OVERVIEW

PHD IN ECONOMICS - 42° CYCLE - a.a. 2026/27
 
The Naples Ph.D. in Economics is a 4-year program offered by the Department of Economics and Statistics (DISES) of the University of Naples Federico II that aims to produce high quality researchers with strong analytical skills and international exposure.
  • Admission requirements. Applicants are required to have completed a M.Sc. in Economics and/or Finance with a strong quantitative orientation, preferably entirely English-taught (or to compete it before the inception of Ph.D. courses). Candidates holding a M.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics or Engineering may also apply.
  • Program structure. The first 2 years are devoted to course work, and the last 2 to dissertation work. Second-year Ph.D. students have to choose at least one reading group per semester: satisfying the requirements of each reading group is a necessary condition for admission to the next year of the program. The program is structured as follows:

Year-1 is devoted to developing a strong foundation in quantitative methods and in economics, via advanced courses in mathematics, statistics, microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. The course schedule from October to April is divided in 5 terms of 5 weeks each, followed by exams. Courses are followed by exams, and satisfactory performance in exams is a pre-requisite for admission to the subsequent year. In June, students will produce a term paper and attend the courses of the Naples Summer School.

Year 2 offers three annual reading groups to enable students build up their research skills, identify their field(s) of interest and their potential advisors. Students will enrol in at least one reading group per semester: successful participation in these reading group is a requirement for admission to year 3 of the program. In each reading group, students will prepare research proposals that will be the basis of a first paper of the Ph.D. thesis. 
 
Year 3 comprises at least a semester of study in a non-Italian host university. Host universities include Indiana, Johns Hopkins, MIT, Montreal, Stanford and Yale in America, Essex and UCL in Great Britain, and Amsterdam, Bielefeld, EHESS, Essex, Nova, Leuven, Mannheim, Paris 1, and UPF in Europe. The allocation of students across these universities will depend on their performance in the first 2 years of the program and on their research interests, as well as on approval by the host university. 
 
Year 3 and 4 are devoted to thesis writing under the supervision of faculty members, possibly in collaboration with an external advisor. By the beginning of year 3, each student will submit a "thesis proposal", which should include a first complete draft of a research paper. 
 
Doctoral students are expected to participate to all the weekly seminars organised by the Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), which is located within DISES and collaborates closely with it. 
 
In years 3 and 4, besides doctoral work, students will provide part-time assistance in research projects and/or teaching activities. This is meant to be an integral part of their training, as it will help them hone their teaching and research skills.
  • Supervision and Monitoring
Each PhD student is assigned a supervisor from the PhD faculty board. The progress of doctoral candidates is monitored annually by the PhD Board, based on:
- annual progress reports
- presentation of research activities
- evaluation of coursework results
 
Students are admitted to the following year upon positive evaluation.
 
  • Faculty: The diversity of research areas covered by the faculty allows students to write their thesis in several fields of economics and finance.  Doctoral students are exposed to a vibrant research environment, by participating to the weekly seminars organized by CSEF, and interacting with its Research Fellows as well as the international visitors frequently present at CSEF.
For further information about the Ph.D. program structure, please consult the NSE website: www.nse-unina.it
 
  • Services, facilities and research environment 
The PhD Programme in Economics at the Department of Economics and Statistics (DISES), University of Naples Federico II, provides doctoral candidates with a stimulating research environment and access to a wide range of academic infrastructures and support services. PhD students benefit from the Department's research facilities and from a structured training programme designed to support the development of advanced analytical and research skills.
 
In particular, doctoral candidates have access to:
 
- specialized economic and financial databases and library resources supporting advanced research;
 
- a structured programme of courses, seminars, workshops and scientific events organized within the PhD programme and the Department;
 
- reading groups and research seminars that promote interaction and collaboration among doctoral students and faculty members;
 
- opportunities for international mobility, including research visits at foreign institutions and participation in international conferences and workshops;
 
- additional funding opportunities, such as competitive research grants (Marco Fanno PhD Research Grant, Role Model in Economics Award), to support research activities, visiting periods abroad and participation in international scientific events;
 
- continuous academic supervision and administrative support provided by the doctoral board and departmental staff.
 
Overall, the programme combines high-quality supervision, access to research infrastructure and strong international exposure, fostering the development of independent and innovative researchers and promoting their integration into the international academic community. 
 

PhD in Economics – Key Information 

  • Duration: 4 years

  • Language: English

  • Coordinator: Prof. Marco Pagnozzi

  • Department: DISES – Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

  • Number of positions: 4 per cycle

  • Scholarships: 3 per cycle

  • Start of academic year: November 2026


ADMISSIONS

The selection of students is based on the assessment of the students' background, research potential and an interview.
 
Applicants are required to have completed a M.Sc. in Economics and/or Finance with a strong quantitative orientation, preferably entirely English-taught (or to complete it by 31 October 2026).  Also candidates with a M.Sc. in Mathematics, Physics or Engineering may apply.
 
Candidates should be fluent in written and spoken English. Although language certifications are not required, they will be considered by the admission committee together with other credentials. 
 
The admission procedure to the Naples PhD in Economics (42° cycle) , a.y. 2026/27, requires applicants to file the online application by 15 April 2026.
 
42° CYCLE (A.A. 2026/27) - Call for application to the PhD Program in Economics
 
 
Full details on the application requirements and procedure can be found at the following link:
 
 
COMPLETED SELECTION PROCEDURE
 
41° CYCLE (A.A. 2025/26) - Call for application to the PhD Program in Economics
 
 
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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Full details on the program requirements can be found at the following link: NPDE Admission and scholarships.


COURSES


CURRENT STUDENTS

Students

Research Interest

Tutor
     

Admission November 2022

38° cycle

    
Nello Esposito    
Girolamo Franchetti    
Armando Martino    
Matteo Vasca    
     

Admission November 2023

39° cycle

    
Marco Carbone
    
Gennaro Brosco
    
Matteo Moracci    
     

Admission November 2024

40° cycle

    
Lorenzo Andrea Benedetti    
Francisco Javier Di Biase Ruiz     
Giuseppe Gismondi     
Sara Licciardi    
Antonio Ruggiero    
Sfregola Massimiliano    
Sperati Chiara    
     

Admission November 2025

41° cycle

    
Anastasiya Mamonova     
Marzia Montanaro     
Angela Silvestro     
Gaetano Stefanelli     

 


CONTACTS

PhD Program Director:
  • Prof. Marco Pagnozzi
  • tel: 081-675099
  • Email: marco.pagnozzi@unina.it
PhD Secretary:
  • Dr Maria Carannante
  • tel: 081-675115
  • Email: maria.carannante@unina.it
  • Dr Micol Sorrentino
  • tel: 081-675309
  • Email: micol.sorrentino2@unina.it; phd.dises@unina.it
International Office at the University of Naples Federico II

PhD committee: