PhD in National PhD in Systems Medicine
Milan, Italy
PhD
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Oct 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
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Key Summary
Advancements in genetics and genomics have spurred the emergence of Precision Medicine, which revolutionizes traditional medical approaches by utilizing vast molecular data for personalized disease diagnosis and treatment. The PhD aims to equip professionals with interdisciplinary skills in biomedical sciences, preparing them to address precision medicine challenges through technological strategies and multidisciplinary approaches.
The recent progress made in the fields of genetics and genomic sciences has triggered a big change, which is leading classical medicine to transform itself into the so-called Precision Medicine, based on the acquisition and integration of enormous quantities of quantitative molecular data and their exploitation for a personalized definition of the disease and of his targeted therapy. Precision Medicine has changed the way in which the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease are investigated. It uses technological platforms to produce a large amount of information, which allows it to highlight and quantify the heterogeneous nature of diseases and the phenotypic variability associated with individuals. Precision Medicine will totally change the approach to treatment not only for therapy but also for diagnosis and prevention. Therefore, the transition to Precision Medicine requires professionals with new skills and multi-disciplinary training.
The PhD in Systems Medicine aims to provide doctors and scientists with interdisciplinary theoretical and technological training in biomedical sciences to be applied to the problems of precision medicine, with the aim of training professionals capable of dealing with technological strategies and highly complex therapeutics with a multidisciplinary approach.
Curriculum: Molecular Oncology
July 2024
Compulsory
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Techniques
September 2024
Compulsory
- Immunology
Curriculum: Computational Biology
May 2024
Compulsory
- From R to Statistics
September 2024
Compulsory
- Programming
Curriculum: Medical Humanities
March 2024
Optional
- Structural Biology
June 2024
Compulsory
- Scientific Writing
Curriculum: Human Genetics
May 2024
Compulsory
- Proteomics
The University of Milan ranks among the leading institutions worldwide. In the QS World University Rankings 2027, it is ranked 270th globally, confirming its steady progress on the international stage, having gained six positions compared to the previous year despite the increase in the number of universities evaluated.
The University’s excellence is particularly evident in subject rankings. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the University of Milan is placed among the top 50 in Veterinary Medicine and it’s in the top 100 universities worldwide in five disciplines:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Medicine
- Philosophy
- Pharmacy & Pharmacology
- Sociology
The University also ranks among the top 150 worldwide in several subjects, including:
- Agriculture & Forestry
- Classics & Ancient History
- Law
- Politics & International Studies
- Social Policy & Administration
- Modern Languages
- Dentistry
- Nursing
Moreover, it is placed within the top 200 globally in a broad range of disciplines:
- Archaeology
- Chemistry
- Communication & Media Studies
- Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
- Geography
- Mathematics
- Natural Sciences
- Physics & Astronomy
- Statistics & Operational Research
The University of Milan also stands out for its strong commitment to sustainability, ranking 4th in Italy and 174th globally in the QS Sustainability Ranking—an impressive rise of 45 positions. This achievement highlights the University’s growing impact in addressing key social and environmental challenges, reinforcing its role as a forward-looking and responsible institution.
This advancement reflects a comprehensive strengthening of the University’s sustainability policies. Particularly noteworthy are the results in the Social Impact dimension, which highlight increasingly effective initiatives in inclusion, knowledge exchange, and social responsibility, as well as in Governance, with high standards of transparency, ethics, and institutional accountability.
Overall, these results confirm the University of Milan as a multidisciplinary public institution capable of combining academic excellence, social impact, and a strong commitment to sustainable development.