Ph.D. in Law - Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies

The faculty of Social Sciences at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies is offering a 3 year Ph.D. in Law program. 

The Ph.D. in Law hosts graduate students interested in achieving the highest level of academic education, and pursuing advanced studies in law, with a strong interdisciplinary perspective, in a lively international setting in a leading Italian University.

The course aims at training scholars capable of critical thinking and innovative research in their respective fields of interest, at the forefront of the international debate.

The Ph.D. program encompasses a broad set of areas of law, ranging from private and private comparative law, public comparative and European law, constitutional and administrative law, general theory of law, applied legal theory, criminal – national and international – law, law and technology.

Over the 3-year program, Ph.D. students attend courses, both in their field of interest and in the others covered by the faculty: interdisciplinary perspective and a sound methodological preparation is essential for competitive scholars in the academic and professional market.

Admission Requirements

Candidates with the academic qualifications set forth below may apply for the Ph.D. in law program, regardless of their citizenship:

• Master of Science (MSc) degree
• Similar academic qualifications obtained abroad, comparable with the Italian qualification in terms of level, duration, and contents, and deemed eligible for application.

Applicants who will obtain their academic qualifications within October 31 may also be admitted to the selection process.

Applicants having already been awarded a doctoral degree issued by an Italian University, or having benefitted from a scholarship for the attendance of a Ph.D. course in Italy (even though for a sole installment) cannot apply for the above Ph.D. positions.

Candidates holding a qualification obtained abroad (EU and NON-EU Countries)

All candidates holding a qualification obtained abroad (EU and NON-EU Countries) are required to submit a copy of their original degree certificate along with a translation unless written in English/French/Spanish/German.

Admission to the Program for candidates holding a foreign qualification obtained in a NON-EU Country is in any case subject to verification of the qualification held, which is carried out on the basis of the “Dichiarazione di Valore in loco” [statement of validity] issued by the local Italian diplomatic office, or, alternatively, of the Diploma Supplement.

The Statement of validity should contain the following information:

1. legal status and nature of the issuing institution;
2. admission requirements for the study program resulting in that qualification;
3. legal duration of the study program and/or the overall commitment required of the student determined in ECTS (if available);
4. value of the qualification for academic and professional purposes in the system/Country which issued it.

Course Structure

During the first year, Ph.D. students are required to attend 120 hours of in-class training on methodological, curricular, and interdisciplinary courses. They are also involved in seminars, workshops, conferences, and research activities.

During the second year, the requirement for in-class training reduces to 80 hours, since students are expected to be working primarily on the dissertation, in close collaboration with their supervisor.

The third-year is devoted to refining the thesis, to be discussed within two months from the end of the program. The vast majority of the courses offered are taught in English.

During alternatively the second or third year, students are required - as noted above - to undergo a 3 to 6-month research period aboard, as a visiting scholar at one prominent foreign University or center deemed relevant for their Ph.D. project.

Publication requirements amount to at least two contributions over the second year, to an Italian or an international scientific journal.

Fees and Funding

5 places are available each year in this program, of which 1 is reserved for candidates who obtained their qualification at non-Italian universities.

Candidates are offered a scholarship of $17,359 gross paid in deferred monthly installments. The gross amount includes social security contributions payable by the recipient.

The scholarships have the duration of the Ph.D. course and are confirmed on a yearly basis for admission to the subsequent year subject to the decision by the Teaching Board of the individual Programmes.

The scholarships are awarded according to the general merit ranking lists, without prejudice to the scholarships reserved for specific research topics which may be awarded to the first suitable candidate identified by the Selection Board based on the profile/CV.