The PhD
Coordinator: Mara BenadusiDeputy Coordinator: Danilo Di Mauro
Duration: Three years
The PhD Programme in Political Science at the University of Catania is centred on a simple idea: the major political and social challenges of our time cannot be understood in isolation. Technological innovation, ecological transitions, migration, demographic change and geopolitical transformations are deeply interconnected processes that reshape institutions, societies and the ways knowledge is produced and used. Understanding these connections is at the heart of the Programme's research and training activities.
The Programme approaches these questions from an interdisciplinary perspective, bringing together political science, sociology, statistics, economics, law, historical and philosophical studies, anthropology and geography. Rather than treating disciplinary boundaries as fixed, it encourages research that combines different perspectives to explain how political and social change unfolds across different contexts. Within this framework, the Mediterranean provides a unique setting for investigating the interaction between local dynamics and global processes. Research spans digitalisation and the political implications of artificial intelligence, migration and transnational mobility, ecological and energy transitions, urban and territorial change, political participation and citizenship, and the relationships between knowledge, power and institutions.
International dimension
The international dimension is an integral part of the Programme's research and training activities. Doctoral researchers work in collaboration with universities and research institutions across Europe and beyond, taking part in international research networks, mobility programmes, workshops, summer schools, conferences and visiting periods.
This international outlook is reflected in the Programme's participation in research networks funded under Horizon Europe – Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, including the Doctoral Networks EuroMedMig and C-URGE. These collaborations expand opportunities for training, mobility and research while fostering joint projects with partner universities and research institutions across Europe, Latin America and other regions of the world.
International Doctoral NetworksThe PhD participates in two Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks funded by Horizon Europe. 
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Programme Description and Objectives
Research training is conceived as a gradual process of intellectual and scientific development. Rather than focusing on the acquisition of predefined skills, doctoral education aims to develop the capacity for independent inquiry. The questions below outline the principles that guide this approach.
What kind of researcher does the Programme aim to train?
Doctoral researchers are expected to formulate original research questions, design rigorous research projects and contribute new knowledge to political and social sciences. Throughout the Programme, they develop the intellectual independence, critical judgement and interpretative skills needed to investigate complex phenomena and engage confidently in international academic debate.
What characterises this approach to research?
Research is understood as a continuous dialogue between questions, theories, methods and empirical evidence. Rather than following a linear path, these elements evolve together throughout the research process. Dialogue across disciplinary perspectives and sustained engagement with the scholarly literature help strengthen the quality and explanatory power of research.
What responsibilities does research entail?
Producing knowledge also means accepting responsibility. Research integrity, methodological transparency, ethical awareness and the responsible management of research data are fundamental principles that guide every stage of the research process, from project design to the dissemination of findings.
Professional and Career Opportunities
The PhD Programme prepares researchers for careers in academia, public institutions and professional environments where advanced research, analytical and project development skills are required. Graduates pursue positions in universities and research centres, public administrations, international organisations, European institutions, think tanks, foundations and civil society organisations, undertaking research, public policy analysis and evaluation, scientific consultancy, and the design and management of complex projects at both national and international levels.
Other information
How to apply
Admission procedures, eligibility requirements, application deadlines and the number of available positions are specified each year in the Call for Applications published by the University of Catania. The Call is available on the University's webpage dedicated to PhD programmes. University of Catania – PhD Programmes
The Call for Applications normally includes two types of positions:
- Open-topic positions, for which applicants submit an original research proposal aligned with the Programme's scientific areas and interdisciplinary approach.
- Thematic positions, funded through specific research programmes or projects. In these cases, the research proposal must address the topic specified in the Call and contribute to the objectives of the funding scheme. The availability and number of these positions may vary from one admission cycle to another.
The research proposal
The research proposal is one of the main elements considered during the selection process. Applicants are not expected to submit a fully developed project, but rather a proposal demonstrating:
- a clear and relevant research question;
- knowledge of the relevant scholarly literature;
- consistency between the theoretical framework, methodology and research objectives;
- the feasibility of the project within the three-year duration of the Programme.
What kind of projects are we looking for?
The Programme welcomes research on contemporary political and social phenomena. It particularly encourages projects that, while drawing on different disciplinary perspectives, address issues related to the transformation of institutions, public policies, citizenship, political participation, governance, migration, ecological and digital transitions, territorial dynamics or, more broadly, the relationships between power, society and the production of knowledge.
Interdisciplinarity is one of the defining features of the Programme, but it should remain firmly grounded in political and social sciences. Research proposals that, although scientifically sound, do not address questions relevant to these fields are unlikely to match the Programme's academic profile.
Contacts
Coordinator
Professor Mara Benadusi
mara.benadusi@unict.it
PhD Office – University of Catania