The Human Mind and Its Explanations: Language, Brain and Reasoning

Over the past decade, the University of Milan, Pisa's Scuola Normale and the IUSS of Pavia have become centres of academic excellence, and have produced top-notch international research in areas the three institutions have in common, ranging from philosophy of the mind, to theories of thinking, to cognitive science. Today more than ever, cutting-edge research requires the ability to take these kinds of competencies even further. Hence a PhD programme that requires candidates to have a strong analytical and epistemological background, and one that challenges students to harmonise theoretical reflections with practical experimentation. The goal is to attract young researchers wishing to dive deeper into human cognition, taking a multi-disciplinary approach to their studies. This is currently a one-of-a-kind PhD within Italy, on a trajectory to become a flagship programme for Europe as a whole. Our PhD students' training works along two vectors: fine-tuning the skills they acquired in their underlying studies, whilst providing them the tools they need (in both theory and practice) to explore philosophy, pure and experimental sciences, cognitive neuroscience, and linguistics. The programme offers a multi-disciplinary approach that will allow students to devise original and innovative paths within their niche area of research. Thanks to the is network of partner campuses, PhD candidates will have access not only to a wide range of coursework in both theory and methodology, but also to a treasure trove of expertise amongst the faculty as they seek answers to the central hypotheses of their research. The programme opens candidates' intellectual horizons internationally, to Europe and beyond. Study abroad and exchange programmes with international universities, participation in international conferences, and international networks of scientific partnerships (including working with international research centres) are all offered either directly within the programme, or through the Faculty's independent research. In keeping with this focus on internationalisation, all instruction and training is in English.