Thesis & external review

DURING YOUR PHD
Thesis and external review
Prepare and submit your doctoral thesis, follow the external review procedure and complete any revisions required before the final examination.
FROM THESIS PREPARATION TO EXTERNAL REVIEW
Complete each step within the deadline applicable to your PhD cycle
Final academic evaluation, preparation of the thesis, electronic submission, assessment by external reviewers and any subsequent revisions form a single procedure leading to the final examination.
Prepare
Use the official title-page model and check funding and confidentiality requirements.
Submit
Upload the electronic thesis through the dedicated UNICAM portal within the applicable deadline.
Review
Independent external experts evaluate the thesis before the public defence.
THESIS PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION
Complete the preliminary steps
01 · ACADEMIC DECISION
Admission to the final examination procedure
At the end of the final year, the Academic Board evaluates the research activity carried out during the year and throughout the entire PhD Programme, decides on admission to the final examination procedure and formulates an overall assessment to accompany the thesis.
02 · THESIS TEMPLATE
Preparing the doctoral thesis
Prepare the thesis in accordance with the requirements of your PhD Programme. Use the official UNICAM title-page model and include any logos, project codes or acknowledgements required by your funding programme, scholarship or host institution.

Download the thesis title-page template · DOCX →

03 · ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION
Submit the thesis online
Submit the electronic thesis through the dedicated UNICAM portal within the deadline established by the Regulations applicable to your admission cycle.
Cycle XLI and subsequent cycles
Within 45 days following the end of the final year.
Cycles XXXVIII–XL
Within 30 days following the end of the final year.
Earlier cycles or specially regulated Programmes
Follow the Regulations, agreement and instructions applicable to your specific position.

Open the Thesis Submission portal →

CHECK YOUR PHD CYCLE
The thesis-submission deadline changed from Cycle XLI
Do not rely on guidance prepared for a different admission cycle. Always identify the Regulations applicable to the cycle in which you were admitted.

Check the Regulations applicable to your cycle →

BEFORE UPLOADING THE THESIS
Check the final file carefully
Verify the title, candidate and Supervisor details, PhD Programme and curriculum, cycle, required acknowledgements, funding logos or project codes, abstract, keywords and any confidentiality restrictions before completing the electronic submission.
EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Review by independent experts
04 · EXTERNAL REVIEWERS
Independent thesis evaluation
The thesis is evaluated by at least two professors or expert researchers who do not belong to UNICAM’s tenured staff and are identified as highly qualified external evaluators. They provide independent analytical written assessments of the thesis.

Consult the PhD Regulations →

05 · REVIEW OUTCOMES
Admission or postponement for revisions
Each reviewer proposes either admission to the final examination or postponement where significant additions or corrections are required. The Advanced Studies Office communicates the review timetable and the formal outcome to the candidate.
06 · REVISED THESIS
Revisions and resubmission
Where significant additions or corrections are required, the public defence may be postponed for a period not exceeding six months. Complete the revisions with your Supervisor and submit the revised thesis according to the instructions received.

Access the Thesis Submission portal →

What happens after a revision period?
At the end of the authorised revision period, the revised thesis is evaluated again by the same external reviewers. Under the current Regulations, the thesis is then admitted to public discussion accompanied by their new assessment.
07 · CONFIDENTIALITY, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND EMBARGO
Assess possible restrictions before submitting the thesis
Discuss confidentiality, patent protection and intellectual-property issues with your Supervisor before submitting the thesis. Research results should not be publicly disclosed before any necessary protection or contractual checks have been completed.
Where justified for the protection and exploitation of industrial or intellectual property rights, the Regulations applicable from Cycle XLI allow public access to the thesis to be postponed for an authorised period of up to 18 months. Complete the specific embargo request before final deposit.
COMPLETION OF THE PROCEDURE
From the reviewers’ reports to the examination session
08 · AFTER THE REVIEW
Transmission to the examination committee
After completion of the external review, the thesis, the Academic Board’s overall assessment and the reviewers’ written judgments are made available to the final examination committee. The candidate receives the official information concerning the examination session through the applicable procedure.

Final examination and graduation →

09 · SUPPORT
Technical and administrative assistance
Contact the Advanced Studies Office in case of difficulties with the submission portal, title-page model, external review procedure, revision process or documentation required before the final examination.

Contact the Advanced Studies Office →

QUICK CHECKLIST
Before completing the submission
1
Verify the Academic Board decision and the deadline applicable to your PhD cycle.
2
Use the official title-page model and complete all required details.
3
Check logos, acknowledgements, project information, abstract, keywords and the final electronic file.
4
Assess confidentiality and submit any required embargo request.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Indicate the relevant thesis procedure in your message
Include your full name, PhD Programme, curriculum, cycle, Supervisor and a brief description of the issue.

Write to dottorato@unicam.it →