Political and Social Sciences – (Ph.D.)

Contents

The four-year doctoral programme in the Department of Political and Social Sciences (SPS) covers political science, sociology, international relations and social and political theory.

The Department does not make rigid distinctions between these disciplines but focusses on research themes, some of which intersect the main social science disciplines.

There is, however, a concentration on politics and society in Europe in its widest sense, including the external relations of Europe and comparative studies of European and non-European countries.

The Department does not adhere to any one approach and researchers complete the programme with a broad knowledge of debates and approaches across the social sciences, and with the specific skills needed to complete their own theses.

Training in social science methodology is given in the first two years with an emphasis on methodological pluralism and debate. First-years take the core seminar based on the Department's jointly authored book Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences (CUP, 2008). They then select at least one seminar in research design. There are also specialized seminars in quantitative and qualitative methods.

The teaching programme is completed with seminars in substantive fields, many offered on a two-year cycle to allow all researchers to take them.

In the first and second terms seminars are weekly for around ten weeks. In the third term there are two-day workshops to explore specific questions and with the participation of guest professors from universities in Europe and elsewhere.

Work on the thesis starts the moment researchers arrive at the EUI, when they are assigned a supervisor, with whom they work closely over the four years. At the end of the first year researchers submit a substantial research proposal.

In the second and third years researchers carry out research, and funds are available for field work. Some researchers spend six months at another university. The EUI has exchange agreements with universities in Europe and North America.

Funding is available for attending summer schools, often at the end of the first year.

The Department has a very high Ph.D. completion rate and most SPS graduates go on to work in academia, in government, international organizations or the private sector.

Researchers are encouraged to join the SPS working groups, to collaborate with the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, and to publish their work in the Department working papers or academic journals.

The Department emphasises the importance of language skills for research and encourages its researchers to make use of the Language Centre.

Accreditation

The following Member States of the European Union (as Contracting States of the EUI) contribute directly to the Institute’s budget and to its grant programme:
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain have official regulations for recognition of the Institute’s doctorate

Funding details

EU Member States

Grants and tuition fees for Ph.D. candidates are covered by the national grant-awarding authority for Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

For Latvia information forthcoming.

New EU Member States

Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia are new EU Members States, but have not yet signed the EUI Convention. Consequently, there are currently no grants available for Ph.D. candidates from these countries.

Candidates from these countries are encouraged to apply. They do not pay the €12,000 yearly tuition fee.

Associate Member States, Norway and Switzerland

Nationals of Norway and Switzerland and may be admitted to the EUI under the Association Agreements.

Grants and tuition fees for doctoral candidates are covered by the national grant-awarding authority.

Turkey

The terms of the grant agreement with the Turkish authorities are currently under revision.

Countries Covered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs awards grants to candidates from: Croatia, the Russian Federation and the CIS.

Tuition fees are also covered by the Ministry.

Countries Covered by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs awards grants to candidates from Latin American Countries: Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haití, Republica Dominicana, Paraguay, Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador, Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, Brasil, México, Chile, Venezuela, Panamá, Argentina, Uruguay.

Tuition fees are also covered by the Ministry.

Other Non-EU Countries

Nationals from other non-EU countries not mentioned above may also be admitted to the EUI.

Successful candidates from countries not covered by the above programmes must:

• guarantee they have sufficient funds (minimum € 1,200 a month) to support themselves in Florence during the programme (12 or 48 months)
• pay the EUI tuition fees of € 12,000 a year

The Principal is authorised to reduce or waive fees for candidates from developing countries.

Payment of fees and maintenance grant must be through a national or private grant foundation.