The PhD in History of Europe intends to promote research on European history, its national specificities and common processes. Special focus will be devoted to political, religious, cultural, economic, and social changes that have marked the European continent from the Middle Ages to present time, as well as the study and critical research on the issues and problems of traditional historiography (organisations and institutions, regional dimensions, behaviours, attitudes, religion, culture, etc.), and the most recent historiographical trends (world history, trans-national history, and cultural experiences).

This PhD Programme was born last year but we incourage the applications by european graduates who are interested to a serious training in European History. We welcome research projects in every field of European History: Medieval, Early Modern, Modern, Contemporary history, Economic history, Gender history etc.  

The dead line for the application on-line is 8 September 2014.

The form for the application:

http://www.unite.it/UniTE/Engine/RAServePG.php/P/205481UTE0300/M/244871UTE0700

Presentation

• Topics of the course

The PhD in History of Europe intends to promote research on European history, its national specificities and common processes. Special focus will be devoted to political, religious, cultural, economic, and social changes that have marked the European continent from the Middle Ages to present time, as well as the study and critical research on the issues and problems of traditional historiography (organisations and institutions, regional dimensions, behaviours, attitudes, religion, culture, etc.), and the most recent historiographical trends (world history, trans-national history, and cultural experiences).

• Admission Requirement    

Master's degree or equivalent foreign certificate with dissertation on a historical discipline or historical topic

• Number of positions available : 6

Number of positions covered by scholarship :  6 financed from the Memorandum of Understanding P.O. ESF ABRUZZO 2007-2013 

• Course duration : 3 years
• Official language of the course : Italian and English
• Scientific areas : Medieval History (M-STO/01); Early Modern and Modern History (M-STO/02); Contemporary History (M-STO/04); History of Christianity and Christian Churches (M-STO/07); M-STO/08 (Archive and Library Sciences); History of Economic Thought (SECS-P/04); Economic History (SECS-P/12)
• Reference organisation : Faculty of Communication (Unite)
• Chief of the Scientific Board : Prof. Francesco Benigno

Contacts  

• Prof. Massimo Carlo Giannini (massgiannini@unite.it)
• Prof. Francesca Gallo (fgallo@unite.it)

Admission Requirements

The application may be submitted, with no limitation of age or nationality, by applicants who, on the date of expiry of the call, have obtained a master's degree or a suitable foreign qualification, or applicants who obtain the degree required for admission before 31 October 2014, under penalty of forfeiture of admission in case of a positive outcome of the selection.

The equivalence of foreign qualifications will be assessed by the Scientific Board of the PhD Programme, based on the documentation submitted by the applicant with the application for participation in the competition for admission (*).

In the case of lack of requirements, the exclusion from the procedure can be decided by the Rector at any time; therefore, any admission shall be considered in any case as made with reservation.

Admission Tests

The Admission Test is designed to assess, by appropriate benchmarking, the candidate's basic training acquired and aptitude for scientific research.

Admission to the PhD Programme is based on qualifications and examination and is divided into two phases.

In the first phase, the Scientific Board shall make an assessment of the following qualifications, giving each candidate a maximum score of 20 points according to the following breakdown:

1) PhD in "History of Europe from the Middle Ages to Present Time".

a. Second Level Degree dissertation with an abstract in English (abstract lenght between 2.000 and 8.000 characters): maximum 4 points;

b. Research project proposed by the candidate, consistent with the themes of the course (lenght between 8.000 and 10.000 characters): maximum 8 points;

c. Scientific Curriculum Vitae (academic career including the exams and final grade) - n. 1 letter of reference from a university professor - professional, training, and\or research experience, level of knowledge of foreign languages, and other qualifications ): maximum 4 points;  

d. Any publication: maximum 4 points – N.B. The Scientific Board will evaluate only scientific publications with ISBN or ISSN.

Candidates who have achieved a minimum score of 12 points shall be admitted to the second stage (oral examination). The list of candidates admitted will be published, after the assessment of their qualifications, on the website of the university.

The oral examination shall consist of an interview of the applicant before the Scientific Board, meeting in plenary or restricted session, with the aim to test the applicant’s knowledge on the topics of the PhD and content of the proposed research project. During the interview, knowledge of the English language shall always be tested. The interview may be conducted entirely in English, if requested by the applicant. The interview may be conducted by electronic means, if requested upon submission of the application by the candidate residing abroad, or by disabled candidates. The maximum score for each candidate for the oral examination is 40 points. At the end of the interview, the Scientific Board will identify the suitable candidates to be placed in the general classification, expressed in sixtieths, based on the sum of the scores obtained by the candidates in the assessment of qualifications and in the interview. 

The diary of the interviews, indicating the date, time, and place where they will take place, will be published on the website of the University, at least 15 days before.

The candidates must show their valid identity card or passport.

Application and Deadline for Submission

To participate in the competition the candidates shall complete the appropriate on-line application available at www.unite.it.

The application shall be closed no later than 8 September 2014 (before midnight/12.00 a.m.).

The call will be published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic (Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica) and on the website of the university, the website of the Italian Ministry of University, and Euraxess website.

The application shall include proof of payment of € 20.00 - not refundable - for expenses related to the admission to the PhD Programme, to be made by MAV (payment through notice), as specified on the University's website in the “pagamenti on-line” (on-line payments) section or by credit card payment (with envoy of receipt).

In case of shipment by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt, reference shall be made to the date stamped by the post office.

In the application form, the applicants shall declare, under their own responsibility:

1. Name and surname;

2. Date and place of birth;

3. Personal taxpayer number;

4. Residence address, with the indication of the street, street number, town, province, and ZIP code;

5. Nationality;

6. University Degree obtained or to be obtained, the university where the Degree was obtained or will be obtained, and the date it was obtained, or the equivalent qualification obtained abroad            and recognized as equivalent by the competent authorities in accordance with applicable regulations;

7. Adequate knowledge of the Italian language (such declaration shall be made only by non Italian citizens);

8. Commitment to attend full-time the PhD Programme, in accordance with the regulations established by the Scientific Board; 

9. English or Italian language for the oral examination; 

10. If they will be present in person to the interview or they would prefer to be interviewed by skype (only for non Italian citizens)

11. The address where the candidate wishes to receive any notices related to this procedure, as well as the telephone number and email address and a commitment to notify any subsequent changes.

The applicants shall also submit mandatory attachments. The absence of even one of the following documents will cause the exclusion from selection: 

• Identification document: a copy of the identity card (for EU citizens) or passport, reproducing the pages with photo, personal data, number, date and place of issue, expiry date, and the stamp of the competent authority. Any other identification will not be taken into account;
• Copy of the card showing the Personal taxpayer number;
• Copy of the degree dissertation. Students who expect to obtain their degree/equivalent qualification obtained abroad by 31 October 2014 must attach a draft of their dissertation;
• Summary (in English) of the dissertation explaining the reasons of the dissertation, the research methodology and results obtained (maximum 4 pages);
• Scientific Curriculum Vitae preferably on a Europass form:  http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/vernav/Europasss+Documents/Europass+CV.csp;
• Letter of reference from a University Professor; 
• Research project drawn up by the candidate, consistent with the themes of the course;
• Self-certification to attest if income is above or below € 10,329.00 per year for any use of the scholarship;
• Proof of payment of € 20.00 - not refundable - for expenses related to the admission to the PhD Programme, to be made by MAV (payment through notice), as specified on the University's website in the “pagamenti on-line” (on-line payments) section or by credit card payment.

Applicants may also submit other attachments (optional attachments):

• Publications;
• Other qualifications considered as useful for the assessment (documentation about prizes, scholarships, training, research experience, etc.). 

Candidates who wish to qualify for the scholarship shall submit a self-certification to attest their total annual gross personal income, using Annex B and attaching a photocopy of an identity document to the declaration, in compliance with art. 38 of Italian Presidential Decree dated 28 December 2000, No. 445.

To obtain, in accordance with art. 20 of the Law dated 5 February 1992, No. 104, the granting of the necessary supports in relation to their disabilities, as well as any additional time for the conduct of examinations, any candidates with disabilities shall attach the relevant medical certification to their application form.

Candidates must sign their applications, under penalty of exclusion. 

Without prejudice to the cases of exclusion specified in the call, the regularization of any applications signed and mailed in due time, but formally irregular due to remediable defects, incorrect, incomplete, or not in accordance with the application form attached to this decree may be requested at any time.

The Administration is not responsible for the loss of communications due to incorrect address details provided by candidates, or failure or delay in notifying any change of address specified in the application or for any postal or telegraphic failures, or failure anyhow referable to third parties, unforeseeable circumstances, or force majeure.

Admission to the Course

The official approval of the acts and their rankings will be published on the website of the University.

Candidates will be admitted to the course in the order of the final list until the number of positions available is reached. 

The candidates admitted to the course shall, under penalty of forfeiture, submit their enrolment form to the PhD Service, using the appropriate form also available on the website of the university, duly completed and signed, within the deadline of 10 (ten) days, starting from the day following the publication of the final ranking list. In the case of placement in more than one classification, the candidate will have to opt for only one PhD course.

Any candidates who do not regularise their registration by the deadline, shall be excluded.

Any candidates who have made false declarations shall be excluded.

In case of waiver or forfeiture, the candidate who occupies the next position to that of the candidate giving waiver or forfeiture in the ranking list will take over.

The takeover will also occur in case any admitted candidates were to give up within three months from the actual beginning of the course.

Admission in Excess Number

Any successful candidates in the ranking of merit may be admitted to the PhD course in excess number, provided that they are:

• Holders of research grants, pursuant to art. 22 of the Law dated 30 December 2010 No. 240;
• Employees of businesses, public authorities, or public service entities, in no more than 30%, with rounding up, of the available positions, including those who are found to be suitable as a result of the selection procedures based on specific agreements; 

The Scientific Board may admit in excess number any non-EU citizens who are holders of a degree suitable for admission and are holders of scholarships awarded by the Italian Government or by national and international institutions, the European Union, or other European or international scientific institution. The Scientific Board shall decide on the admission on a case by case basis.

Contributions for Access and Attendance of Courses

Students not been awarded a scholarship are required to pay a contribution for enrolment and attendance in the amount of € 1,000.00 yearly, to be divided in two equal instalments: the first instalment is payable upon registration for the course and for subsequent years by 31st December every year. The payment of the second instalment for each year of the course shall be made by 30th April.

Any course participants who are holders of research grants and employees of agencies or businesses enrolled in the industry PhDs are also required to pay the fee.

All course participants are required to pay € 140.00 per year as regional tax to ‘Azienda per il Diritto allo Studio’. All payments shall be made by MAV (payment through notice), as specified on the University's website section “dottorati di ricerca - XXX ciclo”.

Scholarships

The financial support is given to the candidates according to the merit list up to the number of grants provided.

In case of revocation or renunciation of a candidate within three months, the next applicant will take over according to the ranking list. If the renouncing candidate has already received monthly instalments, the relevant amounts must be refunded.

The assignment criteria of the different types of scholarships, even with specific topic and dedicated funding, shall be set forth by the Scientific Board, according to the requirements and attitudes of the assignees.

The scholarships are annual and are renewed provided that the candidate has completed the programme of activities for the previous year, as verified by the Scientific Board.

The amount of the scholarship, to be paid in monthly instalments is set at € 13,638.47 including any charges to the candidate required by the law.

The scholarship of the PhD programme is subject to the payment of INPS social security contributions referred to in Article 2, paragraph 26, of the Italian Law dated 8 August 1995, No. 335, as amended, to the extent of two-thirds borne by the administration and one third by the assignee. PhD students enjoy all protections and related rights.

This amount is increased to a maximum of 50 percent for a period of no longer than 18 months, if the student is authorized by the Scientific Board to carry out research abroad.

Starting from the second year, each student will receive, in addition to the scholarship and within the existing financial resources, an appropriate budget for the research activities in Italy and abroad in relation to the type of course and in any event an amount not less the 10% of the scholarship.

The recipient of the scholarship shall have a total annual gross personal income not exceeding € 10,329.14. This income limit must be declared by the beneficiary of a scholarship pursuant to the Italian Presidential Decree dated 28 December 2000, No. 445.

The determination of such income, which is referred to the year of assignment of the scholarship, is also made through calculation of any property income originating from rents and interests, as well as any other regular payments to the applicant, with the exception of any occasional income or payments arising from compulsory military service.

The principles referred to in this Article shall not apply to scholarship assignees from foreign countries or beneficiaries of financial support within specific mobility programmes in relation to the provisions of specific regulations and does not apply to employees of institutions or industrial companies enrolled in industrial PhDs.

The scholarship cannot be combined with any other scholarships, except those conferred by national or foreign institutions aimed to integrate training or research activities of PhD students with stays abroad; in this case, the right to the expected increase of the scholarship is cancelled.

Anyone who has already obtained a PhD or equivalent title can be allowed to attend a different PhD course, provided that selection tests are successful, but cannot take advantage of a PhD scholarship. Those who have already received, even partially, a scholarship to attend a PhD programme, cannot receive it a second time.

Obligations and Rights of PhD Students

PhD students have the status of university students for the entire period of the course.

PhD students are required to carry out study and research activities diligently and consistently in the manner prescribed by the Scientific Board.

PhD students, as an integral part of the training project, can carry out, subject to the approval of the Scientific Board, without this leading to any increase in scholarship, tutoring activities of students in undergraduate and master's degree, as well as, in any case within the maximum limit of 40 hours in each academic year, supplementary teaching activities.

The existing provisions for the protection of motherhood and fatherhood apply to PhD students.

During the legal duration of the PhD programme, it is forbidden to be enrolled in any other PhD courses, degree course, school, or master at UniTE or any another University.

In the case of justified obstacles, which do not allow a student to actually attend the course, the student shall not lose the right to the continuation of the PhD programme. Any absences and the reasons that caused them will be assessed for the purposes of suspension, by the Scientific Board. In particular, in the case of documented serious illness, attendance of active internship on training of teachers (TFA), or more serious and documented reasons, the suspension by the Scientific Board may apply upon request of the PhD student.

Exclusion from the PhD is approved by the Scientific Board in the case of non-admission to the next year, which may occur as a result of non-achievement of the learning and research outcomes, or due to incompatibility with the work activities carried out in the absence of authorization or unjustified and prolonged absences.

The PhD title is assigned to students as a result of the positive evaluation of a research dissertation, which contributes to the advancement of knowledge or methodologies in the selected field of study.

Within one month from the end of the last year of the course, PhD students shall deposit their dissertation, signed by the course Coordinator and Tutor, to the PhD Service and deliver it to external evaluators through electronic systems.

(*) Academic qualification obtained abroad: Any university degree obtained abroad must be comparable to an Italian Master Degree as for its duration, level, and subject area. In accordance with this principle, the decision on their eligibility belongs to the Scientific Board. Applicants who have a foreign qualification that has not already been declared as equivalent (1) to an Italian degree shall make implicit request for equivalence in their application for admission to the competition and attach the following documents: certificate of the degree with exams and the corresponding final score (EU citizens may submit a self-certification according to the Italian Presidential Decree No. 445 dated 28 December 2000 and subsequent amendments and integrations; translation in English, if the document is not already in that language, of the degree certificate obtained, with the exams and scores obtained, signed under the applicant’s responsibility, in order to allow the Scientific Board to assess their suitability , exclusively for the purposes of participation in this competition; any other documentation deemed as useful to assess the eligibility of the qualification held for participation in the competition (Diploma Supplement (2), or a local value declaration (3), etc.). Candidates holding an academic degree obtained outside Italy who are winners of the competition must submit the following to the PhD Service by 28 February 2014: Declaration of Value on site, together with the degree certificate with exams and scores, translated and legalized by the Italian diplomatic authorities in the country where the degree was released. The Declaration of Value shall state that the qualification obtained is valid in the country of achievement for enrolment in a course equivalent to the PhD programme; or, if the Value Declaration above is not yet ready for the date specified, a document showing that the release request has been submitted to the relevant diplomatic mission; in this case, the student must then deliver the original Value Declaration as soon as it is available; or, as an alternative to Value Declaration, the Diploma Supplement in English, according to the form developed by the European Commission, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO/CEPES. In the case such documents are not provided, the PhD title will not be achieved. 

(1) For more information, visit the website http://www.cimea.it/default.aspx?IDC=113 .

(2) Diploma Supplement is a document attached to a high education diploma with the aim to improve international "transparency" and facilitate academic and professional recognition of the qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.) obtained. The Diploma Supplement should be issued by the same institution that issued the certificate. More details on the website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-policy/doc1239_en.htm .

(3) The Value Declaration is issued by the Italian diplomatic missions abroad (Embassies/Consulates). For more information, go to http://www.cimea.it/default.aspx?IDC=118.