The PhD program begins in November and has a duration of three years. Participation in the program requires full-time and exclusive commitment. Any activity undertaken by the PhD candidate outside the PhD program must be authorized in advance by the PhD Board.

Each candidate will be assigned a supervisor (with possible co-supervisors), who will suggest research directions and provide guidance throughout the candidate’s development as a researcher.

The training plan includes an initial assessment of competencies, organized at the beginning of the first year by the PhD Board. This assessment may involve attending selected courses from the Master’s programs in Stochastics and Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Physics, as well as special courses offered by the PhD program (see the Courses Offered section). All courses include a final examination (see the Evaluation Module section), intended to verify that candidates are able to apply their knowledge to solving problems within their field of interest.

Candidates are also required to attend seminars on cross-disciplinary topics (e.g., legal, economic) or aimed at strengthening their preparation in Data Science (see the Seminars section). For any training activity not organized by the PhD Board, the candidate must consult with their supervisor in advance.

At the end of each academic year (by 30 September), PhD candidates are required to submit an Annual Report describing the activities carried out during the preceding year (see the Information and Forms section). During a meeting with the PhD Board (generally scheduled in October), candidates will be asked to present a brief overview of their training and research progress, as well as of their thesis project, in order to demonstrate that their research is sufficiently advanced.

The PhD thesis must be written in English (see the Thesis and Final Examination section). Please note that the thesis research is expected to lead to publications in peer-reviewed journals or conference proceedings. A thesis without any publication will generally not be considered acceptable.

Detailed regulations concerning academic training are provided below.

1st Year

• Attend courses/schools
• Begin research activities
• End-of-year report and evaluation (learning activities and research plan)

2nd Year

• Complete learning activities
• Conduct full-time research
• Teaching activities (where applicable; prior authorization required)
• End-of-year report and evaluation (learning activities and research progress)

3rd Year

• Complete research and write the PhD thesis
• Teaching activities (where applicable; prior authorization required)
• Submit the PhD thesis by 31 October of the third year
• Internal review of the thesis by the PhD Committee and admission to the final procedure
• External review of the thesis and admission to the final examination

Beginning of the new year: thesis defense, graduation

The detailed rules on academic training are available  here.

Courses at the Department of Computer Science

Courses offered by the PhD Program

Master’s Degree Courses in Stochastics and Data Science

Complementary Training offered by the Doctoral School

• Assessment Form for Examinations

• Rules for the Academic Credit Plan

For the credit recognition procedures, the guidelines and rules on the assignment of mandatory courses, and their implementation, click here .  

• Admission to the Next Academic Years

To be admitted to the following year, PhD candidates must follow the provided instructions (instruction in italian)

• Computing Facilities

PhD students will have access to the IT facilities of the Departments participating in the PhD program. Click here to learn more. 

• International Mobility (Participation in international schools, workshops, etc.)

The mission request must be submitted in sufficient time to allow the fund holder and the General Director to authorize the mission before the departure date. To request authorization, please complete the form (in Italian) before the date of departure.

At the end of the mission, in order to obtain reimbursement, complete the reimbursement form, attach all original receipts, the certificate of participation (or, if not available, provide a self-certification confirming participation in the event), and deliver all documentation to the relevant mission office, following the usual procedures (internal mail, hand delivery, etc.). The mission must be closed, and the reimbursement request submitted, no later than 6 months after the conclusion of the mission.

For further information, please consult Administrative and Accounting Services (under the “Missions” section).

• Research Period Abroad

PhD candidates are required to spend a minimum of 3 months, and up to a maximum of 18 months, abroad to carry out research activities. During this period, the scholarship will be increased by 50%. Candidates may apply for the scholarship increase through the online application procedure.

Here for detailed instructions on how to submit the online request for the scholarship increase, as well as for the accompanying Vademecum.

• Use of the 10% Research Budget

A budget is made available to PhD students to support expenses related to activities that are consistent with the research and training objectives of the doctoral program. Use of this budget is subject to prior authorization by the PhD Coordinator and must comply with the current Regulations of the PhD Programs, public accounting rules, and the University’s internal regulations. Here to learn more.  

• Vademecum

PhD candidates are required to comply with the guidelines and operational procedures established by the principal administrative officers of the Natural Sciences Campus.  

• Useful information

Useful information for PhD students—particularly for international students—is available here