Social Work and Personal Social Services

Admission to the doctoral programme takes place through a competition, through which the available places for each cycle are assigned, with and without a scholarship. Each position may be linked to the carrying out of research on a defined topic, also in connection with specific national or local funding programmes.

The competition notice is published, indicatively, in the month of June prior to the start of the cycle to which it refers.

The admission tests consist of an evaluation of the qualifications presented, a written test and an oral test. The presentation of a research project is not required, but it must be developed within the first year of the programme.

The qualifications that are taken into consideration for the evaluation concern the course of study, the quality of the degree thesis and any publications, professional and/or research experience.

The written test consists of the drafting of a paper (in Italian or English, at the candidate's choice) on the basis of an outline chosen by the candidate from those provided by the commission. The tracks concern fundamental conceptual categories for Social Work and Personal Social Services Policies, with the related sociological, psychological, and legal references. Candidates are invited to develop the proposed theme in a perspective that they can choose to focus more on Social Work or on Personal Social Services Policies.

The oral examination consists of the discussion of the written paper and a possible in-depth study of the contents covered by the written tests. An orientation interview is also held to understand the interests and perspectives of the candidates and finally a test of knowledge of the English language is carried out, through the translation of a short piece of specialized literature.