Training Activities
The training activities are planned by the Academic Board at the beginning of each academic year.
The PhD scientific and educational programme provides for the acquisition of a total of 180 ECTS credits over the three-year period, divided into 60 ECTS per year.
ECTS credits must be earned through different activities and proportions depending on the year of study, following the general principle of allocating more time to training in the initial phase of the programme — which gradually decreases over the three years — and progressively more time to research activities aimed at preparing the PhD thesis.
The teaching activities carried out during the year fall into three main categories:
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Specialised seminars organised by the Academic Board of the PhD programme, delivered mainly by professors from Italian universities (in some cases in foreign languages), on research topics relevant to all curricula, with a variable number of credits depending on the duration and workload of each seminar.
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Specialised seminars delivered by professors from other universities, with a variable number of credits depending on the duration and workload.
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Summer Schools, both transversal and specific to individual disciplinary areas (SSD).
Doctoral candidates also participated in seminars and conferences on topics related to their research projects at other universities and research centres in Italy and abroad. Upon the supervisor’s approval, such activities were recognised as part of the annual 60 ECTS requirement.
PhD candidates are encouraged to give presentations at national and international congresses and conferences. Each doctoral candidate is provided with a budget equal to 10% of their annual gross salary to cover research expenses, including national and international travel for the presentation of research results. Supervisors also encourage students to disseminate their work through scientific papers published in journals or presented at conferences, workshops, and symposia.
At the end of each academic year, the Academic Board evaluates the overall set of training and research activities of each doctoral candidate on the basis of the certifications submitted, the annual report on study and research activities, and the report prepared by the supervisor(s).