Deadline:
November 02, 2026
Location(s)
Worldwide
Overview
UniCredit Foundation announces the opening of the competition for the award of 10 Scholarships to pursue a PhD in Economics for the 2027/28 academic year. The scholarships are dedicated to the memory of Marco Fanno, Giovanna Crivelli and Fabrizio Saccomanni.
Details
This initiative aims to nurture young talent and promote academic excellence at some of the world's most prestigious universities.
Scholarship details
UniCredit Foundation is offering 10 scholarships for doctoral studies in Economics (5 Marco Fanno, 3 Giovanna Crivelli and 2 Fabrizio Saccomanni scholarships), featuring:
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Total value: €65,000 gross for the entire duration of the scholarship, intended to cover tuition fees or living expenses
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Duration: 2 years, starting from the 2027/28 academic year.
Among the selected candidates:
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At least one scholarship will be preferentially awarded to a candidate holding a degree obtained from an Italian university
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At least one, and preferably two scholarships, will be awarded to female candidates
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Two scholarships will be awarded to candidates interested in the fields of banking, financial regulation, and international and monetary economics.
Key Dates
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Application deadline: 2 November 2026
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Announcement of winners: by 1 February 2027.
This initiative reflects UniCredit Foundation’s commitment to investing in young talent, supporting academic excellence, and fostering the next generation of economists and researchers.
Opportunity is About
Eligibility
Candidates should be from:
Description of Ideal Candidate
Who can apply?
Applicants must: be under 28 years old on the publication date of the call; hold, or expect to obtain by 31 July 2027, a degree of at least three years’ education in Economics, Banking and/or Finance; have achieved excellent academic results; meet citizenship or university-location requirements related to the UniCredit footprint.
Which countries are considered part of UniCredit’s footprint?
The eligible countries are: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Do I need to be a citizen of one of these countries?
Not necessarily. You may qualify if: you are a citizen of a UniCredit country; or you obtained your degree from a university located in a UniCredit country.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. Applicants must be under 28 years of age on the date the competition notice is issued.
Can I apply if I have not yet graduated?
Yes. You may apply if you are expected to obtain your qualifying degree by 31 July 2027.
How recent must my degree be?
Your most recent degree (for example, a Master’s degree) must have been awarded no more than three years before the publication date of the call.
How is the “degree awarded no more than three years prior to the publication date of the call” requirement assessed?
The three-year rule applies to the applicant’s most recent degree. For candidates who have completed both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree, the relevant date is the date on which the most recent qualification was awarded, i.e., the Master's degree. Therefore, eligibility is determined by whether the most recent degree was awarded no more than three years before the publication date of the call.
Which academic field are eligible?
Applicants must have completed studies in: Economics; Banking; Finance; or other closely related fields.
My degree is not formally in Economics, Banking or Finance. Am I still eligible?
Possibly. Candidates with degrees in closely related fields may be considered eligible, especially if their academic background and intended PhD studies are clearly aligned with Economics. For example, applicants holding degrees in quantitative disciplines such as Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics or Computational Sciences may be considered eligible if they intend to pursue a PhD in Economics. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Are language skills required?
Yes. Applicants must demonstrate adequate proficiency in the language required by their chosen PhD program.
Dates
Deadline: November 02, 2026
Cost/funding for participants
Un-save Opportunity
Internships, scholarships, student conferences and competitions.
