OPTIMA Winter School

Period

2 weeks, from Monday 18 January to Friday 29 January 2027 with students present in Trento, PLUS a compulsory 2-hour preparatory online session on Tuesday 12 January 2027 at 1.00 p.m. Italian time). No extra sessions will be held.

Contents

This programme represents a unique formative opportunity — the first of its kind based in Italy — offering an exceptional combination of academic modules and practical, hands-on components.

It directly addresses complex, real-world public health challenges through interdisciplinary teaching methodologies, including lectures, discussions, labs, and challenge-based projects using real data and cases provided by the local health authority, ASUIT.

Notably, ASUIT’s involvement as a key partner and Challenge provider is central to the programme’s relevance, offering essential data and contextual information that anchor the learning experience firmly in practice.

The focus on real intervention design and evaluation challenges and collaborative, project-based learning aligns closely with current sector needs and will significantly enhance participants' employability and their ability to contribute effectively to public health decision-making. 

The Winter school offers lectures by international and local experts on:

• Policy design
• Epidemiology
• Econometric analysis
• Economic evaluation
• Health equity

Group work to acquire:

• Practical experience in public health policy design and intervention development
• Skills in evaluating public health interventions using evidence-informed approaches
• Experience in applying analytical tools to real-world public health challenges
• Teamwork and communication skills to formulate feasible, effective and equitable recommendations.

The diverse international environment and engagement with leading experts will equip participants with: 

• critical expertise in intervention evaluation and design
• causal inference
• cost-effectiveness analysis,
• and health inequality assessment
• soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and proposal writing.

Faculty and international guest speakers

• London School of Economics
• University of Barcelona
• European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
• University of Trento

Workload and Credits

All lectures, seminars and activities are in English.
The program includes approximately 7 hours per day of the activities described above, including visits and social-cultural programs. 
All participants will receive a certificate of attendance after satisfactory completion of the in-person part.
Participation in the mandatory preparatory online session will earn external participants an official UniTrento transcript certifying 6 ECTS and an evaluation mark.      
Participation in all activities included in the program is mandatory and attendance will be tracked daily.

Participant Background

Admission is open to a maximum of 25 international students from UniTrento partner universities. Applicants must be either senior Bachelor’s degree students who have completed at least their second year of study, or Master’s degree students.
University students of Medicine, Allied Health Professions, Economics, Management, Data Science, Bioengineering, and other relevant fields are eligible to apply.
Given the highly specialized nature of the topics, priority will be given to Master's students or final-year Bachelor's students.
Participants should be confident in English-language use (B2).

Application Process 

Starting from 1 September until 30 September 2026, you can apply online through the link which will be made available on this page. 
To apply you will first be asked to create a UniTrento guest account. To do so, please see the instructions in the document "How to login to UniTrento application tool" available at the bottom of this page. 
All students are required to upload their CV, most recent ToR (Transcript of Records), complete identity document, English certificate and a motivation letter.
The School will take place with a minimum number of 10 participants.

Deadlines

Applications by international external students: 30 September 2026, noon (Italian time)
Up to 2 local UniTrento students can be admitted if places are still available and must apply starting from 1 November 2026.

Participation Costs

Since you will be selected and come from a University Partner of UniTrento, you will receive a fee waiver.
If you come within the Erasmus+ Programme K131 or the ICM K171 Program, you can also apply for a short-term mobility scholarship. Ask your international office for details.

UniTrento organizes and covers the costs of the social-cultural program consisting of: 
●    a guided visit of the town;
●    a welcome coffee and a farewell lunch;
●    a one-day and a half-day outdoor activity;
●    a guided visit to a museum or other cultural institutions.

Participants are responsible for covering the following expenses:
●    Meals: approximately from 6 to 9 euros (€) in the university canteen, 15-30 € at a café or restaurant, less if you cook by yourself or with others;
●    Housing: approximately 35 €/day in shared accommodation, hints to find one will be sent to prospective participants (on campus housing is not available);
●    Travel;
●    Transportation expenses once you arrive at UniTrento and in the surrounding area unless you get from your host the Trentino Guest Card;
●    Visa and health insurance, if needed (students living outside the European Union). 

Accommodation

All participants are responsible for planning and paying for their own lodging during the School.
Details and possible housing solutions will be sent to applicants.
You are recommended to book in advance since the summer period is quite busy. 

Academic Coordinator

Prof. Paolo Candio (Department of Economics and Management - UniTrento)

Contacts

International Relations Division 
international-stp@unitn.it
Tel + 39 0461 283224