To obtain the title of PhD, each candidate must achieve 180 credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - ECTS) over the three years of the course (60 credits/year), divided as follows:
Up to the 40th Cycle:
- 50 credits for research activities related to the thesis project
- 10 credits for training activities
For training activities, 1 credit equals 6 hours of activity, for a total of 60 hours per year.
From the 41st cycle onward:
I e II year:
- 50 credits for research activities related to the thesis project
- 10 credits for training activities
III year:
- 50 credits for research activities related to the thesis project
- 8 credits for training activities
For training activities, 1 credit equals 4 hours of activity, for a total of 40 hours for I and II years, and 32 hours for the III year
The training activities include:
- dedicated courses organized by the Academic Board
- courses suggested by the PhD program Coordinator
- seminars, national and international conferences, workshops, and schools
- soft skills courses (see below)
- the BiBiM 2.0 Teaching Day
PhD students may choose among the various training activities according to their interests, with the exception of the BiBiM 2.0 Teaching Day, which is mandatory for all students.
Soft skills:
- Up to the 40th cycle:
Of the 180 total hours dedicated to training activities, 60 hours must be dedicated to soft skills courses. - From the 41st cycle onward:
Of the 112 total hours dedicated to training activities, 15 hours must be dedicated to soft skills courses.
PhD students may attend soft skills courses organized annually by the three partner Universities, as well as other similar courses organized by companies or research institutions.
Attendance at the various training activities must be recorded by the PhD student in the appropriate form (Form per la registrazione di seminari), which can be downloaded from the section Modulistica/Forms
(https://www.dbcf.unisi.it/it/didattica/post-laurea/dottorati-di-ricerca/dottorato-di-ricerca-biochemistry-and-molecular-biology-1)
Annual Report and advancement to the next year / final exam
At the end of each year, training activities carried out must be reported, together with the research activity, in the annual report that the PhD student must submit to the Academic Board for evaluation and approval.
In addition to the annual report, PhD students must submit a poster presenting the results of their research, which will later be presented during the PhD Students Day. Participation in the event is mandatory, as it is part of the PhD students’ evaluation process and is required for admission to the following academic year or to the final exam for third-year students. Therefore, all PhD students are expected to attend, except those currently spending their mandatory research period abroad. These students are considered excused from attendance but are still required to submit their poster. During the poster session, PhD students present and discuss the results of their research activities in front of members of the Academic Board. They are evaluated not only based on the outcomes of their work, but especially on their ability to carry out their research activities independently.
For information contact Prof. Lorenza Trabalzini lorenza.trabalzini@unisi.it