Working in research
Calls for career opportunities
Become a researcher at Ca' Foscari!
Researchers and professors
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice retains the best talents, notably through selective procedures that comprise facilitations for the international candidates and privilege candidates with international experience.
PhD Degrees
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, with the coordination of the PhD Office, offers specific training and research tracks in economics, linguistics, sciences and humanities.
Short Term Research Fellowships
It is a tool for young graduates interested in academics that involves them in a short-term training period (usually not longer than 12 months) in projects and research groups.
Research contracts
The research contract is a fixed-term employment agreement lasting two years, created solely to carry out a research project. The contract can be renewed for another two years or extended by up to one year. Candidates eligible to apply must hold a PhD or another post-graduate degree (obtained in Italy or abroad), or be in the final year of their programme and expected to obtain the qualification within six months from the date of publication of the call for applications.
Fixed term postdoctoral assignments
A 1- to 3-year-employment (except Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) for PhDs wishing to carry on research projects (as part of ERC or collaborative projects teams, or as MSCA fellows) and to collaborate in teaching and 'third missions' activities.
Funding programs
National and international funding opportunities: choose Ca' Foscari as your host institution and benefit of a valuable support in the application process and in your project management.
An academic career path in Italy
The main Italian academic positions are:
- PhD student (Dottorando, Dottoranda)
- Short-term Research fellow (Borsista di Ricerca)
- Research contracts (Contrattista di Ricerca)
- Fixed term postdoctoral assignments (Incarichi post-doc)
- Tenure-track assistant professor (Ricercatore RTT)
- Associate Professor (Professore Associato)
- Full Professor (Professore Ordinario)
Normally, academic careers in Italy start with a PhD programme (corso di dottorato/dottorato di ricerca) and the award of a PhD degree (titolo di dottorato).
A PhD can apply for a research contract (Contratto di ricerca) or for the Fixed term postdoctoral assignments (Incarichi post-doc) positions. The most common path after a PhD is obtaining a position as a tenure-track assistant professor (Ricercatore RTT).
To become associate professor or full professor (which is the highest academic qualification) one needs to obtain the national scientific habilitation (abilitazione nazionale) and to pass a selection process (concorso) in a University.
Average salaries increase with career advancements: from the PhD to the Full professor position, the salary increases of about 5 times. Salaries of Italian Full Professors are reckoned as high-level ones, even compared to US academic salaries.
There are also other paths that can be followed (and other positions), but this short description aims to sum up the most widespread academic career in Italy.
Details on each academic position
1. PhD Student (Dottorando)
PhD programmes provide students with the highest level of academic title, the PhD degree.
In order to be admitted, candidates must hold a postgraduate degree (or equivalent); furthermore, their profile must be evaluated on the basis of their qualifications and an examination. Every year, universities establish the number of positions and scholarships, deadlines for applications, examination and enrolment procedures, specifying them in their open calls.
PhDs normally take three to four years; each PhD student is supported by a Supervisor, who is a high-level professional: in this way an effective transfer of knowledge is implemented, as well as an embedding in the supervisor’s network among the international scientific community.
Research activities cover at least two-thirds of the three-year commitment; at the end of the programme, the discussion of a dissertation is foreseen. The average salary per year is 12.500,00€ (after taxes).
Information: PhD programmes and application procedures
Short-term Research Fellowships are aimed at recruiting staff interested in participating in research groups or research projects, and they can be funded by external public or private sources, different from the University. They are open to postgraduate researchers: the minimum requirement is a Bachelor’s degree, but it can be also a Master’s degree according to the level of research activities to be carried out.
The selection process is based on the assessment of the applicants' qualifications and can include an interview, according to the procedures defined by the institution that publishes the call. Usually, Research Fellowships’ maximum length is 12 months. The maximum salary per year is 19.367 € (after taxes); the amount may vary depending on the above-mentioned external public or private funding available.
Information: Short-term research fellowships - open vacancies
The research contract is a fixed-term employment agreement lasting two years, created solely to carry out a research project. The contract can be renewed for another two years or extended by up to one year.
Candidates eligible to apply must hold a PhD or another post-graduate degree (obtained in Italy or abroad), or be in the final year of their programme and expected to obtain the qualification within six months from the date of publication of the call for applications.
The gross salary per year is approx. 28,500€.
Information: Research contracts - open vacancies [ITA]
5. Tenure track assistant professor (Ricercatore RTT)
To become a tenure track assistant professor (former Ricercatore “lettera b” - RTDb) one must pass an open competition. The tenure track assistant professor draws up a three-year non-renewable contract, reserved for candidates who have already been awarded non-tenured assistant professorship contracts (Ricercatore “lettera a” - RTDa), or, under certain conditions, research grants (assegno) or equivalent fellowships.
This position is open to candidates holding a Doctoral Degree or equivalent, as well as any additional requirements defined in the University Regulations of the scientific sectors concerned.
The average net salary per month is about € 2.116 (for 13 months). In case the tenure track assistant professor takes advantage from the tax benefits (see following dedicated section), the average net salary per month is about € 2.877 (for 13 months).
These amounts may be increased up to 10% and may vary on the basis of different criteria, such as insurance costs, family benefits, place of residency, etc.
Tenure track assistant professors who obtain the national scientific qualification (see dedicated section), will be evaluated by the University that hired them in the third year of their contract. In case of positive evaluation, they will be upgraded to the role of Associate Professor.
Full-time non-tenured assistant professors’ workload should not exceed 350 hours per year; their main activity is independent scientific research and their duties also include teaching assignments.
Information: Tenure track assistant professors – open vacancies
6. Associate Professor (Professore Associato)
To become Associate Professor, one needs to pass the National Scientific Qualification (see dedicated section); afterwards, he/she must be selected by a University through a public selection process where a committee makes a comparative assessment on the basis of scientific publications, academic CV and teaching experience. After that, the winner is nominated Associate Professor.
Three years after the role assignment, Associate Professors must pass a “confirmation judgement”, expressed by a committee nominated by the Ministry of Education, University and Research. It is not necessary (even if it is quite important) to have been a non-tenured and/or tenure track assistant professor to become Associate Professor.
The workload of an Associate Professor is fixed by the law and consists in not less than 350 hours per year, of which 120 are devoted to teaching activity.
An Associate Professor has the same teaching and research duties as a Full Professor, but cannot access roles such as Rector or Head of Department (except for particular cases).
The average net salary of an Associate Professor is about € 2.480 (for 13 months). This amount corresponds to the lowest economic level, called "classe" (0 out of 11); for each level the monthly net salary increases of nearly 10%. In case the associate professor takes advantage from the tax benefits (see following dedicated section), the average net salary per month is about € 3.500 (for 13 months, calculated for the lowest class – 0 out of 12).
Amounts may vary depending on different criteria, such as insurance costs, family benefits, place of residence, etc. Salaries increase automatically every two years.
Information: Associate Professors - vacancies
7. Full Professor (Professore Ordinario)
To become Full Professor, one needs to pass the National Scientific Qualification (see dedicated section); afterwards, he/she must be selected by a University through a public selection process where a committee makes a comparative assessment on the basis of scientific publications, academic CV and teaching experience.
Every three years Full Professors must present a report to the Department where he/she works. The workload of a Full Professor is fixed by the law and consists in not less than 350 hours per year, of which 120 are devoted to teaching activity.
The average net salary of a Full Professor is about € 3.350 (for 13 months). This amount corresponds to the lowest economic level, called "classe" (0 out of 11); for each level the monthly net salary increases of nearly 10%. In case the associate professor takes advantage from the tax benefits (see following dedicated section), the average net salary per month is about € 4.980 (for 13 months, calculated for the lowest class – 0 out of 11).
Amounts may vary depending on different criteria, such as insurance costs, family benefits, place of residence, etc. Salaries increase automatically every two years.
Information: Full Professors - Vacancies
Insights
National Scientific Qualification (Abilitazione Scientifica Nazionale - ASN)
From 2012 onwards, academics, scientists and scholar can enter or be promoted to Associate Professor or Full Professor through a specific procedure: the National Scientific Qualification. It implies a nationwide selection to obtain an official qualification called “abilitazione”, without which it is not possible to access to the highest academic positions.
Yearly official calls ("concorsi nazionali") are issued by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR) for various academic recruitment fields (“raggruppamenti concorsuali”), and are open for 4 months. Applications are examined by committees composed by experienced Full Professors. The Qualification is valid for 4 years.
Tax benefits for professors and researchers
Professors and researchers who have conducted research activities abroad for at least two consecutive years, and who subsequently establish tax residency in Italy, are eligible for significant tax benefits upon verification of all required documents and criteria.
Specifically, if they are hired by an Italian university as a "Professore/ssa" or "Ricercatore/trice," they can benefit from an exemption from personal income tax on 90% of the income received from their Italian employer.
Eligibility also extends to Italian citizens who are not registered with AIRE (Registry Office for Italian Citizens Residing Abroad).
The benefits are applied starting from the tax period in which the researcher or professor establishes tax residency in Italy and continue for the following five tax years, provided the individual maintains Italian tax residency throughout this period. The exemption duration is extended beyond the minimum under the following circumstances:
- 8-Year Extension: The exemption is extended to a total of eight tax periods if the individual has a minor dependent child (including those in pre-adoption foster care) or purchases a house in Italy. The property purchase can occur up to 12 months prior to acquiring tax residency or at any point after the individual becomes an Italian tax resident. These two conditions are not cumulative; they cannot be combined to achieve a longer extension.
- 11-Year Extension: In case the professor/researcher has at least 2 minor dependent children.
- 13-Year Extension: In case the professor/researcher has at least 3 minor dependent children.
Download the document outlining the yearly gross amounts and estimated net amounts, with and without tax benefits, for professors and researchers in Italy (updated: November 2025).
 | Salary Levels - Professors and Researchers Last update: November 2025 | 587 K |
The partners of professors or researchers moving to Italy can also be entitled to tax benefits or exemptions should they possess the requisites provided for by the Italian tax legislation (foreign tax residence for the last two years, obtainment of Italian residence, etc.). Specific information and support shall be provided by the partner's employer or accountant.
More details in the website of the Italian Income Revenue Authority [ITA].
Open expressions of interest
International recruiting is aimed to enhance our research output and international standing, to promote collaborative actions among groups and individuals within our faculty and to increase our access to competitive research funding.
Candidates with a strong research commitment, an outstanding portfolio of international publications and a proven teaching record in their academic field can express their interest in working with us by contacting one of our Departments, or by applying to specific calls.
Complying with the current Italian legislation, Ca’ Foscari University must await the final approval by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research to complete the hiring process.
For the positions of Associate and Full Professor, the starting economic level ("classe") can be negotiated before the recruitment.
Information: International recruitment
Last update: 04/12/2025