Didactic procedures

Common procedures

Besides the learning activities described below, students are expected to carry out daily research activity personal study and, where applicable, laboratory; in addition, they are expected to follow the mini-courses and the series of seminars of interest to their curriculum, tipically held by lecturers from other institutions (please see the news and seminars web pages on this regard).

Students are strongly encouraged to carry out a period of study and research abroad of at least three months in foreign research institutions.

Students may carry out a limited tutoring activity, which must not compromise their study and research, in the Departiments of interest in Sapienza, in other Sapienza Departmnents, or in other universities. The tutoring activit, limited by 80 hours per year and anyway limited by Sapienza PhD regulations, must be authorized by the Coordinator.

Procedures for the first year

Soon after enrollment, students are asked to present a study plan containing the selected curriculum, the expected study and research activities, and a possible supervisor (typically, curriculum and supervisor are proposed by the student; else the coordinators of the curricula support the student in the choice). The plan must anyway be approved by the Scientific Board, who can modify them.

In the first year, each student is asked to to follow at least two courses (with an indication to follow three of them) among those listed in the Courses 2025/2026 web page. At the end of each course, PhD students are required to take and pass a verification with the Lecturer. The corresponding form is available in the Forms section.

The Scientific Board can authorize study plans which motivatedly differ from the above or which include courses not included in "Courses 2024/2025" (e.g. courses from other PhD programs). The Academic Board can acknowledge the equivalence of training experiences carried out at other universities or research institutes, also abroad.

At the end of the first year, students are asked to submit a report on study and research activitiies, contining also a schematic research plan which will lead to the Dissertation. The plan must fall into the topics of interest to the PhD Course. The Scientific Board (who can ask for details, integrations and external assessments) evaluates the report and decides on admission to the next year, taking into account the report, the supervisor's assessment, the advancement of research activities and the fullfillment of the above duties.

Procedures for the second year

Soon after admission to the second year, students are asked to present a study plan containing the expected study and research activities. The plan must anyway be approved by the Scientific Board, who can modify them. Each student is asked to to follow at least one course among those listed in the Courses 2025/2026 web page. At the end of each course, PhD students are required to take and pass a verification with the Lecturer. The Scientific Board can authorize study plans which motivatedly differ from the above or which include courses not included in "Offerta erogata - Ciclo 40" (e.g. courses from other PhD programs). The Academic Board can acknowledge the equivalence of training experiences carried out at other universities or research institutes, also abroad.

At the end of the second year, students are asked to submit a report on study and research activitiies, contining the advancement of the research plan. The Scientific Board (who can ask for details, integrations and external assessments) evaluates the report and decides on admission to the next year, taking into account the report, the supervisor's assessment, the advancement of research activities and the fullfillment of the above duties.

Third year

Except for possible remaining duties, the third year of the PhD cycle is fully dedicated to the preparation of the final dissertation.Students are asked to follow the mini-courses and the series of seminars of interest to their curriculum.

The procedures for the dissertation are outlined in a dedicated section of the web site.