Call for Applications (short version)
The PhD Program in Mathematics and Applications at Bocconi University is a newly established four-year program taught in English. It is a strategic initiative that builds on the Department of Decision Sciences’ internationally recognized faculty, vibrant research environment, and Bocconi University’s mission to foster interdisciplinary innovation. The Department has a strong tradition in both pure and applied mathematics, with several faculty members holding prestigious ERC grants.
Curriculum and timeline
The first year provides rigorous core training at the heart of Mathematical Analysis—bringing students quickly to the research frontier and enabling them to launch a substantive research agenda—and is complemented by electives that may cover other areas of mathematics or, depending on their interests, economics, finance, statistics, or machine learning. The second year completes this preparation, offering a view toward applications and providing advanced, research-oriented courses, also taught by visiting professors. The program is structured accordingly: research begins in the first year and develops progressively thereafter. Years three and four are devoted fully to research and thesis writing, with opportunities for international research visits and exchanges.
In addition to a strong core in cutting-edge Mathematical Analysis, the program offers distinctive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in economics, finance, decision theory, and computer science, in line with Bocconi’s tradition in the social sciences.
Faculty and visiting scholars
The faculty includes internationally acknowledged researchers in Mathematical Analysis, Applied and Computational Mathematics, Decision Theory, and Mathematical Finance. The program also benefits from authoritative visiting professors who deliver short monographic courses on frontier topics.
Careers
The PhD in Mathematics and Applications is designed for highly motivated students aiming for first-rate research careers in academia, research institutes, and quantitative roles in industry and finance, as well as strategy consulting, operation research, optimization, and AI/ML labs.
Admission profile
Highly qualified and motivated candidates with MSc degrees in Mathematics, Computer Science, Physics, Economics, Data Science, Engineering, or related areas are encouraged to apply.
Student support
The PhD School’s tutors and Career Service are available to support candidates during the application process and students throughout their studies.
Applications can be submitted by candidates of any citizenship who:
- have completed or are completing their graduate studies and
- have at least a “proven” B2 (CEFR) level of competence in English
For the PhD in Mathematics and Applications, the PhD School offers:
- a maximum of 4 places with a fellowship fully funded by Tech Europe Foundation (TEF)
The assessment is based on a candidate’s:
- Curriculum Vitae (mandatory);
- Academic Records (mandatory);
- Statement Of Purpose (mandatory);
- Up to three reference letters (not mandatory)
The assessment criteria are as follows:
- a maximum of 60 points for the applicant’s curriculum vitae and academic records;
- a maximum of 40 points for statement of purpose and reference letters.
A minimum of 60 total points out of 100 is required to be eligible for admission to the program.
Please consult our website for complete details of our application procedure: https://www.unibocconi.it/en/programs/phd/admissions
Applications are due by 5 February 2026.
For more information about our program, please visit the website https://www.unibocconi.it/en/programs/phd/phd-mathematics-and-applications or feel free to contact phdadmission@unibocconi.it .
