Director's Message
A message from the Director of the Centre for the Study of Political Change
In the second half of the twentieth century, Political Science as a discipline grew rapidly and acquired a prominent position in the Universitites, in public bodies, in private associations and in many sectors of business. This is due to the theoretical significance of the analyses, to the practical relevance of the empirical studies and to the development of methodological tools, both qualitative and quantitative, which have come to be used by political scientists. In the coming years, there will be a continuous growth in demand for this type of training.
The University of Siena is particularly well-placed in this context, given the fact that it has been designated by the national Ministry of the University as a centre of excellence for post-graduate training. Thanks to the availability of national funds and the support of private foundations, the University of Siena offers a PhD programme in Comparative and European Politics. A well established College (Collegio Santa Chiara) reserved to PhD students and post-doc research fellows complements the programme.
This web site offers guidance both to current and prospective students. It explains what current PhD students need to know to pursue their course of studies successfully. It explains the programme of study during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year and the main guidelines for the completion of a PhD thesis. It indicates how the infrastructure works (IT, library, etc.). At the same time, it demonstrates to prospective students what we do in Siena, so that they can make an informed choice about their future application.
Professor Maurizio Cotta
Director of the Centre for the Study of Political Change
[Last Updated: nov 26, 12:44]