Interview by Video Conference, Information

Interview invitation

1. Candidates are provided by the Admissions Officer with the time and date of the call when they are invited for the interview. Candidates may not request that the time-slot and date are modified.
2. The email invitation features the personal meeting link to access the video-conference call on the scheduled interview date. Candidates should respond to the invitation to confirm their attendance and to provide a mobile number where they can be contacted, should the need arise.
3. Candidates are required to carefully consult the complete set of practical details and instructions to join and participate in the video-call available on this page.

How to prepare for and join the video-conference call

Video conference calls are organised with a free video-conferencing tool, called Zoom. Once candidates have received the details of their Zoom meeting (including the personal meeting link) from the Admissions Office, they should:

Well before the interview's date

• Familiarise with the simple procedure to install the software and join the meeting watching the Zoom Support Centre
• Take note of the System Requirements for PC, Mac, and Linux (Zoom Website).
• Test their video, speaker and microphone well before the scheduled interview. To do so, candidates can use the Zoom 'Test Meeting' tool.
• Contact the Admissions Office if they experience any problems, responding to their interview invitation. Candidates should do so well before their scheduled date of the interview.
• Check, in case they live in a different time zone, the exact timing of the interview on the interview date, taking into consideration that Italy may apply the summer time (CEST) from the last Sunday of March.

On the day of the interview

• On the day of the interview, candidates should click on their personal meeting link (provided with the invitation), strictly from ten to five minutes before the scheduled time of the interview. After clicking on the personal Zoom link, they will be automatically placed in a virtual Waiting Room: The Departmental staff will admit them to the video-call as soon as the panel will be ready to start the interview.
• Important: Candidates who do not have a zoom account will be prompted to insert their name before joining the video-call, they must clearly indicate their 'Name SURNAME' when doing so. Candidates who already have a zoom account, should make sure that they have their name and surname appearing as their screen name. If candidates do not join with the name and surname, the department will not be able to identify them and let them into the interview video-call.
• It is strongly recommended that candidates use the ‘Zoom blurred background’ during the video call, provided that this will not negatively affect the quality of the video connection. For additional information on how to enable and use this feature, please check the Zoom Support Website.
• When candidates are in the virtual waiting room, Zoom will prompt a test feature "test computer audio": Candidates should use this tool to make sure that their video, speaker and microphone are correctly functioning.
• Candidates should remain in the waiting room until they are admitted to the video-call.

Important Information/Requirements for ZOOM

Candidates should make sure that they:

• Use a wired internet connection rather than a wireless one, whenever possible.
• Use a computer/laptop and not a smartphone.
• Use headphones with microphone. Avoid any loudspeaker or microphone that is integrated in the laptop/computer.
• Make sure that during the video conference call they are in a quiet space and that lighting is appropriate.

• Duration of the interview: 30 minutes approximately.
• How the interview is conducted: There are slight variations in the organisation of the interview from department to department, but generally speaking, all four departments will ask you to give an oral presentation of your work and interests. Slides or powerpoint presentations are not allowed. There are no written tests set by the departments. More specifically:

History candidates will be asked to give concise presentation of their research proposal and research interests (approx. 10 minutes). This will be followed by questions from the interviewing panel (approx. 15 minutes) and then the candidate is free to ask the panel questions e.g. on the department and the programme (approx. 5 minutes).

Law department candidates will be asked to give concise presentation of their research proposal and research interests (of 8 minutes max). This will be followed by questions from the interviewing panel (approx. 20 minutes) and then the candidate is free to ask the panel one question e.g. on the department and the programme.

Political and Social Sciences department candidates will be asked to present their research proposal in no more than 5 minutes. They will discuss this with the panel for 10 minutes. A further 10 minutes will be devoted to more general questions. During the last 5 minutes, candidates will have the opportunity to ask questions about the department and the doctoral programme.

Economics department candidates will be asked simple questions to test their knowledge of basic mathematics, statistics and economics. They will also be asked about their research interests and their general preparedness for the programme. During the last 5 minutes, candidates will have the opportunity to ask questions about the department and the doctoral programme.

• Language of the interview: Generally speaking, the language used in the interviews is English, but you might be asked questions in another language (which could be your native language or one of the languages you have marked as being important for research purposes).
• Composition of the panel: EUI professors and a PhD researchers representative may be participate as an observer.  The EUI administration is in charge of the video-call logistics and may be present to offer practical assistance. We are not in a position to give information on the names of professors who will be sitting on the panels.

Assessment tests

Candidates are exempted from taking an English assessment test if they:

• Have provided a recognised international certificate of English proficiency that meets the EUI minimum requirements or
• Have completed a previous degree entirely taught in English and have written a thesis in English or
• Are English native speakers.

All other candidates must take an English Assessment test (oral) by video conference call. The EUI Admissions Office will contact candidates to provide complete information on the test.

Test Results

• The results of the assessment tests are reported to the interview panels, the departments and to the Entrance Board and are taken into consideration when the admission of a candidate is decided.
• The Entrance Board may recommend or require a candidate to improve his/her language competence before enrolling at the EUI.
• The results of the oral assessment tests are also used to help place admitted candidates in English pre-sessional academic skills courses in September. All admitted candidates will also have to take a written placement test. The Admissions Office and Language Centre will contact successful candidates with further information. See English Language Courses for more information about courses.

• The EUI English language tests are for internal use only. Candidates will not be sent the results, and they cannot be used in applications outside the EUI.

Other Tests

• When invited for interview, short-listed candidates will be informed by the Admissions Office whether they have to take additional language test(s) (French, German, Italian or Spanish) at their interview.
• If another non-native language has been indicated, this will be briefly commented on during the interview with the departmental interviewing panel.
• The Admissions Office will contact candidates in advance for the scheduling of the date, time and place of their test.
• The Admissions Office and Language Centre may require some candidates to take an English placement test by video conference call. The results of the placement tests do not affect the selection process. The results are used to place admitted candidates in English pre-sessional academic skills courses in September.
• All admitted candidates will have to take a written and oral English placement test. The Admissions Office and Language Centre will contact successful candidates with further information.

Candidates are informed of the outcome of their interview by e-mail in early April.

• Successful candidates should reply to their offer by a specified date. The admission offer is only valid for the academic year for which the candidate has applied. Admission cannot be deferred. Candidates that wish start the programme the following academic year must re-submit a new application, following the standard application procedure that will open in November.
• Reserve candidates will be notified that they have been placed on a reserve list for admission. They may only be offered admission if a candidate selected for admission withdraws. The EUI is not in a position to inform reserve candidates about their ranking or their chances of admission.
• Candidates that are not successful are also notified by email.