Scientific research in History of Architecture aims to train highly specialised historians of architecture and the city, capable of tackling with awareness and rigour any problem inherent to the discipline in its broadest sense. The activity program aims, in particular, to familiarise the approaches and methods of the discipline in its long historical path, as well as to promote a flexible attitude in the study and an up-to-date exchange with the international scientific community. Attention is paid to the technical aspects of research, such as the knowledge and use of archives and libraries, the reading of handwritten and printed sources and architectural drawings, the direct analysis of artefacts; the acquisition of the most modern techniques of philological research; the diversity of approaches, including those of parallel disciplines, such as the history of art, the history of technology, the history of ideas; knowledge of and visits to the main Italian and foreign centres for the study of the history of architecture; direct experience of research through the preparation of a thesis; and, finally, methods for presenting the results in oral, written and visual form.

With regard to the specific teaching and research activities that accompany the transversal training provided by the Bembo Writing Workshop, the course of studies for doctoral students in the field of architectural history is roughly structured as follows:

• first year: first year doctoral students are invited to take an active part in an industry seminar, a seminar given by an internal or external professor of the Scientific Committee of the History of Architecture Research Field, which takes place from October to April. The topics covered concern a well circumscribed topic and they tend to be included in a chronological span that can vary from the Middle Ages to the contemporary. The seminar consists of three ex cathedra lectures, a conference, the assignment of research topics, meetings between the doctoral students and the seminar leader, and a final presentation by the doctoral students after the drafting of a paper. A second, shorter seminar is organised in the second semester.
  For admission to the following year it is necessary to successfully pass the two seminars and participate in the activities proposed by the field during the year;
• second year: Second year doctoral students will be primarily engaged in research for their dissertation and will be called to account for this research at least once per semester by presenting specific topics, problems and issues to their peers and the Scientific Committee, which may also include external experts on such occasions.
  For admission to the following year it is necessary to successfully pass the thesis progress and participate in the activities proposed by the field during the year;
• third year: Third year doctoral students present their research progress at least twice a year on dedicated days with the participation of all other doctoral students, the Scientific Committee and possibly external professors.
  Seminars and conferences on topics of interest in the field are also offered every year, as well as seminar meetings involving doctoral students from the different cycles.

Each year, one or more study trips are organised, lasting from two to ten days. 
PhD students are required to prepare presentations to be held on site.