1) What is the difference among TIGEM’s PhD programmes? Which graduate programme should I choose?
The PhD programme in human genetics (OU), which awards the student with a UK PhD title, is especially designed for foreign students wanting to spend part of their graduate studies in Italy. However, it is also configured for Italian students with the goal of obtaining a PhD title that is recognized internationally and thus favours mobility to a foreign country. Supervision and mentoring throughout the student’s graduate studies as well as doctoral thesis writing and oral defence follow UK PhD standards.
In contrast, the PhD programmes in computational biology and bioinformatics (UNINA) and in medical genetics (SUN) are ideal for Italian students not only for the fact that the student is awarded an Italian PhD title but also considering that application and selection to the graduate programmes, as publicly advertised in the UNINA and SUN web sites or official gazettes, occur according to Italian university rules.
Finally, the PhD programme in functional genomics and molecular medicine (SEMM) can include both Italian and foreign students since the selection process, and supervision and mentoring of the student throughout the graduate studies follow international standards, although students are conferred with an Italian PhD title.

2) When does the programme start?
The starting date differs among PhD programmes and spans from October (OU) to November (UNINA, SUN) or January (SEMM) of each year.

3) Are TIGEM PhD programmes covered by a fellowship/scholarship/stipend?
All students are supported when enrolled at TIGEM by a fellowship for the perspective four- (OU, SEMM) or three-year period (UNINA, SUN).

4) How long does the PhD last?
Three years for our national programmes (UNINA, SUN) and four for our international programmes (OU, SEMM).

5) Who is the awarding body of my PhD title?
The Open University (Milton Keynes, UK) for the PhD programme in human genetics (OU), the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (Naples, Italy) for the PhD programmes in functional genomics and molecular medicine (SEMM) and computational biology and bioinformatics (UNINA),  and the Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli (Caserta, Italy) for the PhD programme in medical genetics (SUN).

6) Is my PhD valid in Italy? And is it valid abroad?
The SEMM, UNINA and SUN PhD programmes are valid in Italy considering the awarding body is an Italian university and must obtain the declaration of equivalence by the specified foreign country of interest to you to be considered valid abroad.
The OU PhD programme awards you with a UK PhD title and is thus valid abroad. You must, therefore, obtain the declaration of equivalence by the Italian consular authorities for it to be considered valid in Italy.

1) What academic title is required for applying to a PhD programme at TIGEM?
Applicants should hold a second level academic degree: the Italian Laurea Specialistica, Master of Science or equivalent.

2) What degree should I hold to apply to a PhD programme at TIGEM?
The following list of scientific academic degrees are considered valid for application¹:
Bioinformatics
Biological sciences
Biomedical engineering
Biotechnology
Chemistry
Dentistry (excluding SUN)
Electronics engineering (excluding SUN)
Human nutrition sciences (excluding SUN)
Medicine
Natural sciences
Pharmacy and industrial pharmacy
Physics (excluding SUN)
Veterinary medicine (excluding SUN)

1 Considering the multi-disciplinary nature of the PhD programme in computational biology and bioinformatics, the Research School has fixed no specific limitations to the kind of scientific academic degrees valid for application.

3) Are Non-European candidates eligible to apply to any of TIGEM’s PhD programmes?
There are no restrictions on nationalities to be admitted to our PhD programmes.

4) Is there any age limit for taking part in the selection?
There is no age limit; nevertheless, the programme is tailored on young graduates training needs.

5) I will receive my degree in the next weeks/months. May I apply as well?
You can apply even if you don't have the degree yet, provided that you take the degree before the examination day (September, OU; November, SEMM; December, UNINA and SUN).

6) I already have a PhD. May I apply as well?
Yes, you can surely apply to any of our PhD programmes.

1) How can I enter one of TIGEM’s PhD programmes?
The only way is to submit for application and take part in the selection process.

2) How can I submit my application?
The submission occurs on-line (OU, SEMM) by filling in an application form available on our web site (OU) or on the SEMM web site (www.semm.it). Alternatively, the application form can be sent by post or e-mail (OU) or must be sent by certified mail (UNINA, SUN). For further details please consult the specific graduate programmes.

3) What else (if anything) must I include in my application other than the application form?
One/two reference letters (OU, SEMM, UNINA) and additional documentation (UNINA, SUN), such as the official certificate issued by the university for each degree obtained, any further scientific/academic titles, your CV, etc (further details are given in the specific programmes).

4) Is there a template of the application form or any other template necessary for the application?
A template of the application form and of the reference letter is available on our web site at the time of the call for the OU PhD programme only (click on documents above). Application forms and reference letter templates for the other three PhD programmes (SEMM, UNINA and SUN) are again only available when calls are open and can be downloaded by consulting the specific web sites as indicated below:
SEMM: www.semm.it
http://www.semm.it/application_humangenetics.php
UNINA: http://www1.na.infn.it/PhDBioinformatica/index-en.htm
SUN: www.unina2.it (Concorsi gare e bandi – Concorsi per gli studenti – Ammissione ai corsi di dottorato di ricerca)

5) How can I provide the reference letters?
A template is available for you to download on each web site (click on 4. for more details). You should provide your referees with this template and ensure that letters are sent within the deadline for application. Your referees can e-mail the reference letters directly to phd@semm.it (SEMM) or to phd.program@tigem.it (OU). Alternatively, reference letters must (UNINA) or can (OU) be sent directly by post closed in sealed envelopes (address details given in the specific programmes).

6) I graduated in a country other than Italy. What kind of documents do I need to apply?
At the time of enrollment, students who graduated in a country other than Italy will be asked to provide the translation of their academic degree, along with the "dichiarazione di valore in loco", a declaration of equal value of the degree, issued by the Italian Embassy. This document declares that your degree allows you to be admitted to a PhD programme in a different country from where you obtained the diploma.

7) When is the selection called?
The call depends on the specific programme you choose; each one has its own call.
The OU PhD programme is called every year in April, the deadline for submission is in May and the examination for admission is in September.
The call for the SEMM PhD programme is every year in June, the deadline for submission is in September and the examination is in November.
The call for the other two PhD programmes (UNINA, SUN) is generally in August, the deadline for submission is in September (SUN) or November (UNINA) and the exams take place in December.

8) Is there a preselection and, if so, how does it take place?
After the deadline, the Examination Board preselects a restricted number of candidates per research area, based on the information provided in the application form and in the reference letters or other documents required. Only preselected candidates will be invited to TIGEM or to the Research Schools and admitted to the examination process.

9) What does the selection consist in?
The selection consists in:
1. a written exam (substituted by an oral seminar for OU), consisting of a multiple choice test (SEMM) or an essay focused on the subject and goal of the PhD programme (UNINA, SUN), and
2. an oral exam aimed to evaluate the scientific background of the candidate, as well as his/her motivation to succeed in a demanding programme.

10) Are interviews with group leaders foreseen?
Yes, during the selection days, interviews with group leaders will be scheduled based on candidates and group leaders indications.

11) Is it possible to have a telephone interview?
Telephone interviews are not foreseen at this stage, except for selection to the UNINA PhD programme (see specific programme for details).

12) Must I know Italian to take part in the selection?
The official language of TIGEM PhD programmes is English. Therefore, the courses, seminars, and dataclubs are held in English. The exams are also held in English with the exception of our national PhD programmes (UNINA, SUN) in which the selection is held in Italian. However, foreign students wishing to participate in the UNINA and SUN PhD programmes can hold the exam in English.