PhD Course obligations

Students enrolled in the PhD program are required to complete the following during their four years at the SNS:

1. Three courses with a final assessment

Attendance of at least three courses offered by the School, with successful completion of the corresponding final assessment before the thesis submission deadline and, in any case, no later than the normal duration of the Course, regardless of any extensions referred to in Article 7, paragraphs 11 and 13 of the PhD Regulations. These courses must be taken in at least two different academic years, unless otherwise decided by the Board.

The total duration of these courses must amount to at least 120 hours.

With prior authorization from the Coordinator, one of the courses may be taken at another university or research institution.

It is desirable that at least one exam concern a disciplinary area different from that of the student’s main field of study.

Note: Students who, in the 2025/2026 academic year, are enrolled in the second year of the PhD program or later are not required to comply with the rule regarding the distribution of the three exams across at least two academic years, as this requirement enters into force with the relevant Regulations starting on 1 November 2025.

2. One hundred and fifty hours

Attendance of at least 150 hours of training activities specifically designed for the PhD programs and offered by the School or by other universities or research institutions.

The following count toward the 150 hours:

• Courses specifically designed for PhD training offered by the School, regardless of whether they conclude with an exam or simple attendance.
• Up to a maximum total of 30 hours:
  • Training activities related to a single Program or shared among multiple Programs;
  • Disciplinary, interdisciplinary, linguistic, and IT training;
  • Activities in the fields of teaching, research management, knowledge of European and international research systems, valorization and dissemination of research results, intellectual property, open access to research data and outputs, and fundamental principles of ethics and integrity.

Training activities other than the School’s own courses that count toward the 150 hours must be authorized beforehand by the PhD Program Coordinator and must be listed in detail in the annual report required by the Regulations.

Attendance of the above activities must be certified, indicating the number of actual hours completed.

3. Annual progress interview

At the end of each academic year, except the final one, PhD students in every Program must undergo an interview assessing the study and research activities carried out during the year, before a designated committee. Passing the interview ensures the continuation of the student’s position and scholarship and grants admission to the following year.

The Faculty Boards may also decide to establish:

• A higher number of compulsory courses beyond the minimum of three;
• A higher number of training hours beyond the minimum of 150;
• Additional compulsory or prerequisite courses;
• The requirement to demonstrate a specific level of proficiency in one or more foreign languages as a necessary condition for passing the annual assessments—and therefore for maintaining the position and scholarship.

Study plans

All courses that students intend to attend during the academic year—whether they plan to take the exam or only attend—must be included in the study plan submitted through the Esse3 portal.

Final examination

The title of Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.) is awarded upon passing the final examination, which consists of the public defense of a written dissertation. This examination is normally held within the six months preceding the end of the program or within the six months following it.