Scuola Superiore Meridionale di Napoli

University in Napoli, Italy

The Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM) is a higher-education school in Naples, one of Italy's Scuole Superiori a ordinamento speciale, dedicated to advanced training through research. It runs two main programmes: the Corso Ordinario for selected undergraduate and master's students, and doctoral (PhD) programmes.

Corso Ordinario students follow a study and research path in parallel with a bachelor's or master's degree at the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, taking additional SSM courses each year. Areas are grouped into humanities and law (ancient Mediterranean archaeology, global history and governance, law and organisational studies for diversity and inclusion, Italian and Romance book studies) and science and technology (mathematics, physics and engineering, molecular sciences for earth and space, genomic and experimental medicine). Admission is by an annual public competition open to students of any nationality, with two written and two oral exams; the call for 2026/2027 offers 40 places. Successful students receive free board and lodging in the School's residences, exemption from university fees and an annual scholarship.

The PhD programmes cover fields such as archaeology, global history, oncology, cosmology and space science, materials science, risk modelling and genomic medicine, with calls published in Italian and English. Since 2023 an International Welcome Desk, run with ISU Services and Consulting, helps international students and researchers with the tax code, residence permit, visa procedures, accommodation and bank accounts.

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Programmes

The Corso Ordinario is a selective programme taken alongside a bachelor's or master's degree at the Università di Napoli Federico II. Students attend SSM courses and seminars each year and must keep a weighted average of 27/30. Areas:

Archeologia e culture del mediterraneo antico
Global history and governance
Law and Organizational Studies for the Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion
Testi, Tradizioni e Culture del Libro. Studi italiani e romanzi
Matematica, Fisica e Ingegneria
Molecular sciences for earth and space
Genomic and experimental medicine

On completion of the master's level, the SSM licenza diploma is equivalent to a second-level master's.

Graduate programmes

Doctoral programmes (PhD, 42nd cycle call):

Archeologia e culture del mediterraneo antico (ACMA)
Clinical and Translational Oncology (CTO)
Cosmology, Space Science and Space Technology (SPACE)
Genomic and Experimental Medicine (GEM)
Global History and Governance (GHG)
Law and Organizational Studies for the Promotion of Diversity and Inclusion (LOSPD)
Mathematical and Physical Sciences for Advanced Materials and Technologies (MPHS)
Modeling and Engineering Risk and Complexity (MERC)
Molecular Sciences for Earth and Space (MOSES)
Testi, Tradizioni e Culture del Libro (TTCL)

Calls for application are published in Italian and English.

Admission

Admission to the Corso Ordinario is by an annual public competition open to candidates of any nationality: under 21 for entry to the first year (with a bachelor's programme) and under 25 for entry to the fourth year (with a master's programme).

First year: a secondary-school diploma giving access to Italian universities, with a mark of at least 85/100
Fourth year: a bachelor's degree giving access to Italian master's programmes, with at least 105/110 (or obtained by 31 October)
Exam: two written and two oral tests

Past exam papers and programmes are published on the School's website.

Scholarships and financial aid

All students admitted to the Corso Ordinario receive free board and lodging in the School's residences, exemption from university fees and an annual scholarship. To keep their place they must pass all exams by 30 September with a weighted average of at least 27/30 and no mark below 24/30. The SSM also runs a call for grants to strengthen its students' international training.

Housing

Students admitted to the Corso Ordinario live free of charge in the School's residences, with meals included. The International Welcome Desk, at Piazza Santa Maria La Nova 12 in the historic centre of Naples, offers an accommodation service and helps international students and researchers find housing.