36 Fully Funded PhD Scholarships in Sustainable Development and Climate Change (Study in Italy)

Join the PhD in Sustainable Development and Climate Change, a transformative programme coordinated by IUSS Pavia, Italy, designed to tackle global challenges through a multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary approach. Integrating environment, society, technology, economy, and health, this initiative aligns with the UN 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

With a network of over 50 public and private research centers worldwide, this 3-year, English-taught programme empowers candidates to drive impactful research for a sustainable future. Check more PhD positions here.

Programme Overview

Duration: 3 years, fully in English
Global Network: Over 50 partner universities and research institutions
International Experience: Minimum 6 months of research abroad (up to 12 months)
Faculty: Over 200 researchers and professors
Funding: 36 fully funded scholarships for the 41st cycle (2025)
Training: Over 160 hours of multi-disciplinary seminars and specialized courses
Research Focus: Aligned with SDGs, covering environment, society, technology, economy, and health

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Research Structure and Curricula

The programme centers on one core research topic—sustainable development and climate change—and offers three specialized curricula:

CU-Alpha: Earth Systems and the Environment
CU-Beta: Socio-Economic Risk and Impacts
CU-Gamma: Technology and Territory

Research Topics

Sustainable forest management: challenges and innovative solutions for climate-resilient ecosystems
Redefining hydrological extremes in a changing climate: a new paradigm for data-scarce modelling
Flood risk in urban areas under climate change: risk management
Mapping emerging ESG-related technologies through secondary data – a platform-based approach
Development of regional strategies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change
Decarbonisation of urban systems
Urban resilience to climate change: adaptation and community engagement strategies
Analysis of cost and effectiveness of flood risk management measures in Italy and Europe
Digital and remote neuropsychology assessment for sustainable and equitable healthcare practices
Optimization of beef production systems facing climate change
Multilevel and multifactorial evaluation of levee performance for climate change adaptation (MELE)
Understanding sustainable development between institutional arrangements and market regulation
Abandonment of remote rural areas: trade-offs for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and land use
Health and climate change: reducing inequalities and achieving sustainable development
Strategies for the environmental improvement of textile products in the Lombardy region
Ethics and regulation of climate change: analysis and proposal of adaptation and mitigation models
Climate change & transportation: a critical and complex interrelationship
Ethics of emergency and environmental humanities
Regulatory dimension of the public policies oriented to decarbonization and climate neutrality
Green transition and gender mainstreaming
Use of satellite data for territorial sustainability analysis
Language and metaphors in underserved populations to promote environmental literacy
Computational modeling of atmospheric multiphase chemical processes
Earth observation in crises monitoring and civil protection
Improving small-scale ocean predictions with probabilistic forecasting
Lifecourse approaches to investigate long-term effects of climate change-related environmental risks
Numerical modeling of tornado winds in the Po Valley
Study on detection and degradation of small microplastics and nanoplastics in aquatic environments
Towards a better understanding of changes in extreme rainfall in Mediterranean area
Assessing the impact of global warming on endocrine disruptors using the zebrafish model
The effect of climate-related combined stresses on food security and quality
Geophysical investigations of cryosphere as tool for assessing impacts of climate change
Multi-risk methods for assessing climate resilience and impacts on socio-ecological systems
Urban air pollution toxicity by spatial source-resolved modelling of aerosol oxidative potential
Modelling climate change impacts on air pollution in Europe under current and future scenarios
Development of sustainable biotechnologies for metal recovery from vehicle batteries and PCBs

Scholarship and Funding Details

The 41st cycle (2025) offers 36 fully funded scholarships, each valued at €19,021.02 per year (gross, including National Social Security Contributions (INPS)). Key details include:

Taxation: Scholarships are exempt from IRPEF tax but subject to INPS “gestione separata” contributions
Eligibility Restriction: Candidates who have previously received a doctoral scholarship (even partially) are ineligible.
Increased Funding Abroad: 50% increase during international research periods (up to 12 months).
Research Budget: At least 20% of the scholarship amount (€3,804.20 annually) for research-related expenses in Italy and abroad, starting from the second year.
Insurance: The School provides accident and civil liability insurance for the entire programme duration.
Mobility Funds: Support for research stays at foreign institutions.

Admission Requirements

Applications are open to all qualified candidates, regardless of age or nationality. Eligible candidates must have:

Academic Qualifications:
- Italian Master’s degree (Laurea Magistrale, Laurea Specialistica, or Laurea Vecchio Ordinamento).
- Equivalent foreign academic qualification (comparable in duration and content to an Italian Master’s degree), recognized by the Selection Board as suitable.
Pending Graduates: Candidates who have not yet obtained their degree may apply, provided they complete it by 1 November 2025 (programme start date).
Language: Proficiency in English (B2 level or higher) is required; Italian is not mandatory but may be beneficial for specific topics.

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Application Process

Applications must be submitted via the PICA platform and include:

Personal Information
Curriculum Vitae
Valid ID
Research Proposal
Letter of Purpose
Academic Qualifications
Reference Letters: Up to 2 letters from academic/professional referees (optional).
English Proficiency: Certification (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS) or self-declaration of B2 level or higher.
Other Documents: Proof of degree equivalence (for foreign degrees) and additional certifications.

Note: Incomplete applications or those not meeting requirements will be excluded. Candidates must select a curriculum and may indicate a preferred research topic.

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