Location:

Milan, Italy

Program Type:

Full Degree

Degree Level:

Doctorate

Specialty:

Political Science

Program Overview

Program Description:

The PhD Program in Political Studies provides the most up-to-date knowledge and methods in political science and political philosophy. Students are trained in four path of specialization: Institutions and Public Policy, International Studies, Public Opinion, Political Communications and Political behaviour, Political Theory. Graduates will be able to undertake research within Academic Institutions, Think Tank and research centers, as well as provide consultancy for political, economic, public or private organizations at the national and international level. Starting from the Academic Year 2013-2014, the Graduate School in Social and Political Sciences hosts the NASP-WEST project (Network for the Advancement in Social and Political Studies) which involves a network of universities in Northern Italy: Brescia, Università Cattolica, Genova, Milano, Pavia, Piemonte Orientale and Torino. The partnership for the Ph.D. programme in Political Studies involves the following departments and schools: • ASERI - Graduate School of Economics and International Relations (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore); • Department of Political Sciences – DISPO (Università di Genova); • Department of Social and Political Sciences – SPS (Università di Milano); • Department of Political and Social Sciences (Università di Pavia). The aim of the doctoral Programme in Political Studies is to train highly-skilled professionals who can undertake research within academic institutions, think tanks and research centers, as well as provide consultancy for political, economic, public or private organizations at the national and international levels. Thanks to the partnership with other Italian universities and the thick network of connections with experts and foreign institutes, the Ph.D. in Political Studies offers a two-levels training program. First, the acquisition of a common background on the most up-to-date knowledge and methods in the field of political science and political philosophy. Second, a more personalized training subdivided in four main paths of specialization, and the possibility to experiment cross-curricular paths linking together traditionally unrelated disciplines. The path on Institutions and Public Policy focuses on the analysis of contemporary political systems and their related issues, such as the functioning of parliaments, governments, and other political institutions at the national, local and European levels, the definitions of welfare programs, the evaluation of public policies, the processes of democratization. The path on International Studies aims to provide the tools to interpret the international dimension of politics and the processes of mutual conditioning between the domestic and external spheres by discussing the main themes of the theory of International Relations, and analyzing the most important sub-regional systems and the main international actors’ foreign policies. The path on Public Opinion, Political Communication and Political Behaviour delves into the analysis of the electoral processes, the role that the main actors involved – such as political parties and candidates – play, their strategies of communication with the citizens, and how the latter build, express and translate into electoral behaviours their attitudes towards politics. The path on Political Theory offers an in-depth study of the main paradigms that orient the contemporary debate on political philosophy, normative political theory, and applied ethics, and provides the necessary competences to build political arguments, evaluate their theoretical and practical implications, elaborate conceptual frameworks to treat politically relevant issues. The doctorate programme extends over a three years period. The first year is spent in Italy and is devoted to an intensive study through lectures and high-level seminars, for a total of 60 credit. The second year is partly spent abroad and is devoted to highly-focused courses, to the formulation of a research project and to the initial drafting of the thesis. The third year is entirely devoted to writing the doctoral thesis under the supervision of a professor indicated by the doctorate council. All classes and teaching activities are in English. Attendance at the courses is compulsory and students are expected to take an active part in the coursework by presenting reports and writing papers. You can Officially apply only when the Call for Application will be OPEN. Next Call for Applications is expected in Summer 2014.

Additional Program Information

Accreditation:

The University of Milan is a public University and the PhD title is the highest Academic Qualification in the National Education System. Students or professionals who achieve the Italian PhD degree are entitled to see recognized it in all foreign countries where they decide to move for study or work reasons.

Financial Aid:

Yes

Requirements:

The minimum requirement to apply for the competitive examination for admission to the Ph.D. courses is to hold a 2nd cycle degree (master-level) awarded by an accredited (in Italy) foreign university

International Requirements:

International Students during Application process must present certificate of their university career: Degree certificate in English (or in Italian) with course examinations passed and final grade (self-certification for Italian citizens)