Application 41° Cycle
NOW OPEN

Deadline 22/08/2025 1PM (Italian time)

PhD in Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Colorful research for a green future

A research programme in which ideas and methods linked to environment, society, technology, economy and health are perfectly integrated into a global vision, in order to develop a better future.

A network of public and private research centers fully interconnected and coordinated by IUSS PAVIA, in Italy.

Key numbers

3

year research programme in English

50+

universities in partnership

6

months of research abroad

200+

researchers and professors

30+

fully funded
positions

160+

hours of training and seminars

Research programme

One core research topic and six curricula (three for 41° cycle)
for a multi- inter- and trans-disciplinary research programme
to achieve the SDGs of the UN 2030 Agenda

01

Horizontal

Multi-disciplinary events to expose all PhD candidates to the complexity of sustainability and climate change

02

Vertical

Curriculum events to train PhD candidates on tools and topics on tools and topics to their field of research

03

Focused

Thematic and methodological courses offered by the host universities to support the candidates in their research

download the course presentation

For the 41° cycle (2025), PhD SDC has 3 curricula

CU-Alpha: One health

Earth system and human life

CU-Beta: Human society

Socio-economic impacts, institutions,and theories  

CU-Gamma: Technology & Territory

Sustainable strategiesand solutions for the transition

discover our research topics

Call for applicants

The call for applicants provides information about the PhD programme, the number and type of scholarships available, the application procedure and the mandatory deadlines.

Open call

30+ scholarships

Deadline:

22/08/2025 1.00 PM CEST

Admission to oral exam:

19/09/2025

Oral Exam:

06/10/2025

Final admission results:

October 2025

Start of the PhD course:

01/11/2025