 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.
TRAINING AND TEACHING ACTIVITIES OF THE PHD PROGRAMME IN GLOBAL STUDIES. ECONOMY, SOCIETY AND LAW
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Professional opportunities
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 other high-level employment 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
How to apply for the Ph.D. Programme in Global Studies. Economy, Society and Law
- Admission
- Course with limited number of positions
- Admission deadline
- Applications due by
- Enroll
- Check the selection procedures, including the criteria for evaluating qualifications and the interview for admission to:
Official Documentation
- Useful information
Please note: It is highly recommended to carefully read the Call for applications, including its Annex A, to verify the admission requirements and the required documentation. The Call can be consulted by clicking on "OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION" in the "HOW TO APPLY FOR GLOBAL STUDIES. ECONOMY, SOCIETY AND LAW" section. In the same folder you can also find our guide "How to apply: step-by-step instructions".
As specified in the call, the 2025-2026 selection procedure will yield 11 Ph.D. positions, of which 10 with scholarship (as decided by the Urbino University boards of May 23 2025) for a 3 year period starting from November 2025. Two of the positions with scholarship are reserved for candidates holding a foreign degree as access qualification.
It is broght to the applicants' attention that "candidates who meet the requirements automatically compete also for the places reserved for candidates with foreign access qualifications", as specified at article 3 of the Call. Hence, to be eligible for any of the 10 positions with scholarship offered for the 2025/2026 edition of this Programme, candidates will have to supply the appropriate documentation certifying their holding a foreign degree, as indicated at article 2, point B of the call. Applicants who certify holding an Italian degree (or expecting to hold it in due time) as access qualification, will be eligible only for the 8 positions that are not reserved, while they will not be eligible for the 2 positions reserved for candidates with foreign qualification.
The selection will be based on: (a) preliminary evaluation of CV (which includes academic qualifications and self-assessment of knowledge of English language), of a short abstract of the master thesis, research project and other documentation if any; (b) online interview of shortlisted candidates.
Documentation requested:
· Curriculum vitae (CV) in English, which must include academic qualifications and self-assessment of knowledge of English for applicants with different mother-tongue (minimum B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Information to be included in the CV are listed in Annex A of the Selection Call;
· A 1500 word Abstract of the Master Thesis in English (to be submitted also if the title has not yet been obtained, specifying the presumed date of the discussion, provided that it is scheduled before October 31st 2025);
· A research project of up to 2500 words in English, focusing on one of the following topics under the Thematic Area “International Economic Policy, Business and Governance”: (i) economic growth, inequalities and transformations of economic systems, national and supra-national responses to tensions in politics, trade and finance, to technological change and Artificial Intelligence, and to environmental challenges; (ii) the evolution of multinational enterprises and SMEs, industry and public sector, finance and labour in a context of international fragmentation of production and of growing economic and political instability; (iii) geo-political processes and policies carried out by international, regional and national institutions for the governance of globalization;
· Research projects must have the following structure: a) state of the art, b) research objectives, c) methodology, d) expected results, e) references;
· A maximum of three additional titles will be considered, including: official certificates of knowledge of the English language at level B2 or higher, issued by accredited bodies; or other documents relevant to the evaluation of the applicant’s qualifications and research activity.
The interview will focus on the CV, the scientific and research interests and the research project proposal of the candidate. English proficiency of at least B2 or higher level will also be evaluated during the interview for all non-mother tongue English speakers.
Information on teaching and research activities
- Organization
The Urbino Ph.D. Programme in Global Studies is governed by a Board of Lecturers composed by outstanding scholars, one third based in international institutions. The Board meets mainly online to take care of the design and enactment of the training and research activities offered to Ph.D. students. The agenda of Board meetings is defined by the PhD Director who coordinates the Programme with the assistance of a Steering Committee whose composition reflects the disciplinary areas covered by the Programme. One of the Steering Committee members takes the role of Vice-coordinator and is in charge of monitoring the quality of teaching and training activities undertaken. The Steering Committee periodically consults the recently formed Advisory Board composed by the following qualified members:
• Isabel Alvarez, Director of the Instituto Complutence de Estudios Internacionales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid;
• Alex Borisov, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Professor of Finance;
• Alessandro Bruscia, Senior Human Resource Manager at Saipem SpA;
• Pascale Gonod, Professeur à l'Ecole de droit de la Sorbonne (Université de Paris I), membre de l'Institut universitaire de France;
• Manoj Kumar Teotia, Professor at CRRID, Indira Gandhi National Open University Chandigarh, India;
• Federica Saliola, former junior researcher at Uniurb, now Manager of the Jobs Group in the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank;
• Salvatore Scalzo, Policy e Legal Officer at the European Commission;
• Magdalena Slusarczyk, Cracovia University, expert in migrations and training.
- Contact
Ph.D. Director: Professor Antonello Zanfei
Organizational Support: Dottoressa Sofia Baldarelli
To request information, please send an email to phd-global-studies@uniurb.it indicating "phd in global studies_information request" as subject.
- Contacts
- Antonello Zanfei
- antonello.zanfei@uniurb.it
- Sofia Baldarelli
- phd-global-studies@uniurb.it
Administrative contacts
- Secretary’s Office
- Ufficio Dottorati - Post laurea - Esami di Stato
- Via Veterani, 36 - Urbino
- Office hours
- Monday - Friday from 9.30 am to 13pm
- Contacts
- Tel. +39 0722 304630 dottorato@uniurb.it
