Overview

We offer a full-time, 3-year advanced doctoral programme for outstanding students who want to achieve an inspiring training in one of our two curricula: Human Rights Protection and Social Justice or Inclusion and Psychological growth. For each curriculum, the two-year doctoral programme varies and most of the lectures take place in Padua, while some courses are organised jointly with our partner universities, where students will spend at least one month visiting. It is strongly recommended that students take self-selected courses at any other institution of higher education or research centre, depending on the specific field of research.

By the end of the first year all students shall have identified a supervisor, the topic of their thesis, and present their first paper: “What's new in human rights doctoral research”. Launched in 2017, this series, edited by Padova University Press, aims to collect and disseminate critical literature reviews to support young researchers to have an early publication and, more generally, to test their analytical and critical skills on frontier and contemporary human rights research questions.

During the third year, students work exclusively on their thesis under the close supervision of the Supervisor and shall spend a significant period in a research institution abroad to broaden their international network and on field research experience, and ultimately to bridge the gap between the PhD programme and the job market.

Over the years, our PhD students visited outstanding universities and research institutions such as, for example, Oxford University. Till XXXVIII cycle enrolled students have taken advantage of the exchange agreements of our institution with international partners - University of Nicosia, University of Zagreb, Western Sydney University and Panteion University.

Job orientation

Doctoral graduates will possess the competence and the skills required for a research and teaching career in Academia, or for research positions in public and private organisations.
The doctoral degree allows graduates to compete for high-level positions in public and private institutions, including intergovernmental organisations, and to perform operative functions as legal officers, research and development staff as well as specialised field officers.
They will have the skills to advise and assist public and private bodies in implementing complex human rights programmes in areas such as education, communication, cultural mediation, social planning, etc. in the framework of human development, human security and social cohesion strategies.

An International PhD guide is now available: a handy tool to navigate your way around the University of Padova and live your experience to the fullest.