Ph.D. in Information Technology
The Ph.D. IT programme of the Politecnico di Milano has trained researchers, professors, and entrepreneurs in the Information Technology field for decades. It offers the opportunity to develop a Ph.D. thesis in one of four research areas, namely Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics, Systems and Control, and Telecommunications. During the Ph.D., candidates have the opportunity to take part in specialization courses, projects with industries or other research centers, international conferences, and research experiences abroad.
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3 years
Milano Leonardo
4 Areas & 21 Research Lines
38
80 – 120
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The Ph.D. IT programme
The Ph.D. programme in Information Technology is organized within the Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria (DEIB) and participates in the Ph.D. School of Politecnico di Milano with nearly 20% of the total number of Ph.D. students in the School. The candidates enrolled in this Ph.D. programme are mostly supported by scholarships from public institutions and private companies.
The scientific research lines pursued at DEIB are of enormous scientific and technical interest to companies, governmental organizations, and society. The doctorate opens interesting possibilities for extended study and participation in high-level research in information technologies.
Scientific collaboration of DEIB with prestigious research institutes all over the world facilitates entrance into the international research environment through meetings with scientists, common research activities, and visits to foreign laboratories.
The intense industrial collaboration of DEIB in applied research allows the doctoral student to become acquainted with the activities of technologically advanced companies, thus acquiring the necessary elements for an informed choice between a career in industrial or academic research.
Industries that collaborate with the Ph.D. IT programme have the advantage of exploring new frontiers of knowledge and discovering novel applicative solutions.
Research Lines & Educational Activities
The main aim of all Ph.D. programmes of the Politecnico di Milano is the development of a research-oriented mindset in the candidates, with advanced skills and expertise in a specific research topic. To this end, candidates must develop the ability to formulate and solve problems in complex contexts, perform deep problem analysis, identify original solutions, and evaluate their applicability in practical contexts. These skills provide Ph.D. candidates with major opportunities for development in their research both in the academic field and in public and private organizations.
Ph.D. candidates are required to develop an original research contribution coherent with the DEIB’s research lines. The Ph.D. thesis must contribute to increasing the knowledge in the candidate’s research field. The original research results are collected in the Ph.D. thesis, where the candidate’s contribution is positioned in relation to the state of the art in the specific research field. Research results are validated by the scientific dissemination process with peer-reviewed publications in international congresses and journals.
During the first two years, Ph.D. students must pass at least five doctoral courses for a minimum of 25 credits. Doctoral courses provide advanced knowledge and give the students the necessary training for addressing research issues.
The Ph.D. IT programme offers a large variety of thematic doctoral courses every year, organized in 4 areas (Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics, Systems and Control, and Telecommunications), and held by DEIB professors or invited professors of international institutions. Such courses are open to all enrolled students, irrespectively of their research area, as well as to external attendees.
The Ph.D. School of the Politecnico di Milano offers transversal skills courses aimed at developing skills independent from the specific curriculum, such as oral and written presentation, research management, ethics of research, public speaking, and many others.
Doctoral courses taken from other universities or Ph.D. schools, as well as summer/winter schools, can concur to achieve the course requirements.
Ph.D. students can be involved in teaching activities as teaching assistants at the Bachelor or Master levels, and can take part in tutoring activities for the orientation of new candidates or activities of the Ph.D. IT programme. Participation in teaching and student tutoring activities is encouraged to develop communication and team leading skills.
During the three years of the Ph.D. programme, students will be often required to present their research achievements in various occasions, such as public seminars at DEIB or other institutions, project meetings, workshops, and international scientific conferences. This will allow Ph.D. students to develop their ability for public speaking and improve their communication skills in both writing and speech. Ph.D. students may take part in schools and visit other research centres and facilities both in Italy and abroad, even for an extended period of time (up to 18 months).
All Ph.D. students are granted the necessary resources and facilities to carry out their activity and access scientific papers and technical documentation from local and international databases. Other services, such as subscription to scientific associations, language courses, business cards, are also available. Students are assigned a personal budget to cover research-related and traveling expenses.
Our University
The Politecnico di Milano is a public scientific-technological university founded in 1863, which trains engineers, architects and industrial designers. The Politecnico has always focused on the quality and innovation of its teaching and research, developing a fruitful relationship with the industrial and productive world by means of experimental research and technological transfer. Research has always been linked to teaching and it is a priority commitment which has allowed the Politecnico to achieve high quality results at an international level. The Politecnico takes part in several cooperation agreements and strategic alliances with other universities and scientific institutions, as well as industrial companies.
The Department
The Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB) is one of the largest European ICT departments. With nearly 1000 members, researchers, collaborators, Ph.D. students, technical and administrative staff, the Department is a vital institution capable of promoting education, fundamental and applied research, and technology transfer to companies. The six department sections bring together consolidated competences in systems and control, computer science and engineering, electronics, telecommunications, bioengineering and electrical engineering.
The DEIB vision is to promote the quality and the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on society at the national and international level, by pursuing excellent long-term and interdisciplinary research and by committing to innovation, technology transfer, and education.
Laboratories
The DEIB currently hosts more than 50 laboratories in Computer Science and Engineering, Systems and Control, Electronics, Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, and Bioengineering.
It also participates in more than 20 interdisciplinary and interdepartmental laboratories and large infrastructures for advanced interdisciplinary studies, in collaboration with other departments of Politecnico di Milano. These laboratories are accessible to Ph.D. students.
People & Contacts
The Ph.D. course is managed by a Coordinator and a Faculty Board. The Coordinator chairs the Faculty Board, coordinates the preparation of the annual Educational Programme and organises the general educational activities of the Ph.D.
