Frequently Asked Questions
The EUI Doctoral Programme
Application procedure & Deadline
Application documents: CV, Research proposal, Degree Transcript (GRE - for Economics only).
Degree requirements for admission & study background
Grants
References
Interviews & Selection
Language Requirements
The EUI Doctorate
Which countries recognize the PhD awarded by the EUI?
Information about the recognition of the EUI Ph.D.
May I undertake a Doctoral programme of the EUI on a part-time or distance learning mode?
No, the EUI Doctorate is a full-time residential programme.
I am currently in full-time employment. Can I register with the EUI and continue my job?
No, if admitted to the EUI, you must interrupt or end your employment for the duration of the programme.
I am currently registered on a Ph.D. programme at another university. May I transfer to the doctoral programme of the EUI?
If you are in the first year of a doctoral programme, you may register at the EUI, but you must interrupt the other programme of study.
If you are in the second year of a doctoral programme and receive funding, you may exceptionally register at the EUI but:
1. Your supervisor, your university institution and your funding authority must all agree to this
2. You must interrupt the other programme of study
If you are beyond the second year of another doctoral programme and are funded in that programme, you will not be allowed to register at the EUI; the only exception is if you are a supervisee of a faculty member recruited by the EUI. Your university of origin and funding authority must in this case agree to your admission to the EUI and yoou must interrupt the doctoral programme undertaken at the other university.
Can I interrupt my current PhD and transfer to the EUI doctoral programme without losing the years I already spent at my previous university?
No, if admitted to the EUI doctoral programme you must start from the 1st year.
I am currently registered on a Ph.D. programme at another university. Can I register at EUI at the same time, and carry out two PhDs simultaneously?
No, under no circumstances can you register at the EUI at the same time.
Does the EUI require PhD students to reside in Florence during the programme?
Yes, research students must reside in Florence.
May I finish my PhD in less than 4 years?
Yes, but you must successfully complete at least two years of the programme. If you are in the 3rd year, and you have already fulfilled all the requirements for the thesis defence, you may complete your PhD without having to attend the 4th year.
May I finish my PhD in more than 4 years?
Researchers are allowed to submit and defend their thesis during their 5th year but not later. The 5th year is not funded.
May I undertake a joint PhD in two different EUI departments?
No, it is not possible to carry out a joint PhD, but a multidisciplinary approached is warmly encouraged and researchers may take part in the academic activities of the other departments if they wish so.
Does the EUI offer co-tutoring programmes?
No, we don’t.
Is seminar attendance obligatory during the PhD?
This may vary according to the departmental rules. Generally speaking, seminar attendance is mandatory during the first and the second year, while the last two years are mainly devoted to completing the doctoral thesis.
How is the EUI Academic Year structured?
The academic year begins on 1st September and finishes on 31 August, and is divided in three terms. There are holiday breaks for Christmas, Easter and during the month of August.
Application procedure & deadline
May I submit my application by e-mail or mail?
No, applications must be submitted exclusively online.
Is 31 January the last date for receipt of applications?
Yes, applications must be submitted on-line by January 31 at 00.00. After this date the on-line Application Form is not active.
16When does the call for PhD applications start?
The call for PhD applications is open from mid-October to 31 January. During this period, the online application form is available on the relevant web page.
Is there more than one call for PhD applications throughout the academic year?
No, there is only one call which open by mid- October and closes on 31 january.
Can I reapply in successive years for the EUI doctoral programme if my first application is unsuccessful?
Yes, candidates may re-apply as many times as they wish.
I applied last year. My application was unsuccessful, and I wish to reapply this year: may I reactivate my old application?
If you wish to reapply, you must submit a new online application form. However, your old application documents (CV, degree transcript, research proposal, as well as your reference letters) can be made available should you wish to re-use them.
Application documents: CV, Research proposal, Degree Transcript (GRE - for Economics only).
Does the EUI require degree certificates or transcripts?
Yes, the EUI needs a degree transcript listing all the exams/courses taken at university, the grades/marks awarded, and the final degree result (if available).
Attach the transcript/s as a RTF or PDF file (max 800 KB) to the on-line application form. Do not try to submit other file formats; they will not be accepted by the system and your application submission will fail.
If your transcript consists in more than one page, combine all the pages into a single file.
You may also submit a personal declaration to substitute the original transcript/s.
Do not attach a copy of your degree certificate or diploma. This will be requested at a later date.
Should I translate my degree certificates, transcripts or CV?
We usually accept documents in all the languages of the European Union although those wirtten in English guarantee the widest possible reading. As such translations in English are appreciated but not mandatory.
English translations are recommended for transcripts submitted to the Department of Economics.
Do you have any specific requirement regarding the format of my CV/research proposal (page layout, line-spacing, font etc.)?
No, but normal line-spacing (1 or 1,5) and international fonts (for example Arial) are preferable. Do NOT use macros, special characters, password-protected files, electronic signatures or logos.
Are language certificates (Toefl, Cambridge, IELTS) relevant for my application?
No, language certificates are not relevant for admission and not requested for application.
How many documents may I attach to my application?
The online system accepts only one CV, one degree transcript (i.e. multiple transcripts must be saved into the same file), one research proposal. For Economics, applicants may attach one GRE certificate (facultative).
In which language should I write my research proposal?
Write your research proposal in English or French.
What should I put in my research proposal?
See the departmental web pages for research, fields of specialization of faculty and research topics of current research students. Propose a research topic that fits in with the departmental profile and that can be supervised by a faculty member.
How should I present my research proposal?
Summarise your proposed research in around 4 pages in English or French giving details of the scope of the project and its objectives. Explain your reasons for this choice, the background and the state of the art in the field. State the methodology, underlying hypotheses/theories, with a description of any empirical component and sources. Add a short bibliography (1 page).
N.B. Candidates for the Economics Department should attach Research Statement in English containing a brief (no more than 2 pages) description of relevant past and ongoing research (e.g. master or undergraduate thesis) and future research plans
LL.M candidates should attach a research statement of about 1000 words.
Can I contact the department for advice on my research proposal?
The general policy of the EUI departments is not to offer individual guidance and advice on project proposals. Prospective applicants are requested to consult the department’s web pages where research themes are listed.
My research proposal is common to two departments. Can I apply to both?
No, you can only apply to one department. However, you can add the name of the other department in ‘Additional notes’ on the application form.
I am applying to Economics, and I would need further clarifications about the GRE scores.
The GRE scores are not strictly required, only recommended, nevertheless they provide a useful input about the candidates’ mathematical and English skills. A good score may help your case. However, given that it is not compulsory, your application will be carefully reviewed also if you do not have GRE scores.
If you wish to take a GRE test for your EUI application, our institution's code is 7395; the departmental code is 1801.
However, the department may also accept an informal version of the GRE test, i.e. the scores you can upload during on-line application procedure.
Furthermore, the department is willing to accept the GRE scores you may have previously obtained for another institution.
Degree requirements for admission & study background
Can I apply even if I take my degree after 31 January?
Yes, but you must obtain your degree with the required grade by the following August and send proof as soon as it is available.
This does not apply to applicants from Latin America who must have already graduated at the time of applying.
Can I apply to a specific department if I have a degree in another subject area?
Yes, but you must have a sound knowledge of the fields covered by that department.
Do I need a first degree in Law for admission to the Law programme or is a B.A. in another subject sufficient?
Applications without a first degree in Law are considered, but you must have a good legal background. The Examining Board will assess the content and quality of the B.A. to decide if it fits the requirements for admission to the Law Department.
Can I apply to the EUI doctoral programme if I already have a Ph.D?
Yes, but check your eligibility for a grant with your national grant-awarding authority.
Grants
How can I check if I am eligible for a grant?
Consult the grant information page .
What are the grant eligibility criteria?
Candidates must be nationals from a country covered by one of the EUI grant programmes, and fulfill the grant eligibility criteria established by the respective grant-awarding authority. In case of doubt, you should contact your grant authority directy (contact details are reported on the relevant grant information page).
I am a European Union citizen. Am I eligible for grant?
In order to be eligible, you must be national from a EU member state part of the EUI convention (consult the grant information page )
I am a non-European Union citizen. Am I eligible for grant?
In order to be eligible, you must be national from a non-EU member state covered by one of the EUI grant programmes (consult the grant information page )
I am a dual national. For which grant programme should I apply?
You should mention both nationalities in your application form. If both countries are included in the EUI grant scheme, your application will be considered for both grants, but only one of them will be awarded in case of admission.
In order to apply for a grant, shall I submit a separate application?
As a general rule, the EUI application is automatically considered as a grant application, with the exception of Spain , Latin America , Portugal and United Kingdom . If you apply for a grant from one of these countries, your application to the EUI can ONLY be accepted if you apply also for the national grant by the deadline specified by the relevant grant authority. Consult the respective grant information pages for further details.
Can I be admitted without grant?
No, self-financing candidates cannot be admitted to the PhD.
References
Do you accept references before I have submitted my application?
Yes, we commonly accept references before we receive the pertinent applications. We keep references on file until the application arrives.
Can referees write reference letters in their own language?
Yes, but references in English or French guarantee the widest possible reading.
Can I give a professional reference from my employer instead of an academic reference?
No, we need academic references from professors or university lecturers who know you well enough to give an academic evaluation of your research, intellectual qualities, ability and potential.
Can I provide extra references?
Only two letters are required (three for Economics) and accepted by the online application system. The references must correspond to the referees reported in your application. As soon as reference letters are uploaded to your application, you will get an e-mail communicating that the file is complete. Eventual extra references will be kept in reserve and uploaded to the candidate’s dossier if a letter from any of the two nominated referees is missing.
Does the EUI contact referees directly to ask for references?
On submitting your application, an email requesting a reference on your behalf is automatically sent to the referees you have nominated. However, should you not wish for this email to be sent to the referees, then you should select "No" in field thirteen of the application form.
It is your responsibility to contact referees directly to inform them of your request and to ensure that they submit the reference by the deadline.
What happens if the reference letters arrive after the deadline?
References should arrive by the deadline for applications on 31 January, but will be accepted for a few days after this.
What happens to my application if reference letters are missing (incomplete application)?
Your application can be considered without references, but remember that references play an important part in the selection process.
Interviews & Selection
How is the interview and selection procedure organized?
See the interview and selection pages.
Language Requirements
How many languages are required in order to be eligible for the doctoral programme?
The only language requirement is a good knowledge of English.
What level of English do I need?
Your level should be similar to the level C2 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) , or to the U.S TOEFL or British IELTS test.
Will the language test result affect the outcome of the interview?
The results are sent to the departments and the Admissions Committee and may be taken into consideration when admission of a candidate is decided.
If a special recommendation is made to improve language competence, registration in the programme is conditional upon the required progress being made.
When can I take the English language test and how long does it take?
You can take the test at any time during the interview period without booking in advance. The test takes about 90 minutes.
Do I have to take two language tests?
No, only if your target department requires you to have a good knowledge of two languages and has specifically requested that you take an additional language test.
When can I take the additional language test, if required by the department?
Language tests in French, German, Italian and Spanish will be held during the interview period at times which will be shown on the Language Centre website nearer the date of the interviews.