Overview

The PhD Programme in European Law is a course of study of high scientific qualification with a strong international connotation. Through a multidisciplinary structure, it examines European legal and law-and-economics issues in depth, integrating international and European subjects with legal disciplines relating to domestic law.

The learning and research activities focus on the study of supranational law and its impact on domestic legal systems and on the national social and economic system, with attention to institutional aspects and the development of European policies.

Scientific and teaching activities benefit from the contribution of the members of the Academic board and the participation of Italian and international experts, fostering ongoing dialogue with perspectives and competences at national and international level.

Programme objectives

The programme aims to train scholars and researchers, as well as professionals, with in-depth knowledge of European legal and law-and-economics issues, preparing them to take on prominent roles in the academic and scientific community, in national and European public administrations, in public and private research bodies, in international organisations and in the national and European production system.

In particular, the learning pathway aims to:

• provide a solid legal education, able to respond to the constantly evolving needs of the European and international professional context;
• develop advanced methodological competences for scientific research, fostering the production of original results and their dissemination through publications of national and international importance;
• train experts in the dynamics of European integration and in the related legal, institutional and economic implications, capable of working in European Union institutions, international organisations and specialised professional firms;
• prepare qualified professional profiles in the areas of market regulation, public policy evaluation and development projects, to be placed in public and private organisations;
• develop analytical and operational competences that are useful for addressing, with a critical and interdisciplinary approach, the legal, economic and social challenges posed by development processes at national, European and supranational level.

Curricula and research themes

The PhD is structured into two curricula, each dedicated to specific areas of research of European relevance:

Internationalisation

Internationalisation is a qualifying element of the PhD pathway. All PhD students undertake a research period abroad lasting at least six months at universities, research centres or international institutions.

The participation of international scholars in the programme’s scientific and teaching activities, and the exchange with international research contexts, foster the development of advanced competences and integration into European and global research networks.

Career opportunities

The programme makes it possible to acquire specific interdisciplinary training within the two curricula, which enables a wide range of career opportunities also depending on the pathway chosen. In particular, PhD graduates in European Law will be able to perform functions requiring specialist competences by taking on positions of responsibility within public and private study and research centres, and to obtain employment and consultancy work in the Institutions, bodies and agencies of the Union and in national and supranational public bodies.

In particular, they will possess the competences essential for carrying out, among others, the following activities:

• legal research, both from a theoretical and an empirical perspective, within the University, research bodies and law firms with a European or international focus;
• employment in the institutions, bodies and agencies of the Union and in national and supranational public bodies, or in private bodies;
• consultancy activities for public bodies, for private individuals and companies, both as an employee and as a self-employed professional.

Available data show that, already one year after obtaining the qualification, the employment rate is 100%.