The ESOL training programme is characterised by a highly interdisciplinary approach, in which economic sociology is integrated with the study of labour law, statistics, and computational methods, as well as topics in economics, organization studies, business, and behavioural sciences. 

In addition to the theoretical and substantive knowledge on the topics relevant to the Programme, this training aims to provide strong methodological and empirical research skills, both quantitative and qualitative, including the most recent advances in the social and economic sciences. 

In A.Y. 2026-2027, PhD students must attend the following courses:

NASP common methodological courses

• Research Methods in Social and Political Sciences – 3 cfu/20h - Prof. Anne-Marie Jeannet (University of Milan) - Syllabus 

• Introduction to STATA – no cfu/10h - Dr Hanne Gaukel (University of Milan) 

• Statistics for the Social Sciences – 5 cfu/30h - Prof. Nazareno Panichella and Stefano Cantalini (University of Milan) - Syllabus 

• Statistics for the Social Sciences (Practical sessions) – no cfu/20h – Dr Hanne Gaukel (University of Milan) 

• Applied Multivariate Analysis for Social Scientists - Measurement – 3 cfu/20h – Prof. Cristiano Vezzoni (University of Milan) – Syllabus 

• Applied Multivariate Analysis for Social Scientists - Regression modelling strategies to test research hypotheses – 3 cfu/20h – Prof. Moris Triventi (University of Milan) - Syllabus

ESOL mandatory methodological courses

• Experimental methods - 3 cfu/20h - Prof. Flaminio Squazzoni (University of Milan) - Syllabus 

• Longitudinal and Multilevel Analysis for Social Research – 5 cfu/30h – Prof. Emanuela Struffolino & Stefano Cantalini (University of Milan) – Syllabus 

• Social Network Analysis – 6 cfu/40h – Prof. Raffaele Vacca & Federico Bianchi (University of Milan) – Syllabus 

• Text as Data: Computational Text Analysis for the Social Sciences - 3cfu/20h - Dr Ayan Yue Gupta (University of Milan) - Syllabus

NASP and ESOL optional methodological courses
Students may optionally attend one or more courses in the following list (these do not substitute mandatory methodological courses):

• Literature Review Methods – 3 cfu/20h – Dr. Elena De Gioannis (University of Milan) – Syllabus 

• Advanced Multivariate Analysis – 6 cfu/40h – Prof. Andrea De Angelis (University of Milan) – Syllabus 

• Qualitative Research Methods (from POLS) – 3 cfu/20h - Prof. Paola Mattei (University of Milan) – Syllabus 

• Doing Fieldwork and Textual Data Analysis (from SOMET) - Based on their interests, PhD candidates may select specific modules from this multi-module course - Syllabus

ESOL mandatory substantive courses
Students must attend 3 out of 4 courses in the following list:

• Education, Occupations and Social Stratification - Prof. Gabriele Ballarino (University of Milan) - 3 cfu/20h - Syllabus 

• Comparative Employment Relations - Prof. Lisa Dorigatti (University of Milan) - 3 cfu/20h - Syllabus 

• Complex organisations. Research frontiers - Prof. Marco Guerci (University of Milan) - 3 cfu/20h - Syllabus 

• Welfare Systems and Social Inequalities - Prof. Emmanuele Pavolini (University of Milan) - 3 cfu/20h - Syllabus

Online Crash Courses from EDIT platform

NASP students and faculty members can access a series of online crash courses in the self-paced e-learning platform EDIT - Excellence SPS Department Innovative Teaching.

These courses are designed to introduce NASP students to some of the most commonly used software and analytical techniques in contemporary social and political sciences.

EDIT can be accessed here, with Unimi e-mail credentials.  

Other activities

Project Colloquium 
NASP International Seminars 
NASP-Collegio Carlo Alberto's Days (summer school)

Transferable Skills courses 

Academic English for Social and Political Sciences - Prof. Emma Quick – no cfu/20h  - Syllabus 
Courses organised by the University of Milan