Information

A brief guide to the Italian academic job market


We provide a minimal guide to the Italian academic job market, with particular focus on the existing types of positions. For more and official details, visit the website of the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MUR).

Public academic institutions

Public research institutions carrying out research activities in Italy include Universities, the National Research Council (CNR), and a few independent institutes. The CNR is the main public research institution in Italy, and is organized in Institutes. There are 97 universities and 88 CNR Institutes.

The recruiting process

All positions in public institutions are assigned via a public competition. You can find all the open positions on our job page. The competition is typically based on the evaluation of the candidate's publications (concorso per titoli) and an interview.

Academic positions

Most positions fall into three categories: PhDs, research fellowships, and professorships. A table with equivalences between Italian and international positions can be found here.

PhDs

In Italy, PhDs are called dottorati di ricerca (or more simply dottorati) and are offered by universities and research institutions. Most students enter a PhD after completion of a bachelor's degree (3 years) and a master degree (2 years). The PhD lasts normally between 3 and 4 years, and PhD students usually receive a salary ranging between 15,000 and 20,000 euros per year.

Research Fellowships

Assegni di ricerca

The Assegni di ricerca are fixed term contracts with duration ranging from one to three years. These positions can be open at various levels: (i) for candidates without a PhD degree (pre-doc), (ii) for candidates with a PhD (post-doc), (iii) for senior candidates with multiple years of experience in research after their PhD. An individual can hold multiple consecutive Assegni di ricerca, for up to 6 years overall. Note: this does not include borse di ricerca, which fund students at the end of their bachelor's or master's degree for short projects, and do not constitute an employment relationship.

Researchers of type A (RTDA)

RTDA are researchers with a fixed-term contract of 3 years, with the possibility of one renewal for further 2 years. Holding a PhD (or medical specialization) is a requirement for RTDAs. In the Anglo-Saxon world, RTDA positions can be considered as equivalent to post-docs. With a recent reform (law 79/2022), RTDA positions will disappear and be replaced by RTT positions.

Researchers of type B (RTDB)

RTDB are researchers with a fixed-term contract of 3 years, with the possibility of promotion to Associate Professor afterwards. Promotion to Associate Professor does not require taking part in a new public competition, but is contingent on the candidate having performed satisfactorily and having obtained the National Scientific Abilitation. In the Anglo-Saxon wold, RTDB positions can be considered as equivalent to tenure track positions. A requirement to get a RTDB is to have previously obtained a RTDA, the National Scientific Abilitation, the medical specialization, or three years of post-doctoral experience. With a recent reform (law 79/2022), RTDB positions will disappear and be replaced by RTT positions.

Tenure Track Researchers (RTT)

Tenure Track Researchers are researchers with a fixed-term contract of up to 6 years, with the possibility of promotion to Associate Professor. Promotion to Associate Professor can happen starting from the completion of the 3rd year, does not require taking part in a new public competition, and is contingent on the candidate having performed satisfactorily and having obtained the National Scientific Abilitation. According to a recent reform (law 79/2022), the RTT positions will substitute the RTDA and RTDB positions, aligning the Italian system to the Anglo-Saxon one.

Researchers RTD-PNNR

These are fixed-term research appointments at various levels and of various kinds, that rely specifically on funding from within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNNR), namely the program of reforms and investments that Italy uses to manage the Next Generation EU funds from the European Union.

Professors

There are two main categories of professors in Italy: seconda fascia (or fascia II, or associate) and prima fascia (or fascia I, or ordinari). The two are mostly equivalent, the main difference being prestige and salary. Professors are required to carry on both research and teaching activities, and are generally required to have obtained the National Scientific Abilitation.

Seconda fascia (Associate)

This is normally the lowest grade for professorships in Italy.

Prima fascia (or Ordinari, or di ruolo)

This is normally the highest grade for professorships in Italy, is associated with a cattedra (chair), and corresponds to a full professorship in the Anglo-Saxon system.

Straordinario

A strordinario professor is financed by an external body and appointed for a fixed term of 3 years, with the possibility of renewal for further 3 years. The specific formulation used by the Ministry of Education, namely riservato a coloro che hanno conseguito l'idoneità per la fascia dei professori ordinari, ovvero a soggetti in possesso di elevata qualificazione scientifica e professionale, leaves room for interpretation regarding the need of having obtained the National Scientific Abilitation. Indeed, this position has often been assigned to candidates without National Scientific Abilitation, by virtue of their high scientific and professional qualifications.