The Università Iuav di Venezia (IUAV University of Venice) has opened its official call for admission to the 42nd cycle (XLII ciclo) of its doctoral program in Culture del progetto — Design Cultures — for the academic year 2026/2027. A total of 25 positions are available, a portion of which carry funded scholarships. The application deadline is May 6, 2026, at 13:00 (Italian time). The program is hosted within IUAV’s renowned doctoral school and is open to international candidates.
About the PhD Program in Design Cultures
The Culture del progetto doctoral program is the sole PhD track offered by the IUAV Doctoral School (Scuola di dottorato Iuav), and it reflects the university’s distinctly interdisciplinary identity. Research within the program spans architectural design, urban and territorial planning, landscape studies, industrial and fashion design, visual and performing arts, and the history and theory of architecture. Doctoral researchers engage with both conceptual and applied dimensions of design, and the program is closely linked to the C.SCARPA centre — IUAV’s Centre for Research, Anticipation and Applied Design, established under the Italian government’s Excellence Departments funding framework for 2023–2027. This centre focuses on ecological transition, territorial resilience, heritage, and community well-being, and has historically offered dedicated PhD positions tied to its specific research priorities. Candidates are expected to develop an original research project that aligns with the scientific areas covered by the program.
Available Positions and Financial Support
The 2026/2027 call makes 25 positions available in total. Consistent with the structure of previous IUAV doctoral cycles, the positions are expected to be distributed across several categories: positions with an ordinary scholarship (borsa di studio ordinaria), positions without scholarship, positions reserved for holders of foreign government scholarships, and potentially positions tied to specific research themes within the C.SCARPA centre or funded by external partners. The exact breakdown for the XLII cycle is detailed in the official call document, which candidates should download directly from the IUAV website. Italian doctoral scholarships are governed by national law and currently set at approximately €1,195 per month gross (around €16,243 per year), with a 50% increase for approved periods of research conducted abroad. The duration of the PhD program is three years.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must hold a second-cycle (Master’s level) degree — Italian laurea magistrale or an equivalent qualification recognized under Italian law — in a field relevant to the program’s research areas, which include architecture, urban planning, design, visual arts, fashion, theatre, or related disciplines. International candidates holding a foreign degree that corresponds to an Italian second-cycle degree are eligible to apply, provided they meet the academic equivalence requirements set out in the call. There is no formal language requirement stipulated for admission, but since doctoral research at IUAV is conducted in both Italian and English, a solid command of at least one of these languages is practically essential. Candidates who have previously benefited from an Erasmus+ or international mobility program may also apply without restriction.
Selection Process and How to Apply
Selection is conducted through a comparative evaluation of qualifications and an interview (valutazioni comparative per titoli e colloquio). The interview is held in person in Venice; the exact date and venue are announced at least ten days in advance via the official IUAV online notice board. Applications must be submitted electronically through IUAV’s recruitment portal before the deadline of May 6, 2026, at 13:00. The call document and application instructions are available for download directly on the official announcement page. Candidates are strongly advised to read the full call and the doctoral program guide carefully before applying, as these documents detail the application materials required, the scoring criteria for qualifications, and the specific conditions attached to each category of position. For inquiries, the doctoral school can be contacted at dottorati@iuav.it.
→ Official Call: PhD in Design Cultures – IUAV Venice, XLII Cycle 2026/2027
About IUAV University of Venice
Founded in 1926 as one of Italy’s first schools of architecture, Università Iuav di Venezia is a highly specialized public university dedicated entirely to design disciplines. Its academic offer spans architecture, urban planning, landscape, industrial design, fashion, visual arts, and theatre. The university counts approximately 4,200 students and has built an extensive network of institutional partnerships, including agreements with La Biennale di Venezia, Teatro La Fenice, Palazzo Grassi, Triennale di Milano, and internationally with MIT, Parsons School of Design, IIT, and Tongji University. IUAV’s library is considered one of the most important in Europe for architecture, urban planning, and the arts. The university is located entirely within the historic urban fabric of Venice — one of UNESCO’s most celebrated World Heritage Sites — which gives doctoral research at IUAV an exceptional cultural and spatial context that few institutions in the world can match.
Leave a comment