International PhD Course in Molecular Medicine
Admission to the PhD Course consists in a two-stage comparative evaluation procedure as defined below.
For the purposes of the final rankings, that will be expressed in 100ths, up to 30 points out of 100 can be given in the first assessment phase for the candidates’ qualifications, for the information on one's training and research experience as included in the application for admission to the competition and for the references. Up to 70 points can be given during the second assessment phase.
The final rankings will be published as indicated below and they will show the score, the name and surname and the birthdate of the candidates.
This first assessment phase is carried out by the Committee, and it does not require the presence of the candidates. It concerns the evaluation of:
- The qualifications submitted:
- curriculum vitae and other information in the electronic form;
- degree (5-year degree, as per old Italian regulation, Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree) and graduation marks (including BD);
- pre and post graduate research activity, carried out in Italy or abroad;
- any publication on international journals or submission of abstracts to conferences
- The reference letters submitted by recognised scientific or academic experts mentioned by the candidates in the application form. These authoritative personalities acknowledge the scientific qualities of the candidates by virtue of their institutional tasks (as per Annex 1).
Based on the documentation received and the preliminary assessment criteria, the Selection Committee will proceed with the comparative evaluation of the candidates.
The Selection Committee will prepare the rankings for the first evaluation phase. A distinct ranking will be established for 3-year positions and another for PhS positions. Only candidates who have obtained a score higher than or equal to 16 points will be admitted to the second phase.
Candidates who passed the first phase, must send an email to ufficio.dottorati@unisr.it communicating the preference for at least 3 projects and up to 5, excluding any project-based fellowship selected at the time of submission of the application for admission to the competition and other projects related to specific funded project-based fellowships as indicated in Article 1 of this current call for Application.
The candidates eligible for the second phase will have to choose one scientific publication, among the selected by the Committee to discuss during the interview. These publications will be provided before the second evaluation phase. The list of the papers is available at the page "Rankings and Papers"
This phase consists in an interview held in English, in case also supported by video conference, with the Admission Committee. The assessment criteria used shall be those already established by the Committee.
The interview will mainly assess the general and specific competences, their motivation to pursue the PhD Course and their further professional research development; since it will be held in English, it also represents a language test.
During the interview the candidate will be asked to:
- Give a presentation about the research activity carried out before or after the Master’s Degree.
- Discuss one of the three scientific publications provided by the Commission. The list of the papers will be available at the page "Rankings and Papers"
The interview focuses on assessing the candidate’s ability to analyse data, knowledge of the technologies used, the research field and the ability to evaluate data in a given field.
During the interview the candidate will need to show one of the following identification documents: identity card, driving licence, passport or any other document issued by a state authority and provided for by law with a photograph and a stamp or another equivalent marking.
At the end of the second assessment phase, the Admission Committee will draw up a final ranking for the 3-year positions and a final ranking for PhS positions, based on a comparative assessment of the candidates and on the evaluation criteria previously established.
Candidates with a final score lower than 60% of the total score (100 points) will be considered non-eligible.
Positions are assigned based on the candidate’s place in the FINAL rankings and of the preference expressed in the application form.
FINAL rankings, which will be updated after each further withdrawal and/or forfeiture.
The publication of the FINAL rankings or any updated rankings will be notified on the website.
Renouncing a project-based fellowship involves the definitive exclusion from the selection.
Renouncing a free fellowship
A candidate can decline a fellowship and maintain the position won only if the candidate already benefits from another type of scholarship (e.g. European research scholarships), or a research grant that guarantees the three-years coverage of the PhD scholarship. In this case the fellowship is assigned to the first eligible candidate for a position without fellowship.
At the time of publication of the FINAL ranking lists, for information purposes only, the candidates who can proceed with the online enrolment will receive the communication also via e-mail to the e-mail address indicated at the time of submission of the application. Failure to receive the above e-mail cannot excuse a missed enrolment.
Fellowships are assigned on the basis of the place in the ranking and the preferences expressed in the application form. There are 2 different phases of attribution:
- First Phase:
- Project-based fellowships are assigned to the eligible candidates in the final ranking lists who have selected one in the application form;
- 3 two-year free fellowships PhS are assigned to candidates who be enrolled in the last year, in the A.Y. 2025/2026, of one of the Residency Programs of medical area reserved for M.D.s. These positions will be assigned based on the order in the ranking of the candidates and the number of projects available in each Residency Program.
The enrolment of the PhS position winners is subject to the positive outcome of the compatibility check by the Council of the Residency Program and by the Academic Board of the PhD Course.
Both decisions must be available for the PhD Office within 30 days of the publication of the FINAL ranking for PhS positions.
All candidates who have won a position with or without a fellowship must proceed with the registration according to the procedures as set forth by article 6 of the call.
Candidates who do not comply with these formalities within the deadlines will be deemed renouncers and the next eligible candidates in the ranking will take their place.
Also, these candidates must meet the deadlines previously mentioned as for as the assignment of the projects.
Istruzione operativa assegnazione posizioni libere a bando Operating instruction to assign the free positions