European University Institute PhD Scholarships

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Ph.D

December 31, 2026

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The European University Institute, EUI, offers one of Europe’s leading doctoral programmes in the social sciences and humanities. The PhD programmes are research-focused and designed for students who want to build an academic, policy, research, or international career. The available doctoral fields are Economics, History and Civilisation, Law, and Political and Social Sciences.

The EUI provides a structured doctoral environment with supervision, research training, academic development, international mobility, library resources, seminars, and a strong international academic community. The institute describes its doctoral offer as a fully funded, internationally recognised PhD, with around 130 scholarships per year.

At Darrab Education, we advise applicants to check the official EUI website before applying, because funding rules, eligible countries, deadlines, and required documents may change. Applicants should also check whether they are eligible for national funding, EUI special fellowships, Italian Ministry grants, or external funding.

Applicants must apply to one of the EUI doctoral programmes:
- PhD in Economics
- PhD in History and Civilisation
- PhD in Law
- PhD in Political and Social Sciences
Applicants must meet the degree requirements of the funding authority or country through which they are applying.
In general, applicants are expected to have a degree that qualifies them for doctoral study, usually a Master’s degree or equivalent, but exact requirements vary by country and funding authority.
Applicants applying through EUI Special Doctoral Fellowships need a Master’s or equivalent degree in a relevant academic discipline.
Applicants must have strong academic ability and a suitable research proposal or research statement.
Applicants must show strong English language ability. The expected level is C1.
Accepted English certificates include:
- IELTS, expected from 7.5
- TOEFL iBT, expected from 110
- Cambridge Proficiency, A/B/C
- Cambridge English Advanced, CAE, A/B
- Applicants may be exempt from submitting an English certificate if English is their first language or if they completed a degree taught entirely in English and wrote their thesis in English.
Applicants who need another EUI working language for their research, such as French, German, Italian, or Spanish, may be asked to take a language test during the interview stage.

One-page or two-page CV.
Research proposal or research statement:
- Economics usually requires a research statement of up to 1,500 words.
- Law, History, and Political and Social Sciences usually require a research proposal of up to 2,500 words.
Academic transcripts showing courses, grades, and final degree result if available.
Transcripts from previous degrees, where relevant.
International English language certificate, unless exempted.
Copy of passport or national ID.
Reference letters:Economics applicants usually need three academic referees.
Other departments usually require two academic referees.
GRE score for Economics applicants.
Any extra documents required by the selected funding authority.

Documents should normally be uploaded in PDF format, and EUI may verify the authenticity of submitted certificates and documents.

Visit the official EUI Doctoral Programmes page.
Choose the doctoral programme that matches your research field.
Read the programme page and the department-specific application guide.
Check the funding options for your nationality or residence status.
Prepare your CV, research proposal or research statement, transcripts, English certificate, ID document, and referee details.
Complete the EUI online application form when the call opens.
Register your referees early, because reference letters must be submitted directly by the referees through the online system.
Select the funding option or options for which you are eligible.
Submit the complete application and all required documents before the deadline.
Do not contact potential supervisors to ask them to support your application. EUI advises applicants to read the department research themes and indicate possible supervisors in the application instead.

Fully funded doctoral study opportunities.
Monthly scholarship or stipend for funded PhD candidates.
Tuition fee coverage for candidates funded by EUI contracting states and associate member states.
Structured four-year PhD training.
Research supervision and academic development support.
Access to EUI’s international academic community.
Library, research, welfare, and wellbeing support.
International mobility and professional development opportunities.
Strong career prospects in academia, international organisations, EU institutions, public administration, research institutions, private sector, NGOs, media, and consultancy.

Is the EUI PhD fully funded?

Yes, EUI describes its doctoral programmes as fully funded, but the funding source depends on the applicant’s nationality, residence, and eligible funding authority.

What fields are available?

The main PhD fields are Economics, History and Civilisation, Law, and Political and Social Sciences.

Can international students apply?

Yes. The EUI doctoral community is international, but applicants must check which funding route applies to their country or situation.

Do I need a Master’s degree?

In most cases, applicants need a Master’s degree or equivalent qualification that allows them to start doctoral study. Exact requirements depend on the funding authority and country.

Do I need English proof?

Yes, unless exempted. The expected English level is C1, and accepted certificates include IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge Proficiency, and Cambridge Advanced.

Should I contact a supervisor before applying?

No. EUI advises applicants not to contact potential supervisors for support or advice. Applicants should study the research themes and indicate possible supervisors in the application.

Is the application also a funding application?

Usually yes. The EUI online application is normally also considered for selected funding options, but some countries or funding routes may require additional steps.

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