University of Florence PEGASO PhD Scholarships (Regione Toscana)

The PEGASO PhD Scholarships fund three-year doctoral positions at the University of Florence, financed by Regione Toscana through the European Social Fund Plus under the Giovanisi project. The current round belongs to the university’s 42nd cycle PhD call for the 2026/2027 academic year, and applications close on 6 August 2026 at 12 noon Italian time.

The most notable feature is that PEGASO is open regardless of nationality. Many regionally funded European doctoral schemes limit applications to domestic or EU candidates, and this one does not, which makes it unusually accessible for applicants from outside Europe. More than 30 PhD programmes participate, spanning engineering, biomedical sciences, agriculture, economics, humanities, computer science, environmental sciences and social sciences, so the disciplinary range is broad rather than niche.

Funding is genuinely full. The annual scholarship is 16,243 euros before social security charges, paid monthly across three years, and it can be increased by 50 percent during approved periods of research abroad. There is a separate research budget of at least 10 percent of the scholarship value, and eligible international students receive a one-off contribution of up to 5,000 euros toward relocation. Alongside the money, the programme includes soft-skills training and structured preparation for a research career.

Two practical points shape how you should approach this. First, the general call is only half the information. Each participating PhD programme publishes its own fact sheet in Annex 2 of the call, setting out specific admission requirements, research themes and any mobility obligations, and applying without reading yours is a common mistake. Second, the timeline after the deadline is tight: ranking lists appear by 30 September 2026, enrolment must be completed by 7 October 2026, and the programme starts on 1 November 2026. International candidates should think about visa processing from the moment they apply rather than after results. There is a 30 euro application processing fee, and the online system closes automatically at the deadline with no grace period.

• Open to applicants of any nationality. Unlike many regionally funded European doctoral schemes, PEGASO does not restrict applications to Italian or EU citizens.
• You must already hold, or be about to complete, a master's level qualification that meets the admission requirements of your chosen programme.
• Applications are made to the University of Florence 42nd cycle PhD call for the 2026/2027 academic year, selecting the PEGASO scholarship track for your discipline.
• More than 30 PhD programmes participate, covering engineering, biomedical sciences, agriculture, economics, humanities, computer science, environmental sciences and social sciences.
• Each participating programme has its own fact sheet setting out specific admission requirements, so the general call is only half the picture.
• The programme is full time. This is not suitable for anyone seeking a part-time or remote doctorate.
• Some PEGASO positions require research mobility or applied research activity, so check the fact sheet for your programme before committing.
• This call is strictly for doctoral study. Applicants looking for bachelor's or master's admission are not eligible.

• An annual scholarship of EUR 16,243 before social security charges, paid in monthly instalments, for the full three years.
• The scholarship amount may be increased by 50 percent during periods of approved research activity abroad, which makes international fieldwork genuinely affordable.
• A dedicated research budget of at least 10 percent of the scholarship value for research activities in Italy and abroad.
• A one-off contribution of up to EUR 5,000 for eligible international PhD students, intended to offset the cost of relocating to Italy.
• A full doctoral degree from the University of Florence, one of Italy's oldest and most established public universities, rather than a short exchange or visiting position.
• Soft-skills training and structured preparation for a research career alongside the doctoral work itself.
• Funding comes from Regione Toscana under the European Social Fund Plus, so the money is tied to a regional development programme rather than a single department's budget.

• Online application through the University of Florence application platform, submitted against the 42nd cycle call.
• Master's degree certificate and full academic transcripts, or evidence that you will complete the qualification in time.
• Research proposal appropriate to your chosen PhD programme and its published fact sheet.
• Curriculum vitae covering academic background, research experience and publications.
• Identity document or passport.
• Certified translations of qualifications issued in languages other than Italian or English, where required.
• Reference letters where the individual programme fact sheet requires them.
• Payment of the EUR 30 application processing fee through the platform.

• Start from Annex 2 of the call, which lists the PhD scholarship fact sheets, and identify which programmes carry PEGASO-funded positions in your field.
• Read the fact sheet for your specific programme, since admission requirements, research themes and any mobility obligations vary between them.
• Prepare the research proposal as the central document, because the competition is decided on research quality rather than transcripts alone.
• Complete the online application, upload all documents, and pay the EUR 30 processing fee through the platform.
• Submit no later than 6 August 2026 at 12 noon Italian time. The online system closes automatically at the deadline, so late finishing is not recoverable.
• Ranking lists are published by 30 September 2026 and successful candidates must complete enrolment by 7 October 2026.
• The academic programme begins on 1 November 2026, so international candidates should begin thinking about visa timelines as soon as they apply.
• If you miss this cycle, the University of Florence runs its PhD call annually, so the equivalent 43rd cycle call is worth watching from mid-year.