How
To Apply
Eligibility
Criteria
Applicants of any nationality are welcome.
Academic Degree
- Applicants must hold a Master’s Degree in Medicine and Surgery (Italian degree class LM-41) or an equivalent qualification awarded by a foreign university.
- In addition, applicants must either:
- be enrolled in the final year of a medical specialty training programme at an Italian university at the start date of the PhD programme (1 November);
OR - hold a medical specialty qualification (or equivalent foreign qualification) obtained within 12 months of the PhD start date (1 November 2026).
- be enrolled in the final year of a medical specialty training programme at an Italian university at the start date of the PhD programme (1 November);
For medical specialty qualifications awarded abroad, applicants must provide the Italian Ministry of Health decree recognizing their eligibility to practice as a medical specialist in Italy. Information on the recognition procedure is available on the Italian Ministry of Health website.
English Proficiency
- A valid English certification covering Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing must be submitted by the end of the first year, or admission will be revoked.
- Full details on accepted certifications available here.
Still unsure? Contact phd@semm.it before applying.
Application
Procedure
Submit the following via the online system:
- Application Form
Includes personal data, education, research and clinical experience, research interest, publications, and motivation. - Educational Documents
- Diploma Supplement of the Medical Degree, or certification including the courses taken with grades.
- A Self-Declaration of the Registration at a Medical Specialty School in Italy. The document, as issued by the University of affiliation, must contain the name of the Specialty School, the length of the course and the academic years of registration.
OR - Medical specialty qualification certificate (or equivalent foreign qualification), including the programme title, duration, final grade, and completed examinations.
The above documents must be uploaded in PDF or DOC format in the application system. Documents sent by email will be discarded
- Two Reference Letters
Referees submit letters via the online system. The applicant is required to complete the referees form included in the application form, including the email address of the referees (upon their approval), who will then receive an automatic email with the instructions for the letter submission.
Note: Application is complete only when letters and required documents are submitted.
Selection
Process
Admission to the program in System Medicine is highly competitive (successful rate 10%) and based on rigorous comparative evaluation. The process is managed by a central Evaluation Committee, supported by subcommittees (research areas based), that ensure fairness and consistency across all stages. Stages are described below:
- Pre-selection
Based on academic record, research and clinical experience, and application details - Examination (Remote)
- Written test: 60 multiple-choice questions
• 30 general Biology | 30 Molecular Oncology and clinical research - Oral exam: Scientific background and motivation
- Written test: 60 multiple-choice questions
- Interviews
Personal interviews with the group leaders of the available laboratories are foreseen after the oral examination. This step will help the matching process between successful candidates and available laboratories.
Go to the APPLICATION AREA