PhD

What is the doctorate?

The Doctorate represents the third level of university education, the highest level of specialization offered by the University. Its objective is to provide the skills necessary to conduct highly qualified research at universities, public institutions, or private entities, including for access to careers in public administration and the integration of highly innovative professional paths. Doctoral programs are divided into cycles, lasting no less than three years, including periods of study and internships at other institutions in Italy and abroad.

The activities of each academic year of the three-year PhD courses generally begin on November 1st and end on October 31st of the following year.

General obligations

Admission to the Doctoral Program entails an exclusive, full-time commitment. Public sector employees admitted to a doctoral program are entitled to the leave of absence provided for by collective bargaining agreements for the normal duration of the program, or, if employed under public law, to special leave for study purposes. 

Doctoral students, with or without scholarships, are required to attend all teaching and training activities included in the Doctoral Program, according to the methods and times established by the Teaching Committee, for the entire duration of the program. They must earn all the credits required by the training plan prepared by the Teaching Committee within this period. A doctoral student may not be simultaneously enrolled in another Doctoral Program. 

At the end of each year of the program, PhD students are required to submit a detailed report on their training and research activities. Based on this report, the Teaching Board will recognize the effective acquisition of credits as required by the training plan and will express a merit assessment, deciding on admission to the following year.

At the end of the third year of the program, PhD students are required to submit a detailed report on the training and research activities carried out over the three-year period and a draft of their thesis. Based on this report, the Teaching Board recognizes the effective acquisition of the credits required by the training plan and expresses an evaluation of its merit, arranging for the thesis to be submitted to the Evaluators.

Insufficient credits acquired and/or a negative evaluation will result in dismissal from the Doctoral Program, loss of any scholarship, and reimbursement of any installments received in the current year.