Space Science and Technology - SST - National Doctoral Programme

The programme is structured into the following seven tracks:

• Observation of the Universe
• Earth and the Sun-Earth System
• Planetary sciences
• Astrobiology, life sciences, and space medicine
• Sensors and space instrumentation
• Engineering and satellite platform technologies
• Space economics, law, and diplomacy

Detailed descriptions of each curriculum are available on the programmes's website.

During the first two years, PhD candidates participate in advanced remote courses and conduct research on their dissertation topics over the three-year period at the institution that awarded their scholarship. This is combined with study periods at other institutions in Italy (minimum six months) and abroad (minimum six months), in accordance with a research plan agreed upon with the supervisor and approved by the academic board. The research activity must result in an original and innovative thesis.

BIOS-06/A - Physiology
BIOS-07/A – Biochemistry
CEAR-01/B - Hydrology and Hydraulic and Maritime Structures
CEAR-06/A - Structural Mechanics
GEOS-01/A - Mineralogy
GEOS-02/B - Stratigraphic Geology and Sedimentology
GEOS-02/C - Geochemistry and Volcanology
GEOS-03/A - Physical Geography and Geomorphology
GEOS-04/A - Solid Earth Geophysics
GIUR-01/A - Private Law
GSPS-04/B - History of International Relations
ICHI-01/B - Fundamentals of Chemical Engineering
IIND-01/D - Aerospace Structures and Design
IIND-02/A - Applied Mechanics
IINF-01/A - Electronics
IINF-02/A - Electromagnetic Fields
IINF-03/A - Telecommunications
IINF-05/A - Information Processing Systems
IMAT-01/A - Materials Science and Technology
IMIS-01/A - Mechanical and Thermal Measurements
MATH-03/A - Mathematical Analysis
MATH-04/A - Mathematical Physics
PHYS-01/A -Experimental Physics of Fundamental Interactions and Applications
PHYS-02/A - Theoretical Physics of Fundamental Interactions, Models, Mathematical Methods, and Applications
PHYS-03/A - Experimental Physics of Matter and Applications
PHYS-04/A - Theoretical Physics of Matter, Models, Mathematical Methods, and Applications
PHYS-05/A - Astrophysics, Cosmology, and Space Science
PHYS-05/B - Physics of the Earth System, Planets, Space, and Climate
PSIC-01/A - General Psychology
PSIC-01/B - Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology

To apply for the PhD programme, you must have:

• a specialist or master's degree or a degree issued under the previous regulations;
• a second-level diploma awarded by higher-education institutions for the fine arts, music and dance (AFAM, Alta Formazione Artistica e Musicale);
• an equivalent academic qualification obtained abroad (master's degree) that allows admission to the PhD program in the education system or in the country of issue and that is considered suitable by the selection committee for the sole purpose of accessing the course.

Students who plan to graduate by 31 October 2024 are also eligible.

Update of 20 June 2025

For this doctoral course the following are available:

• 35 positions covered by topic-specific scholarships;
• 2 positions without scholarship;
• 4 positions reserved to applicants who are granted scholarships by foreign countries (Curricula 2, 3, 6).

Update of 9 July 2025

• 1 additional topic-specific scholarship is available in Curriculum 2 (scholarship 2G) within the project "Permafrost and Snow Dynamics Modeling for Sustainable Water Management (CUP E13C22001860001)". To apply for this scholarship, complete the descriptive field with the chosen scholarship in the online application (see the Apply section of this page), modifying if necessary the order of preference previously indicated. If you have already submitted your application, you can send an email within July 16th, 2025, hrs. 4 pm CEST, italian time, to [email protected] to express your interest and, if necessary, change the order of preference (indicate in the subject line: "Application ID - Surname Name - National PhD in Space Science and Technology – 41st cycle - application supplement"). Integrations received by means other than the one described above will not be accepted.

For information on topic-specific places see the details available on the webpage.

Students selected by dedicated committees as part of specific international mobility programs involving the University of Trento are also eligible for admission.

The admission call indicates:

• admission requirements;
• deadlines;
• admission procedure;
• details of the funded positions;
• availability of scholarships.