Final examination & graduation

DURING YOUR PHD
Final examination & graduation
Complete the final examination procedure, prepare for the public defence and access the documents issued after the award of your PhD degree.
FROM EXTERNAL REVIEW TO GRADUATION
Follow the official procedure and examination timetable
Once the external thesis review has been completed, the final phase includes the administrative final-examination procedure, appointment of the examination committee, official notice of the session, public defence, final thesis deposit and completion of the degree documentation.
UNICAM graduates celebrating the completion of their academic journey
 
THE FINAL MILESTONE
Completing the doctoral journey and joining the UNICAM community of PhD graduates.
CHECK YOUR ADMISSION CYCLE
The rules may differ between PhD cycles and Programmes
The framework below describes the general rules applicable to PhD Programmes activated from academic year 2025/2026, Cycle XLI onwards. Earlier cycles and national, joint, international or co-tutelle Programmes may be governed by different provisions or specific agreements.

UNICAM PhD Regulations by cycle →

01 · FINAL-EXAMINATION PROCEDURE
Complete the administrative steps communicated by the Office
Candidates admitted to the final examination must submit an online application addressed to the Rector through their Student Administration reserved area, together with any required documents, following the procedure and deadlines communicated by the Advanced Studies Office. The Office will also provide instructions concerning the completion of the external review and the organisation of the examination.
Do not rely on informal dates
A proposed session date may change while the committee appointment and formal organisation of the examination are being completed. Make binding travel arrangements only after receiving the official information.
02 · OFFICIAL NOTICE
At least 20 days’ notice for Cycle XLI+
Under the current Regulations, the schedule of the final examination is communicated to the interested parties with at least 20 days’ notice before the examination date.
03 · FINAL EXAMINATION COMMITTEE
Appointment and composition
For standard UNICAM PhD Programmes governed by the current Regulations, the examination committee is appointed by the Head of the S.A.S. on the proposal of the candidate’s Academic Board. The Academic Board proposes at least four teachers: three full members and one alternate.
Requirement Current general rule
External composition At least two-thirds must not belong to the institutional headquarters of the PhD Programme.
Academic origin At least two-thirds must be members of academic origin.
Participating entities No more than one-third may belong to entities participating in the PhD Programme.
Gender balance Taken into account where possible.
INCOMPATIBILITIES
Who cannot serve on the committee?
Under the current Regulations, supervisors — internal or external — cannot serve on the committee. External thesis reviewers are also excluded, as are persons who co-authored scientific publications with the candidate during the PhD Programme or in the previous five years.
ADDITIONAL EXPERTS
The committee may be integrated by up to two experts
The current Regulations allow the examination committee to be integrated by no more than two experts selected from public or private research bodies and departments, including foreign institutions, and identified by the Academic Board.
04 · PUBLIC DEFENCE
Discuss your doctoral thesis before the committee
The final examination consists of the public discussion of the written doctoral dissertation or graphic work. Prepare your presentation in accordance with the organisational instructions communicated for the session and be ready to discuss the methods, results, originality and scientific contribution of your research.

Thesis & external review →

05 · EXAMINATION FORMAT · CYCLE XLI+
The final examination is held in person
Under the current general UNICAM Regulations, the final examination is held in person. Different arrangements may apply to PhD Programmes established through international agreements, joint PhD Programmes or national PhD Programmes where their specific agreements or rules provide otherwise.
ILLNESS OR FORCE MAJEURE
If you cannot attend the scheduled examination
If illness or force majeure prevents you from taking the final examination on the scheduled date, promptly contact the Advanced Studies Office and submit a request to the Head of the S.A.S. Under the current Regulations, the candidate may be admitted to the final examinations scheduled for the following PhD cycle, taking account of the circumstances that prevented attendance. If the Programme is not activated, the examination may take place at another institution.
IMPORTANT
The final examination cannot be repeated
Under the Regulations applicable from Cycle XLI, the final examination cannot be repeated. The illness or force-majeure procedure concerns inability to attend the scheduled examination, not repetition of an examination already taken.
06 · EXAMINATION OUTCOME
Official report, collective assessment and award of the degree
At the end of its work, the committee prepares an official report on the examination procedure and expresses a collective written assessment for each candidate.
With a unanimous vote, the committee may award honours where the results are of particular scientific importance.
Award of the qualification
The PhD degree — “Dott. Ric.” or “PhD” — is obtained upon successful completion of the final examination and is formally awarded by the Rector of the University of Camerino.
07 · FINAL THESIS DEPOSIT
Complete the institutional deposit of the thesis
The final thesis must be deposited in the UNICAM institutional archive according to the procedure indicated by the competent University offices. The archive ensures preservation and public consultation and supports the required legal deposit procedures.
Degree certification depends on completion of the deposit
Under the current Regulations, issuance of the certification confirming achievement of the PhD degree is subject to completion of the final thesis deposit.
The thesis is made available through open access, subject to any authorised embargo for the protection or exploitation of industrial or intellectual property rights.
AFTER GRADUATION
Certificates and degree documents
08 · CERTIFICATES
Self-certifications and official certificates
After the qualification has been recorded in your career, you may use the self-certifications available through the Student Administration portal or request an official UNICAM certificate when required by the receiving organisation.
09 · DIPLOMA SUPPLEMENT
Description of the completed qualification
The Diploma Supplement provides information on the nature, level, context and content of the completed doctoral qualification. It may be requested from the Advanced Studies Office after completion of the PhD.
10 · DEGREE PARCHMENT
Original PhD degree parchment
The original parchment is distinct from an official certificate and the Diploma Supplement. Parchments are normally produced once a year, usually between October and November, and are generally presented during a dedicated University event.
11 · DOCTOR EUROPAEUS
Plan the certification before reviewers and committee members are identified
The current UNICAM Regulations refer to the applicable European framework for the award of the Doctor Europaeus certification. If you intend to obtain it, verify the applicable requirements with your Supervisor, Programme Coordinator and the Advanced Studies Office well before the external evaluators and final examination committee are formally identified.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Questions about the final examination or graduation documents?
Contact the Advanced Studies Office for questions concerning the final-examination procedure, official notice, committee or defence arrangements, recording of the qualification, final thesis deposit, certificates, Diploma Supplement or degree parchment.