PhDHub, the first Italian platform entirely dedicated to mapping and comparing doctoral programmes in the arts and music across Europe and in English-speaking countries, was officially presented on the 5th June, 2025. This innovative tool is designed for students, researchers, faculty members, and institutions seeking to navigate, compare, and critically reflect on the diverse doctoral models and systems in the field of artistic and musical education.
The platform was presented this morning during an event hosted by the Academy of Fine Arts of Rome, lead partner of the Enacting Artistic Research (EAR) project, funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU (Mission 4, Component 1).
The launch of PhDHub is the result of years of experience gained by the Academy of Fine Arts of Rome, the first institution in Italy to have activated doctoral programmes—starting with the 38th cycle (academic year 2022/2023)—through consortium agreements with Italian universities. These include the University of Rome Tor Vergata (New Media curriculum for the communication and promotion of artistic heritage), and Roma Tre University, with the doctoral programme in Cultures, Practices and Technologies of Cinema, Media, Music, Theatre and Dance, developed in collaboration with the Conservatory of Music Santa Cecilia, the University of Teramo, and the Italian National Academy of Dance. Starting from the 40th cycle, the Academy also hosts the PhD programme in Cultures, Practices and Communication of the Visual Arts.
Following this initial presentation, the platform will be temporarily taken offline to allow for the full integration of the mapped doctoral programmes. The official and final release is scheduled for the conclusion of the EAR project at the end of February 2026.
PhDHub contributes to a broader effort to promote an international, inclusive, and quality-oriented vision for third-cycle education. It invites artistic research to open itself to dialogue with other models, to question existing practices, and to build new connections.
Watch the event on youtube: https://youtu.be/lqTAzloSB2w