PhD in Cultural Systems - Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies
Lucca, Italy
DURATION
3 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
28 May 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
01 Nov 2025
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* no tuition fees; students beyond the tuition waiver also receive a scholarship €16,243 per year for up to three years
Key Summary
Introduction
Deadline for applications:
May 28, 2025 at 1pm (CEST time)
The IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca is now recruiting 9 talented doctoral candidates for its Cultural Systems - Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies Ph.D. Program.
In a unique multidisciplinary environment, the CS Program – Track in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies trains talented graduates from different backgrounds to undertake cutting-edge research in the many scientific fields related to cultural systems and to operate as high-level, innovative cultural heritage professionals. Research- and practice-oriented courses will allow you to get innovative, up-to-date, high-quality training, relevant to careers in Academia, the cultural heritage sector, creative industries, and private companies. Students are involved in cross-disciplinary experimental activities and research projects in direct contact with cultural heritage, institutions, and companies, and with leading academics and practitioners in the field. The Erasmus+ framework and ad hoc mobility agreements support international student’s mobility.
CS in a nutshell
- Contract Type: 36-month scholarship
- Commitment: Full time
- Location: Lucca (Tuscany, Italy)
- Official language: English
- Starting date: November 1, 2025
Your Role
- First year: Attend and pass courses
- Second and third year: agree upon your research project with at least one Advisor chosen among the Faculty members and engage in your research under the Advisor's guidance
- Participate in the daily academic and campus life, including seminars, conferences, workshops, public outreach activities, field trips and activities, research projects, etc.
What We Offer
- An exciting multidisciplinary and international research environment, multiple opportunities to interact with internationally leading scholars and experts in the sector, and with cultural heritage Objects, Sites, Institutions, Curators, Managers, and Companies.
- Work under the supervision of at least one Advisor from the Faculty
- Interact with other numerous doctoral candidates, postdoc researchers, and Faculty members;
- A tailor-made scientific training program, a wide range of courses and seminars held by leading researchers and experts
- Mentoring, training, and career development support
- A highly competitive full-time PhD Position with:
- A scholarship for a maximum period of 3 consecutive years
- Social Security coverage
- Free accommodation on campus (all year round)
- Free meals on campus (lunch and dinner, all year round)
- Additional research funds
- Additional international mobility funds
- Insurance coverages (liability, accident)
- No tuition fees
- A scholarship for a maximum period of 3 consecutive years
- Social Security coverage
- Free accommodation on campus (all year round)
- Free meals on campus (lunch and dinner, all year round)
- Additional research funds
- Additional international mobility funds
- Insurance coverages (liability, accident)
- No tuition fees
Ideal Students
The CHMS track aims to provide specific know-how to prospective researchers and professionals operating in the fields of cultural heritage, museums, and organization /policy-making/ management of culture.
Prospective students should preferably have a background in the Humanities, Social Sciences, or ICT related to Cultural Heritage and Culture. CHMS will enable graduates to access both Academic and professional careers in Academia, public institutions, and private companies operating in the fields of Cultural Heritage and Culture (research and educational careers, curatorial careers, managerial careers, administrative careers, policy making in the Cultural sector, promotion of Culture and Tourism, organization of cultural events, communication, diffusion and teaching of culture).
Curriculum
The track proposes courses in:
- Archaeology
- Art History
- Visual Studies
- History of Philosophy
- History
- European and International Legislation on Cultural Heritage and Landscape
- Organization and Management of Cultural Heritage and Creative Industries
- Technologies applied to the valorization of Cultural Heritage
- Public Engagement
- Cataloging Methods
- Museum Management
- Museum Visitors
- Provenance Studies
Both research- and practice-oriented courses constitute the program, which aims at training both qualified professionals operating in the concrete field of cultural management and academics. It promotes research by exposing the students to different research approaches and methodologies through case studies belonging to research fields such as Art History, Classical Archaeology, Museology, History, Visual Studies, Museum Studies, Legislation and Institutional Regulation, Organization and Management of Cultural Heritage, Institutions and Creative Industries.
Ph.D. research will be developed in strong connection with the members of relevant Italian museums and cultural institutions and other museum professionals involved in Lynx Research Unit projects.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
All students enrolled in the Ph.D. program receive a scholarship of 1,353.58 €/month, including pension contributions and a net salary of 1,195.48 €/month for three years. Support for extensions (up to an additional year) may be provided.
For the entire duration of the three-year program, all students are offered on-campus housing and meals at the IMT canteen for free, which can be valued as an additional benefit of at least 800 €/month.
Students receive additional financial support for mobility abroad, participation in international academic conferences, summer and winter schools, and similar events.