Dissertation
According to the Italian law, the PhD Degree awarding is a two-step procedure: external review and final defence.
External review
At the end of the third year, the PhD Program Committee will appoint two External Reviewers per each PhD Candidate. The External Reviewers will receive the dissertation and the PhD Candidate presentation by the PhD Program Committee. The External Reviewers will evaluate the dissertation and send back their evaluation (form docx form) within 30 days. There are four possible outcomes:
- no revisions: the dissertation can be submitted directly for the final defence
- minor revisions: after making the minor revisions, and having received a positive assessment by the Supervisor, the dissertation can be submitted for the final defence
- major revisions: the PhD has up to six months extra time for implementing the revisions; after revision the dissertation is resubmitted to the two External Reviewers who will decide whether it can be submitted for the final defence or not
- rejection: the dissertation is not worthy of public defence and no PhD Degree will be granted
Final defence
The PhD Program Committee will appoint an External Evaluation Committee of at least three members for the final defence. This Committee may include the two External Reviewers.
The External Committee receives, along with the final dissertation (i.e., after the candidate's revision according to the External Reviewers' comments), (i) the PhD Candidate’s presentation by the PhD Program Committee, and (ii) the two External Reviewer Evaluation Reports.
The external Committee examines the PhD Candidate in an oral Final Defense session. If the PhD Candidate successfully defends his/her dissertation, the PhD Degree will be granted.
Last update
13.10.2025