This paper provides an overview of recent trends in doctoral research programmes, with a particular focus on the Ph.D. programme in labour relations at the Marco Biagi Foundation at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. In the Italian context, in spite of a steady increase in the number of Universities, faculties and students, state funding has been subject to downward pressure in recent years, giving rise to the need to seek alternative sources of funding. Another significant environmental pressure examined in the paper is the emerging demand for applied research, resulting in a change in emphasis from philosophical programmes, with a focus on fundamental research, to professional programmes that provide greater scope for applied research, known in Italy as Executive Ph.D.s. Funding for such programmes may be allocated by private sector companies and public bodies, and at times the professionals taking part provide their own funding. In conclusion, the paper examines the methodological problem that the doctoral research school at the Marco Biagi Foundation has started to address in its own programme, making the transition to a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach to the study of labour relations.