Psychology

The purpose of the research proposal to submit for the application is to demonstrate your knowledge of the field, identify research gaps, and propose suitable methods to address those gaps.

Preparing a doctoral research proposal for the Doctoral School in Psychology requires careful consideration of various elements. Here are some suggestions to help you create a comprehensive and well-structured research proposal:

REVIEW THE STATE-OF-THE-ART:

• Start by conducting a thorough literature review of the current scientific research in the field of psychology, specifically focusing on your area of interest.
• Identify key theories, concepts, and empirical studies that have contributed to the understanding of the topic.
• Highlight relevant research gaps or unanswered questions that you have identified during the literature review.

DEFINE THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND QUESTIONS:

• Clearly state the research problem or issue you intend to address in your study.
• Formulate research questions that are specific, focused, and aligned with the research problem.
• Your research questions should be designed to fill the identified research gaps and contribute to the existing knowledge in the field.

ESTABLISH OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY:

• Outline the objectives of your research, explaining what you aim to achieve with your study.
• Describe the methodology you intend to use to address your research questions and achieve your objectives.
• Clearly specify the research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques you plan to employ.
• Justify the appropriateness of your chosen methods in relation to the research problem and questions.

DISCUSS EXPECTED RESULTS AND POSSIBLE LIMITATIONS:

• Provide an overview of the expected outcomes of your research.
• Explain how your study will contribute to the field of psychology and address the identified research gaps.
• Acknowledge and discuss potential limitations or challenges that you may encounter during the research process.
• Demonstrate awareness of any constraints or ethical considerations relevant to your proposed research.

INCLUDE A REFERENCE LIST:

• Compile a comprehensive reference list of all the sources cited in your research proposal.
• Follow the appropriate referencing style: APA (America Psychological Association Publication Manual, 7th edition).

The research proposal must not exceed 5,000 words and no more than 5 pages. Please, verify that information here reported is in agreement with specific guidelines and instructions reported in the official call for applications of the year you want to apply for.  

According to the Italian Ministry of Education, the base-level scholarship amount is €15,343.28 gross per year.  PhD scholarships are tax-exempt but require the payment of social security contributions. The base-level scholarship is increased by 50% for periods abroad (to a maximum of 12 months for visiting period approved by Academic Board, an up to 18 months for co-tutele programme).

In order to guarantee working candidates the possibility to take part in the Doctoral School in Psychology, every year the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore provides some positions without scholarship. The admission procedure, as well as mandatory activities within the Doctoral School in Psychology, is the same for candidates without scholarship as for candidates with a scholarship. These positions without scholarship are open also to non-working  applicants who do not score enough points during the admissions process, and therefore fail to qualify for positions with a scholarship.

Starting from the first year, candidates (both students with and without scholarship) will have a research expenses budget from the Department of Psychology. This budget amount is defined year by year. Students can contact the Department of Psychology (dip.psicologia@unicatt.it) to know the specific amount of the year of interest.