Most doctoral competitions open once. This one just opened again.
The University of Milano-Bicocca is accepting applications under Session II of its 42nd doctoral admissions cycle for the 2026/2027 academic year. New scholarship positions became available after Session I closed — funded through company partnerships, external institutions, and university departments that confirmed their contributions later in the cycle.
This is not a rerun of the main competition. Only the programs and research projects listed in the new Session II documentation are open in this round.
One thing needs clarifying before anything else.
Milano-Bicocca Scholarships Overview
| University | University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy |
| Competition | 42nd Doctoral Cycle — Session II |
| Academic Year | 2026/2027 |
| Eligible Applicants | Italian and international |
| Degree Required | Master’s or equivalent second-cycle qualification |
| Final-Year Students | Eligible if degree completed by 31 October 2026 |
| Standard Stipend | €16,243 gross/year (~€1,200 net/month) |
| Deadline | Check official Session II documentation |
First, the Misinformation Worth Correcting
Several social media posts are calling this “130 Milano-Bicocca PhD Scholarships 2027.”
The university has not stated that 130 new awards are available in Session II.
The 139-position figure relates to the earlier Session I competition. The number 130 comes from even older admissions cycles. Neither applies here.
Session II was created for programs that received additional scholarships after Session I closed. The positions available in this round are specific to the current call.
Check the Session II project sheets directly. That’s the only accurate source for what’s actually open right now.
Why Session II Is Different From Regular PhD Admissions
Italian doctoral admissions don’t work the way many international applicants expect.
There’s no inbox for CVs. Candidates apply through an official public competition, submit required academic documents, and are ranked through a selection process specific to each program.
Session II adds more specificity on top of that. Many positions are tied to a defined research project, a company partnership, or an external funding agreement. An excellent academic profile isn’t enough on its own — if your background doesn’t match the advertised project, you won’t advance regardless of your grades.
The first task isn’t writing a motivation letter. It’s reading the individual project description and asking honestly: does my specific background genuinely fit this position?
If the answer is unclear after reading the sheet, that’s worth taking seriously before investing time in an application.
The Scholarship — What It Pays and What to Watch For
The standard Milano-Bicocca PhD scholarship is €16,243 gross per year, with an indicative net payment of approximately €1,200 per month.
For positions funded through company partnerships or external grants, the financial package may differ. Some carry additional research benefits or require industrial placement components. The project sheet is where this information lives.
A practical note on living costs: €1,200 per month is workable in smaller Italian cities. Milan is a different calculation. Housing consistently comes up as the primary financial pressure point for PhD students in the city. Shared accommodation is common, particularly for researchers without additional savings.
“Fully funded” means a scholarship is provided. It doesn’t mean cost-free living in one of Italy’s most expensive cities.
Eligibility — Who Can Apply
The competition is open to Italian and international applicants holding a master’s degree, second-cycle qualification, or an eligible foreign degree that permits access to doctoral study.
Final-year master’s students can apply provided they complete their qualifying degree by 31 October 2026.
Some positions may reserve specific scholarships for candidates who graduated from foreign universities or are resident outside Italy. Others have subject-specific requirements across fields including physics, computer science, medicine, biotechnology, neuroscience, economics, statistics, and environmental science.
Eligibility must be checked separately for each project. A general interest in studying in Italy is not the same as matching the specific requirements of an advertised position.
The IELTS Question — A Straight Answer
There is no single rule covering every program at every Italian university.
English-language requirements are set at the program level, sometimes at the project level. One doctoral program may accept a Medium of Instruction letter from your previous university. Another may assess English during the selection interview. A third may require IELTS or TOEFL.
“Without IELTS” does not mean “without any English proficiency requirement.” It means an alternative form of evidence may be accepted. The two are not the same.
If you plan to use an MOI letter, confirm that the specific program’s call expressly recognizes previous education taught in English as valid language evidence. Don’t assume that because one Italian university accepted it, every program will.
Non-EU applicants: University admission and the Italian student visa process are separate. A university may waive a standardized test, but the Italian embassy processing your visa operates under its own documentary requirements. Keep the university’s official language confirmation ready for your visa application.
Putting Together a Strong Application
Applications go through Milano-Bicocca’s online admissions portal. Before starting, read both the general competition rules and the specific project description you’re applying to.
Documents commonly required:
- Academic CV
- Bachelor’s and master’s degree certificates and transcripts
- Valid identification document
- Research proposal (where required by the program)
- Master’s thesis abstract
- Motivation statement
- Publications or conference contributions (if applicable)
- Reference letters
- Evidence of research or professional experience
One important procedural point: once the application is formally submitted, it cannot be modified or resubmitted to replace a document. Prepare everything completely before hitting submit.
Three Things Applicants Consistently Get Wrong
- Publications are not mandatory. Many applicants assume two or three journal articles are required. They’re not universally compulsory. Selection panels assess thesis quality, research proposals, laboratory experience, technical skills, and interview performance alongside publication records. Check the scoring table for your specific program to see how points are distributed.
- Contacting professors isn’t always necessary. Many Italian doctoral admissions run through public competitions where candidates apply directly and are ranked through document review and interview. Contact faculty only if the call asks you to identify a supervisor, if the project requires preliminary discussion, or if you have a specific question not answered in the documentation. A generic email requesting an acceptance letter helps almost nobody.
- Admission is not the same as receiving a scholarship. The final ranking indicates which successful candidates receive funded positions and which qualify for places without funding. Never assume an admission letter automatically includes a stipend.
For Candidates Still Completing Their Master’s Degree
You can apply to Session II as a final-year student, provided you will obtain your qualifying degree by 31 October 2026.
Check what interim documents are required before uploading. Some programs ask for a declaration of expected graduation, others request the most recent transcript, and others specify a particular form. The project sheet and general competition rules will indicate what’s needed for candidates who haven’t yet graduated.
Don’t assume the process mirrors what you’ve read about other Italian universities. The requirements are specific to this cycle.
Official Link
University Milano-Bicocca Opens Second PhD Scholarships Round for 2027 Applicants
The Interview Stage
Many Milano-Bicocca programs permit videoconference interviews for candidates based outside Italy, but this isn’t guaranteed for every program in Session II.
The project sheet should specify whether the interview is online or in person, the scheduled date, the platform, the language of assessment, and what candidates are expected to present.
Common questions cover the master’s thesis, research methodology, motivation, project understanding, and how the candidate’s background fits the advertised work. Reviewers probe methodological thinking rather than accept a polished presentation at face value.
Going in prepared to explain why you made certain research choices, not just what those choices were, makes a noticeable difference.
Non-EU Applicants and Universitaly
Non-EU candidates requiring a student visa should complete the university competition first, then follow Milano-Bicocca’s instructions for pre-enrollment through the Universitaly platform.
Universitaly supports the official pre-enrollment process needed for the subsequent visa procedure. It is not the same as the university’s PhD application. Completing one does not complete the other.
Follow the sequence: university competition first, Universitaly pre-enrollment second, visa documentation third.
Related reading: