The Italian Institute for Historical Studies, founded by Benedetto Croce, has announced a call for applications for annual scholarships for young graduates and PhD holders, both Italian and international, in the fields of history, philosophy, and literature for the 2026–2027 academic year.
The initiative aims to encourage young scholars to pursue advanced historical research in connection with philosophical, legal, economic, and social sciences. Scholarship recipients will be provided with a study place in the Institute’s prestigious library (which holds more than 155,000 volumes) and access to the Benedetto Croce Library.
Scholarships Available
- 12 scholarships for further research in the fields of history, philosophy, and literature.
- 1 “Fondazione Banco di Napoli” scholarship for research in social and/or institutional history based on documents from its historical archive.
- 1 “Federico II” scholarship, offered by the University of Naples Federico II, for graduates of Italian universities whose thesis focuses on medieval studies.
- 1 “Pio Monte della Misericordia” scholarship for research based on documents preserved in the Historical Archive of the Pio Monte della Misericordia in Naples.
- 1 “Raffaele Mattioli” scholarship for research projects on the history of economic thought in the modern and contemporary periods and on the formation of Italy’s ruling class from national unification to the present day.
Main Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be under 35 years of age on 20 July 2026 (i.e., born on or after 21 July 1991).
- Applicants must hold a master’s degree and/or a PhD and, by the application deadline, must have successfully defended their master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation in Italy, in a European Union country, or in a non-EU country, in the fields of history, philosophy, or literature, and intend to pursue further research.
- Applicants must not have previously received a scholarship from the Institute.
Obligations of Scholarship Holders
Selected candidates must carry out their research program and attend courses and seminars in person in Naples from December 2026 to May 2027. They will also be required to submit a final report, deliver a seminar, and prepare a scholarly work for publication in the Institute’s editorial series. The scholarships may not be combined with research grants, funded doctoral scholarships, or other incompatible paid activities.
Application Procedure and Deadline
Applications and all required documentation (including a Curriculum Studiorum, thesis in PDF format, thesis summary, and research proposal) must be completed and submitted exclusively online through the Institute’s website.
The final deadline for submitting applications is 20 July 2026.
Full details are available on the official webpage: https://www.iiss.it/bando-2026-2027/
