Research Budget & Purchases

Every PhD candidate is entitled to a research budget to support activities strictly related to their doctoral project. These funds are designed to ensure you have access to the necessary tools, mobility, and resources to complete your research with scientific excellence. Budget availability can be checked at: https://apex.cca.unipd.it/pls/apex/f?p=388.

  • Purpose: The budget is intended for research-related expenses such as laboratory materials, books, specialized software, conference registrations, and travel for missions.
  • Management: Funds are managed by the Department’s accounting office (Settore Contabilità e Acquisti).
  • Unused funds: it is important to note that research expenses should not be concentrated exclusively at the end of the doctoral programme. Instead, the utilization of funds should align with the natural progression and evolving needs of your research project throughout the three-year cycle.

The budget can be used for the following categories of expenditure, provided they are strictly related to the doctoral research project:

  1. Missions & Travel: Expenses for research periods off-campus, conferences, and workshops.
  2. Registration Fees: Enrollment fees for conferences, seminars, and scientific schools.
  3. Consumables: Laboratory reagents, chemical supplies, stationery, and audiovisual supports.
  4. Publication Costs: Fees for publishing research results in scientific journals (Open Access fees).
  5. Specific Training: Language courses or other specialized training useful for the research project.
  6. Scientific Literature: Purchase of books, volumes, and articles (both digital and hard copy).
  7. Software: Licenses and digital tools for research.
  8. IT Equipment: Purchase of personal computers, tablets, or other hardware.
  9. Cotutelle Fees: Enrollment fees or administrative contributions required by partner universities for activated cotutelle agreements.

Please note that all durable goods purchased with the research budget (specifically Books, Software licenses, and IT equipment) must be officially inventoried according to University procedures. These items remain the property of the Department of Industrial Engineering (DII) and must be returned or left at the Department’s disposal at the end of the PhD programme.

The utilization of funds should follow the natural evolution of the research project.

Important: it is a strategic requirement that expenses are not concentrated exclusively at the end of the doctorate. Financial planning must align with the progression of research milestones throughout the three-year cycle.

All expenses must be preventivey authorized:

  • Scientific Approval: Granted by your Supervisor.
  • Administrative Approval: Granted by the PhD Coordinator or the Head of Department.

Requests for purchases or mission authorizations must be submitted through the DII Helpdesk following the internal administrative deadlines.

For specific administrative questions regarding reimbursements and accounting, please contact the DII Accounting Office (Settore Contabilità e Acquisti).