The PhD programme ends 36 months after the start date of the first year unless duly authorized extensions or suspensions occur, which must then be compensated.
To achieve the PhD title, PhD Student must submit, by the end of the last year of the course, an application for admission to the thesis refereeing procedure. At the time of submitting this application, PhD Students who have not published articles in international journals on the research topics of the PhD dissertation must also submit, in addition to the report on the activity carried out, a document co-signed by the supervisor attesting to the progress of the research activity (such as a preprint deposited on an archive or equivalent).
The PhD Committee, considering the assessment of the supervisor and co-supervisor and the reports on the activity submitted by the PhD Student, evaluates the scientific value of the research results. In case of a positive evaluation, the Committee designates two or more external reviewers (referees), selected under Article 29 of the University Regulations for Doctoral Programmes and Article 18 of the internal Regulations of the PhD Programme.
PhD Students whose research results are deemed to have significant scientific value and whose thesis receives a positive evaluation from the external reviewers are admitted to the Final Examination process. Within one month of receiving the referees' analytical judgment, the Programme Committee designates the members of the Commission for the final examination following Article 29 of the University Regulations for Doctoral Programmes.
The Final Examination entails a public defence of the thesis before a committee appointed by the Rector. This examination must occur within six months of completing the PhD program, subject to extensions. Following the defence, the thesis is either approved or rejected based on a collective written judgment. In the event of a negative outcome, the Final Examination cannot be retaken.
The PhD degree is awarded upon successful completion of the Final Examination. Subsequently, the diploma is issued. PhD theses are published in open access on IRIS (the University of Trento's research archive platform), submitted to the national database, and archived in the National Libraries of Rome and Florence within 24 months of the examination.
Updated calendar of ongoing Final Exams is available at Final exams - 38th cycle. Schedule and details