The Ph.D programme constitutes a centre of advanced research and learning which gathers together a unique équipe of scholars engaged in research on the birth and historical development of languages and literary traditions in Medieval Europe, on the written cultures which have preserved and transmitted them, as well as on the formation and development of modern and contemporary literatures in Romance languages, both in Europe and on the American continent. It includes palaeographers (both Latin and Greek), philologists and textual critics, specialists in Middle Latin, Medieval Germanic Languages, Romance Philology, Old French, Provençal, Galician, Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, French and Hispanic-American Literature. The programme aims at consituting an international reference point for textual, palaeographical and Romance studies, as it includes many of the leading scholars in the fields in Italy. Moving from such position of excellence it also aims at attracting young scholars from Europe and beyond. Candidates are expected to know Italian, which is the main language of instructions, but applications from abroad are encouraged and candidates will have the possibility of writing their entry exam in English, French, Portuguese, German, or Spanish. ERC: SH5_2 Theory and history of literature, comparative literature SH5_3 Philology and palaeography; historical linguistics