Enterprise, Labor, Institutions and Criminal Justice

The Doctoral Programme in Business, Labour, Institutions and Criminal Justice responds to a scientific and educational project that crosses the areas of Commercial Law, Comparative Labour Law and Social Security, International Law, Criminal Law and Public Law. The course is intended for young scholars who demonstrate an aptitude for scientific research.

In addition to the general path related to the areas indicated above, the course includes two targeted research paths, one in the field of criminal law and criminology and one in the field of comparative labor law and social security.

During the first year, the doctoral student may be required to participate in training activities up to a maximum of 100 actual hours.

A master's degree in legal, economic or social subjects is required for admission to the doctoral programme [corresponding to the classes of LMG/1 (Law) - LM 56 (Economics) - LM 62 (Political Science) - LM 63 (Public Administration Sciences) - LM 77 (Economics and Management)] with a minimum grade of 105/110 or equivalent qualification obtained abroad. Candidates graduating in the same degree classes who have earned an average of at least 28/30 in the exams and who will obtain their degree by the deadline of 31 October 2019 may also be admitted.

Admission to the PhD programme is incompatible with enrolment and/or participation in the Postgraduate School for the Legal Professions.

All candidates are required to have an adequate knowledge of Italian and another language; If the second language is other than English, the candidate must still demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language.

Application form

In the application, candidates must declare:

• to compete for a place in the general ranking, possibly specifying their intention to compete exclusively for a place without a scholarship.
• to compete for positions aimed at interdisciplinary research in the fields of criminal law and criminology, with a scholarship co-financed by the Graduate School "Federico Stella" on Criminal Justice.
• to compete for the position aimed at research in the field of Comparative Labour Law and Social Security, with a scholarship funded by the Centro Studi di Relazioni Industriali of Cagliari; this option is reserved for candidates born in Sardinia or residing there at the time of application.

Candidates competing for places aimed at interdisciplinary research in the fields of criminal law and criminology also compete for places in the general ranking, if they are suitable for the results of the tests and are not in a useful position to obtain the scholarship co-financed by the Graduate School "Federico Stella" on Criminal Justice.

Attachments to the application

Candidates competing for the position aimed at research in the field of Comparative Labour Law and Social Security must attach to the application a research project (contained in 3,000 words) indicating the subject, hypotheses and methodology considered most suitable for carrying out the research.

Candidates competing for a place in the general ranking and for places for interdisciplinary research in the field of criminal and criminological studies may attach to their application a research topic with a general indication of the subject, hypotheses and methodology considered most suitable for carrying out the research.

All candidates may attach to the application in electronic format:

• a copy of any other qualification deemed useful for the purposes of the evaluation, with a relative list;
• a copy of the candidate's degree thesis and publications deemed useful for the purposes of the evaluation, with a relative list;
• copy of one of the following English language proficiency certifications (which, in any case, is not a substitute for English language proficiency verification): BEC, British Chamber of Commerce, CAE, CPE, FCE, IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity College London Certificate.

Entrance exam

On the proposal of the Academic Board, the Rector appoints:

• a General Selection Committee, for the assignment of places in the general ranking and places with scholarship aimed at interdisciplinary research in the fields of criminal law and criminology, composed of three tenured professors in the scientific disciplinary sectors to which the PhD course refers (of which at least one pertains to the scientific disciplinary sector IUS/17 Criminal Law), to which may be added no more than two experts, including foreign experts, chosen from public and private research bodies and structures;
• a special selection committee, for the assignment of a place with a scholarship aimed at research in the field of Comparative Labour Law and Social Security, composed of three tenured professors of Labour Law.

The entrance examination consists of:

1. an evaluation of the candidate's curriculum vitae, the qualifications submitted by the candidate and, if the candidate is competing for a position in research in the field of Comparative Labour and Social Security Law, the research project submitted;
2. in a written test;
3. in an oral test.

In relation to the qualities and results ascertained, each candidate is awarded up to 60 points for each of the three parts of the entrance examination, for a maximum overall score of 180 points.

A candidate who has obtained a score of at least 40/60 in the evaluation of his curriculum and qualifications, as well as - if he or she competes for a place aimed at research in comparative labour law and social security - of the research project is admitted to the written test.

A candidate who has obtained a score of not less than 40/60 both in the evaluation of the curriculum and qualifications (and, if competing for one of the scholarships aimed at research in the field of Comparative Labour Law and Social Security, in the written test) and in the written test, is admitted to the oral test.

The oral test is passed if the candidate obtains a score of not less than 40/60 and demonstrates an adequate knowledge of a foreign language, and, if the second language is other than English, a sufficient knowledge of the English language.

Methods of carrying out the tests

The written and oral tests will be held in Italian and will consist of a verification of the candidate's knowledge of topics of interest to the PhD course and its research directions, as well as to the propensity for scientific research. Candidates applying for places with a scholarship aimed at interdisciplinary research in the fields of criminal law and criminology must take the written test relating to the field of criminal studies, in accordance with the application.

The oral test will be followed by a test of knowledge of a foreign language. If the second language is other than English, the candidate must still demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the English language. For the allocation of places in the general ranking and for places aimed at interdisciplinary research in the fields of criminal law and criminology, the oral test will also focus on the research topic if it has been attached to the application by the candidate.

To take the tests, candidates must show a suitable identification document valid pursuant to art. 35, second paragraph, Presidential Decree no. 445 of 28 December 2000 (identity card, driving licence, passport).

Rankings

The Selection Committee for the allocation of places in the general ranking and for the assignment of scholarships for interdisciplinary research in the field of criminal law and criminology evaluates the curriculum, qualifications and tests and assigns scores for candidates competing for the assignment of places with non-finalized scholarships, places without scholarship and places with scholarship aimed at interdisciplinary research in the field of criminal law and criminology.

The Special Selection Committee for the award of the scholarship for research in the field of Comparative Labour Law and Social Security evaluates the curriculum, qualifications, project and tests and assigns scores for candidates competing for the awarding of the aforementioned scholarship.

On the basis of the scores awarded, the Selection Committees will form two merit rankings: a general ranking of candidates for places with non-finalized scholarships, places without scholarships and places with scholarships aimed at interdisciplinary research in the fields of criminal law and criminology; a special ranking of candidates competing for the scholarship aimed at research in the field of Comparative Labour Law and Social Security.

The place with a scholarship aimed at research in the field of Comparative Labour Law and Social Security is assigned on the basis of the specific special ranking.

The two places with a scholarship aimed at interdisciplinary research in the fields of criminal law and criminology are assigned to the first two candidates who, having declared that they are competing for these places at the time of application, have taken the written test in criminal law and have been found suitable at the end of the oral test, placing themselves in the general ranking. If these candidates are placed in the general ranking list in a position for which the assignment of a non-finalized scholarship or a place without a scholarship is envisaged, the ranking will be scrolled down for the purposes of assigning this scholarship or the place without a scholarship.