PhD exam procedure guide:
The thesis
should comprise
original results, which have been or can be published in articles on
highly qualified scientific publications.
Candidates who wish to obtain the PhD should present a written request to the Director at least four months before the date of the defence, which usually takes place in October.
The Sector Council agrees on at least two external referees, experts in the field, with typically one not Italian. The PhD defense Commision will include the two external examiners plus at least three members of SISSA, among which the Doctorate Coordinator.
The thesis should be submitted within a deadline determined by the Sector Council (usually 15 August). A copy should be given to the Student Secretaries and an electronic version has to be uploaded on a protected website for the referees. After the deadline the referees and members of the Commission for the PhD defense will be contacted so they can download the thesis or ask for a paper copy to be sent to them.
The examiners are asked to give a global opinion to the candidate and supervisor, and in particular to make clear whether they see major problems and/or think the thesis is not adequate for a PhD, within 4 weeks. In case it is considered important or useful, the candidate might be asked to visit in person the external examiners to discuss any major point. Other (not crucial) criticisms and comments can be either sent at this point or discussed at the time of the PhD examination.
The PhD defence consists of a presentation of the work done (around 45 minutes) and then questions from the examiners, general committee and staff. A discussion within the Commission follows, during which the decision on whether or not to award the PhD is taken.
After the PhD exam, the candidate should introduce any corrections suggested by the examiners in the thesis and within two weeks produce the final version to be given to the Student Secretaries (in hard copy) and uploaded on the Sector web pages.
The defence can take place after the duration of the PhD course.
Candidates who wish to obtain the PhD should present a written request to the Director at least four months before the date of the defence, which usually takes place in October.
The Sector Council agrees on at least two external referees, experts in the field, with typically one not Italian. The PhD defense Commision will include the two external examiners plus at least three members of SISSA, among which the Doctorate Coordinator.
The thesis should be submitted within a deadline determined by the Sector Council (usually 15 August). A copy should be given to the Student Secretaries and an electronic version has to be uploaded on a protected website for the referees. After the deadline the referees and members of the Commission for the PhD defense will be contacted so they can download the thesis or ask for a paper copy to be sent to them.
The examiners are asked to give a global opinion to the candidate and supervisor, and in particular to make clear whether they see major problems and/or think the thesis is not adequate for a PhD, within 4 weeks. In case it is considered important or useful, the candidate might be asked to visit in person the external examiners to discuss any major point. Other (not crucial) criticisms and comments can be either sent at this point or discussed at the time of the PhD examination.
The PhD defence consists of a presentation of the work done (around 45 minutes) and then questions from the examiners, general committee and staff. A discussion within the Commission follows, during which the decision on whether or not to award the PhD is taken.
After the PhD exam, the candidate should introduce any corrections suggested by the examiners in the thesis and within two weeks produce the final version to be given to the Student Secretaries (in hard copy) and uploaded on the Sector web pages.
The defence can take place after the duration of the PhD course.
