Since the establishment of PhD programmes in Italy (1982), the University of Padua has offered a PhD Programme in Astronomy. From the very beginning, the programme has been highly successful and has contributed to training an entire generation of astronomers, also thanks to the strong collaboration with researchers at the nearby Astronomical Observatory of the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF). A recent survey shows that more than 90% of those who obtained a PhD in Astronomy in Padua are currently working, in Italy or abroad, in the field of astronomical research; 72% of them hold a permanent position at a Research Institute or at an Italian or foreign University.

The University of Padua has formally acknowledged the excellence achieved by the PhD Programme in Astronomy; since 2 January 2006, it has been established as the PhD School in Astronomy. Together with the University of Bologna, Padua is one of the only two universities in Italy to independently offer all three levels of higher education in Astronomy (Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and PhD), without relying on other disciplines.

On average, 10 to 12 PhD candidates enrol each year in the PhD School in Astronomy at the University of Padua. They are selected through a public admission competition and come from across Italy and abroad. Additional international PhD candidates join the School through specific agreements with partner universities. The PhD School is a three-year postgraduate programme, culminating in a final examination that includes the defence of a doctoral thesis.

The purpose of the PhD School in Astronomy is to train young researchers with an internationally recognized level of excellence in their specific field of research. The EARA agreement, together with dedicated funding from the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research (MIUR) and the University of Padua (with contributions from the INAF–Astronomical Observatory of Padua), enables PhD candidates to complement their training through research placements at foreign institutions affiliated with the Department of Astronomy.

UniPD Doctoral Degrees - PhD Programmes

Course Overview and Objectives

Research areas

Career and Professional Opportunitie

Admission A. Y. 2026/27 (XLII cycle)

Page under construction – Information coming soon

Details about the admission call for A.Y. 2026/27 will be published here as soon as the official announcement is released.

PhD Program Overview Meeting

Date: March 25, 2025 | 10:00
Location: Aula Jappelli (OAPD - INAF, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 3)
Online:https://unipd.zoom.us/j/88688886133

Join us to learn about the 42nd cycle of the PhD in Astronomy, available scholarships (INAF and University-funded), and proposed research topics.