Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna PhD Scholarships
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa is one of Italy's elite public 'schools of excellence', renowned for robotics, biomedical engineering, economics, agricultural sciences, and law. Unlike many Italian PhDs, Sant'Anna funds admitted doctoral students generously: a full multi-year PhD scholarship (a genuine living stipend, increased for research periods abroad) plus, for winners of its competitive places, free board and lodging at the school's colleges. This makes it one of the most fully-funded doctorate routes in Italy and a strong, honest option for Sri Lankan Master's graduates — there is real money attached, not just a tuition waiver. Admission is by open international competition for advertised PhD positions in defined research areas.
Annual cycle — PhD calls typically open in spring/summer with deadlines for the autumn (often November) academic-year start
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Scholarship
Full multi-year PhD stipend
Board & Lodging
Free for competition winners
Duration
3 years (doctorate)
Fields
Robotics, biomed, economics, agri, law
info How this award actually works
Who awards it
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.
How you are considered
Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.
What it covers
Full PhD Scholarship + Free Board/Lodging (3 yrs). This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.
Where we come in
We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Relevant Master's Degree
A Master's (or equivalent) qualifying you for doctoral study in the chosen field. Sri Lankan applicants with a research Master's and strong results are competitive.
Open Competition
Admission is by competitive public selection for advertised PhD positions in specific research areas — you apply to a defined call, not a generic scholarship.
English Proficiency
Many programmes are taught and examined in English. Check each call's language requirement; proof of English may be required for international applicants.
Open to Internationals
Calls are open to applicants worldwide, including Sri Lanka, and the school supports the Italian study/research-visa process for successful candidates.
Research Proposal & Documents
A research statement or fit to the advertised topic, transcripts, CV, and references. Some areas weigh a written research proposal heavily in selection.
account_tree Application Process
Find an open PhD call
Review Sant'Anna's annual PhD calls and identify a position matching your research interests and Master's background. Each call defines its topics and places.
Apply to the competition
Submit the online application by the call deadline with transcripts, CV, references, and any required research proposal. Pay attention to area-specific requirements.
Selection
Selection is by competitive evaluation, often including assessment of qualifications and an interview (frequently available online for international applicants).
Funded enrolment
Winners receive the PhD scholarship (and, where awarded, free board and lodging), complete Italy's visa process, and begin their doctorate in the autumn.
About Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna is a small, highly selective public university in Pisa that consistently ranks among the world's best young and small universities, with global leadership in robotics and biorobotics. Its generous, fully-funded doctoral model makes it one of the most attractive research destinations in Italy for international graduates.
Elite
Italian School of Excellence
Robotics
World-Leading Research
Full
PhD Funding + Board
Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?
Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.
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Tuition, living costs, visa funds and flights for your destination — so you know the gap you are actually trying to close.
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