Preferably one month before the end of the three-year program, and with the tutor's favorable opinion, PhD students must submit their request for admission to the final examination to the Faculty Board. This request needs to include:
- A final report on activities performed (a downloadable template is available).
- An abstract.
- The thesis (in Italian or English; other languages require prior authorization from the Academic Board; a downloadable front page template is available).
The thesis will be evaluated by at least two highly qualified experts who are external to the institutions involved in granting the PhD degree. The evaluators, nominated by the Faculty Board, will provide a detailed written assessment of the thesis and either recommend its admission to the public defense or propose a deferral for up to six months if significant additions or corrections are needed.
The Evaluation Committee for the final defense is appointed by the Rector upon the Academic Board's proposal. It must comprise at least three members, of whom at least two must not be part of the Faculty Board and must belong to Italian or foreign universities other than the University of Siena.
Thesis Formatting: A4 size, double-sided printing, 12 pt (or 11 pt) font size, single or 1.5 line spacing, and signatures of the candidate and tutor on the front page.
IMPORTANT: The new deposit procedure on USiena Air starting from June 2020: At least 10 days before the thesis defense, the PhD student must deposit an electronic copy of their digitally signed doctoral thesis in PDF/A format (suitable for digital preservation) on the University Research Registry USiena Air (https://usiena-air.unisi.unisi.it/?locale=it). Therefore, if you do not have a digital signature, you must acquire one beforehand.
More informations available: https://www.unisi.it/ricerca/dottorati-di-ricerca/informazioni-dottorandi-e-dottori-di-ricerca/esame-finale-final
It is preferable to submit this request one month before the PhD concludes.
For proven reasons that do not allow the presentation of the dissertation within the time limits imposed by the duration of the course, the PhD student can request an extension of a maximum of twelve months, without additional financial charges. The request, countersigned by the supervisor, must be submitted to the coordinator of the course at least one month before the end of the course, accompanied by a report on the activities carried out during the doctoral programme and any publications countersigned by the supervisor.
