Italy is calling researchers from around the world — and this time, it’s one of Europe’s most elite institutions doing the inviting. The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa has officially opened its Call for PhD Applications for the 2026–2027 academic year, offering 58 fully funded doctoral positions across some of the most exciting fields in science, technology, law, and economics. Zero tuition. Monthly stipend. Housing allowance included.
Whether you dream of building next-generation robots, researching global human rights, or pushing the frontiers of economics — this scholarship puts you inside one of Italy’s top-ranked universities, in the heart of historic Tuscany. And here’s what makes it even better: no application fees, no tuition fees, and the programme is open to international students of all nationalities. If you have a master’s degree and a passion for research, this is a life-changing opportunity you cannot afford to miss.
🎓 Quick Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
| University | Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna) |
| Country | Italy 🇮🇹 |
| City | Pisa, Tuscany |
| Degree Level | PhD (Doctoral / Diploma di Perfezionamento) |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded — Stipend + Housing Allowance |
| Total Positions | 58 (may increase with additional funding) |
| Programme Duration | 3–4 years (depending on programme) |
| Deadline (Most Programmes) | May 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM CEST |
| Deadline (Economics) | April 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM CEST |
| Open To | All nationalities — international students welcome |
| Official Website | santannapisa.it |
🎓 Scholarship Overview — What Is Sant’Anna and Why Does It Matter?
The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (Italian: Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, or SSSA) is a special-statute, highly selective public research university located in Pisa, Italy. Together with the University of Pisa and Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, it forms part of the prestigious Pisa University System.
The school holds a unique position within the Italian higher education system, offering international Master’s and PhD courses as well as specialised courses for undergraduates in collaboration with the University of Pisa. Approximately 1,600 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students are enrolled, and excellent scholarships are offered to the most dedicated Italian and international students.
In October 2025, Sant’Anna welcomed 116 new doctoral students in positions funded by scholarships across strategic sectors of innovation and research, reinforcing its status as a hub for world-class doctoral training.
What makes Sant’Anna truly stand out is its focus on applied sciences, research excellence, and international collaboration — with industry partnerships including Leonardo, Telecom Italia, Ericsson, Deutsche Telekom, and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, ensuring PhD graduates enter the job market with real-world credibility.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, the School has made 58 positions available, distributed among the various PhD programmes. The number of positions may be increased if additional financial resources become available.
🎓 Benefits — What Does the Scholarship Cover?
This is a fully funded doctoral scholarship — here’s exactly what that means for your pocket and your life in Italy:
Each selected PhD candidate receives a three-year doctoral scholarship of €19,740 gross per year, plus a housing allowance of €2,200 gross per year.
Breaking that down:
- 💶 Monthly stipend: approximately €1,645/month (before tax)
- 🏠 Annual housing allowance: €2,200 (~€183/month extra)
- 📚 Zero tuition fees — you pay nothing to enrol
- 🔬 Access to state-of-the-art research laboratories
- 🌍 International collaboration opportunities built into programmes
- 🏛️ Free library access with 80,000+ books and 68,000+ e-journals
- 🍽️ Campus canteen services (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- 🏋️ Gyms, music halls, and student facilities on campus
In Italian cost-of-living terms, this package comfortably covers accommodation, food, transport, and personal expenses in Pisa — a city that is significantly more affordable than Milan or Rome. Combined, the annual financial package totals approximately €21,940 gross — equivalent to roughly $24,000 USD per year.
There are no tuition fees for enrolment to the PhD, and the scholarship is renewed annually following a successful assessment.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Here’s what you need to qualify for a Sant’Anna PhD scholarship:
- ✅ Master’s degree (MSc or equivalent) in a relevant field — obtained before the deadline, or expected by October 31, 2026
- ✅ Open to all nationalities — Italian and international applicants equally welcome
- ✅ Strong academic record and demonstrated aptitude for research
- ✅ Research-oriented mindset and interdisciplinary approach
- ✅ Relevant academic background for your chosen PhD programme
- ✅ English proficiency — most programmes are taught in English (verify specific language requirements per programme on the official website)
🌟 No Application Fees. No Tuition Fees. This removes one of the biggest barriers for international students worldwide.
⚠️ Note: English language test requirements vary by programme. Some programmes may accept evidence of English through your degree. Always verify the specific IELTS/TOEFL requirements on the official programme page (verify on official website).
🎓 Who Should Apply — And Who Should Not?
✅ Apply if you…
- Hold or are about to complete a Master’s degree in a relevant field
- Are passionate about original, cutting-edge research
- Want to study at a globally ranked institution in Europe with zero tuition
- Are open to living in Italy and working within an international research team
- Want a fully funded stipend that covers your living expenses throughout the programme
❌ Don’t apply if you…
- Have not yet started your Master’s degree (you must be close to completing it)
- Are looking for a part-time or online doctoral programme
- Are seeking a programme outside the available fields (see below)
- Are unwilling to relocate to Pisa, Italy for the duration of the programme
🎓 Available PhD Programmes — Fields and Disciplines
Sant’Anna offers doctoral programmes across two broad academic clusters — applied sciences and social sciences. Here are the programmes available for 2026–27:
- PhD in Biorobotics
- PhD in Human Rights, Global Politics and International Studies
- PhD in Law
- PhD in Economics
- PhD in Management, Innovation, Sustainability and Healthcare
- PhD in Agrobiosciences
- PhD in Agrobiodiversity
- PhD in Translational Medicine
- PhD in Emerging Digital Technologies
- PhD in Health Science, Technology and Management
Each programme has its own specific research lines, number of positions, and focus areas. For example:
- The PhD in Biorobotics is among the largest doctoral schools in robotics and biomedical engineering in the world, with more than 100 students enrolled and an average of 30 or more new students per year.
- The PhD in Economics is a 4-year programme designed for highly qualified and motivated students who wish to acquire research and analytical skills of the international scientific community in economics.
- The PhD in Human Rights, Global Politics and International Studies focuses on international affairs, governance, and human rights protection — ideal for future researchers, policy professionals, and international organization staff.
🎓 Required Documents
While exact requirements vary slightly per programme, you will generally need to prepare:
- Online application form (submitted via the official Sant’Anna portal)
- Master’s degree certificate or proof of expected graduation by October 31, 2026
- Academic transcripts (all years of your studies)
- Research proposal or statement of purpose (varies by programme)
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) — academic and research experience
- Two or more letters of recommendation from academic supervisors (verify per programme)
- Copy of valid passport or national ID
- English language proficiency evidence (if required by your programme)
- List of publications or research work (if applicable)
💡 Pro tip: Start preparing your research proposal early — this is often the most important part of the selection process. A well-defined research question can significantly improve your ranking in the selection.
🎓 Step-by-Step Application Process
Applying for a Sant’Anna PhD scholarship is straightforward. Here’s how to do it:
- Visit the official PhD Call page at santannapisa.it/en/training/call-phd
- Choose your programme — read each programme’s specific call document carefully
- Download the call document (PDF) for your chosen PhD programme to check specific requirements and positions
- Create an account on the official Sant’Anna application portal
- Fill in the online application form — attach all required documents in the correct format
- Submit before the deadline — late applications are not accepted
- Check your email for confirmation and further communication about interview dates
- Prepare for the selection interview — shortlisted candidates are invited for an oral examination (verify date on official page)
🎓 Important Dates and Deadlines
| Milestone | Date |
| Application Open | Now |
| Deadline — Most Programmes | May 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM CEST |
| Interview List Published (Biorobotics) | June 15, 2026 |
| Academic Year Start | October 2026 |
The deadline for submitting applications is May 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon) CEST. The deadline for submitting applications for the PhD in Economics is April 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM CEST.
📌 Bookmark this page and return for updates — additional positions may open as more funding becomes available.
🎓 Why Sant’Anna? Why Pisa? Why Italy?
Here’s the part that often surprises applicants: Pisa is one of the most remarkable cities in the world for academic life, and Sant’Anna is among its crown jewels.
PhD graduates from Sant’Anna’s Biorobotics programme have gone on to work at prestigious universities including Harvard, Stanford, Boston University, ETH Zurich, EPFL, and the University of Pittsburgh. The employment rate reaches 100% shortly after completing the degree.
Beyond career outcomes, Pisa itself offers an extraordinary quality of life — medieval architecture, incredible food, world-class museums, proximity to Florence, the Cinque Terre coast, and the rolling hills of Tuscany. All of this, combined with a stipend that genuinely covers your living costs, makes this one of the most appealing doctoral opportunities in all of Europe.
The Sant’Anna School offers all of its services free of charge — including accommodation, canteen, internet connection, and library. Students also receive a yearly income for their maintenance.
This is one of only a handful of institutions in Europe where a doctoral scholarship genuinely means zero financial stress — giving you the mental freedom to focus entirely on your research.
🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is the Sant’Anna PhD scholarship open to international students? A: Yes, absolutely. Sant’Anna’s PhD programmes are designed for bright young graduates from Italy and abroad, admitted after a selective examination. All nationalities are welcome to apply.
Q: Do I need to pay tuition fees? A: No. There are no tuition fees for enrolment to the PhD programmes at Sant’Anna. All accepted students receive a funded scholarship position.
Q: Is IELTS required to apply? A: English proficiency requirements vary by programme. Some programmes may accept evidence through your prior degree language of instruction. Always check the specific call document for your chosen programme on the official website (verify on official website).
Q: How many positions are available for 2026–27? A: For the 2026–2027 academic year, the School has made 58 positions available, distributed among the various PhD programmes. The number may be increased if additional financial resources become available.
Q: What is the stipend amount? A: The doctoral scholarship is €19,740 gross per year, plus a housing allowance of €2,200 gross per year — providing approximately €1,645 per month plus housing support.
Q: When can I start the PhD programme? A: The academic year typically begins in October 2026. Some programmes may have a December start for additional positions (verify on official website).
🎓 Official Source and Application Links
- 🌐 Official PhD Call Page: https://www.santannapisa.it/en/training/call-phd
- 📄 PhD Programmes Overview: https://www.santannapisa.it/en/training/phd-programmes
- 🏛️ University Homepage: https://www.santannapisa.it/en
- 📧 Contact: Via the official portal or programme coordinators listed on each programme page
🎓 Complete Summary Table
| Detail | Information |
| Institution | Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa |
| Country | Italy 🇮🇹 |
| Degree | PhD / Diploma di Perfezionamento |
| Duration | 3 years (most programmes); 4 years (Economics) |
| Total Positions | 58 (potentially more) |
| Annual Stipend | €19,740 gross/year (~$21,600 USD) |
| Housing Allowance | €2,200 gross/year |
| Tuition Fees | None — Zero |
| Application Fees | None — Zero |
| Open To | All nationalities |
| General Deadline | May 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM CEST |
| Start Date | October 2026 |
| Fields | Biorobotics, Economics, Law, Human Rights, Medicine, Agriculture, Digital Tech, Management, and more |
| Official Link | santannapisa.it/en/training/call-phd |
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