PhD in Political Studies - POLS
Milan, Italy
PhD
DURATION
3 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
About: The PhD in Political Studies (POLS) is an inter‑university doctoral programme at The University of Milan (La Statale). It combines empirical-positive and theoretical-normative approaches, provides core methodological tools and cultural background, and offers specialization in four overlapping areas. English is the official language. It trains researchers for academia and professionals for research centres, think tanks, and public and private organizations.
Career Outcomes: You’ll gain career opportunities as an academic researcher, lecturer, policy analyst, think‑tank analyst, or political communication consultant, and pursue roles in government, consultancy, international organisations and NGOs and beyond, applying research methods, comparative politics and international relations.
The programme integrates coherently empirical-positive and theoretical-normative approaches in political science. The programme therefore provides students with the methodological tools and cultural background common to the various lines of study and research, and a solid specialised preparation in four main areas.
The inter-university doctoral programme in Political Studies (POLS) integrates coherently empirical-positive and theoretical-normative approaches in political science. The programme, therefore, provides students with the methodological tools and cultural background common to the various lines of study and research, and a solid specialised preparation in four main areas, which may in some cases overlap:
- Institutions and public policy
- Political theory and political philosophy
- International studies
- Political communication, public opinion and political behaviour
In order to promote the internationalization of the doctoral programme, English will be the official language.
The POLS doctoral programme aims to form not only young researchers who can engage in international academia but also professional figures able to undertake research, provide consultancy, coordinate and manage private research centres, think tanks, and political and economic organizations, both private and public, in regional, national and international contexts.
Optional programme year
March 2024
Compulsory
- Applied Multivariate Analysis for Social Scientists B
April 2024
Compulsory
- Project Colloquium
May 2024
Compulsory
- Political Philosophy
- Qualitative Research Methods
Compulsory
- Advanced Statistical Methods for Computational Social Science I
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.