41st cycle

Academic requirements

Guidelines for PhD Training Activities 41st Cycle - Organization of Research and Training Activities within the PhD Program 41st cycle 

1. References 

  • Please consult the University Regulations on PhD Programs (see attached document in Documents).
  • Please refer to the following link.

2. Doctoral Credit System (Crediti Dottorali – CD) 

  • 1 Doctoral Credit (CD) = 25 hours of total workload. 
  • Each PhD candidate must obtain 60 CDs per year, for a total of 180 CDs over the 3-year program. 
  • The distribution between Research Activities and Training Activities for Research and Teaching must comply with the proportions established for the specific PhD program. 
  • For the BCM PhD Program, please refer to Table A in the document Doctoral Credit Table 41st cycle (see attached in Documents). 

3. Research Activities 

Research activities must be planned and agreed upon with the Supervisor and/or Co-Supervisor.  

 4. Research and Teaching Training Activities 

4.1. Planning 

  • Training activities related to research and teaching, including their timeline, must be defined in consultation with the Supervisor and/or Co-Supervisor, according to the document Guidelines for the training activities of PhD Students 41° cycle (see attached in Documents). 
  • Please refer to Table C in the document Doctoral Credit Table 41st cycle for the recommended number of training credits per year. 

4.2. Credit Management 

  • Any missing credits (credit debts) are carried over to the following academic year. 
  • Each activity must be uploaded to the Dottorati Application, including:

Number of credits;
Supporting documentation/certification. 

  • Validation is carried out first by the Supervisor and subsequently by the Coordinator. 

5. Types of Training Activities for Research and Teaching  

A. Disciplinary and Inter - Multidisciplinary Courses 

  • Participation in disciplinary and inter/multidisciplinary courses offered by the PhD program or by UniBO. 
  • Attendance in seminars, lab meetings, and journal clubs. 
  • Attendance and presentation in seminars, lab meetings, and journal clubs.

To certify these activities, use the following forms: 

 Certificate of Attendance in Disciplinary and Multidisciplinary Course offered by PhD course 

Certificate of Attendance in Teaching Activities offered by UniBO 

Certificate of Preparation and Presentation of seminar, lab meeting, j club 

Certificate of Attendance in seminar, lab Meeting, journal club 

B. Soft Skills

  • Participation in soft skills courses. Refer to this link.

To certify these activities, use:  Certificate of Attendance at Soft Skills Courses 

C. Extra-Curricular Training 

  • Activities in public engagement and third mission initiatives. 
  • Participation in Summer/Winter Schools, Conferences, Workshops, or Institutional Roles. 

To certify these activities, use: Certificate of Attendance in Extra-Curricular Training 

D. Tutoring and Teaching Support 

  • Teaching activities as tutor in laboratory courses. 
  • Tutoring of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses. 

To certify these activities, use: 

Certificate of Teaching Activity as Tutor in Laboratory Course 

Certificate of Teaching Activity as Tutor for Bachelor’s/Master’s Thesis 

E. Dissemination 

Preparation and presentation of posters or oral communications at conferences. 

To certify these activities, use:  Certificate of Preparation and Presentation of Oral Communication or Poster 

6. Admission to the Next Year 

  • To be admitted to the following academic year, PhD candidates must: 
  • Fulfil the requirements agreed with the Supervisor and the PhD Board. 
  • Obtain a total of 60 CDs, in accordance with the required distribution between research and training. 
  • Submit the Annual Report to the Coordinator and Training Delegate (July–August). 
  • Complete the OPID Questionnaire (June–July). 
  • Participate in the Annual PhD Workshop (September). 
  • Upload the Annual Report on to the Dottorati Application by the end of September. 

 7. Admission to the Final Examination 

To be admitted to the final thesis defense and obtain the PhD degree, candidates must: 

  • Meet all requirements listed in the section Admission to the Next Year. 
  • Have completed a total of 180 PhD Credits (CDs). → Obtaining the full 180 CDs is mandatory to be awarded the PhD diploma and to access the final examination. 

8. Research Period Abroad 

  • A minimum stay of 3 months abroad is mandatory (up to a maximum of 6 months) at foreign universities or research institutions. 
  • Financial support includes: 
  • A 50% increase in the scholarship during the period abroad (maximum 6 months). 
  • Use of the 10% research budget. 
  • Access to specific funding fellowship (e.g. Erasmus Plus, Marco Polo). 
  • Further information  

Authorization procedure: 

The candidate must send to the Coordinator a formal Invitation Letter from the host institution specifying: 

Dates of the research stay;  Host institution;  Local supervisor; Research topic. 

9. Activities Compatible with the PhD Program (Art. 15 – University PhD Regulations) 

  • Compatible activities are permitted if coherent with the training objectives of the PhD, such as: 
  • Professional internships not included in the PhD training path. 
  • Tutoring activities (within the limits set by D.R. no. 418/2011). 
  • Paid activities relevant to the PhD research field. 

Procedure: 

  • Record the activity on the Dottorati Application. 
  • Validation by the Supervisor. 
  • Authorization by the Deputy Coordinator. 
  • The description provided by the PhD candidate must include detailed information on the type of activity performed. In case of a conflict of interest, the Deputy Coordinator must abstain from evaluation, and the decision will be referred to the PhD Board.