Working activities during the PhD
DURING YOUR PHD
Working, tutoring and teaching activities
A PhD involves an exclusive and full-time commitment. Working, tutoring and teaching activities may be undertaken only under the conditions established by the Regulations applicable to your PhD cycle and position and, where required, after obtaining prior authorisation.
FULL-TIME
The PhD remains your primary commitment
External activities must remain compatible with the exclusive and full-time nature of doctoral training.
COMPATIBLE
Research and training must not be compromised
Workload, duties, timetable and other commitments are assessed in relation to your research and training pathway.
AUTHORISED
Complete the applicable procedure first
Do not treat an activity as authorised until the approval process required for your cycle and type of activity has been completed.
CHECK YOUR PHD CYCLE
The authorisation framework may differ between cycles
The current University Regulations apply to PhD Programmes activated from academic year 2025/2026, Cycle XLI onwards. Candidates admitted in previous cycles must follow the Regulations applicable to their own cycle together with any additional conditions established by the Call, scholarship, funded project or agreement.
01 · WORKING ACTIVITIES
External work must be assessed before it begins
Under the Regulations applicable from Cycle XLI, work activities — including paid work involving practical professional training or limited external work that allows the acquisition of skills related to the PhD Programme — may be compatible with the doctoral pathway subject to the required academic and S.A.S. authorisation.
EMPLOYMENT
Employment relationships
Employment or other structured working relationships must be communicated in advance and assessed on the basis of their nature, period, workload, duties and compatibility with doctoral activities.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
Consultancy and external assignments
Freelance work, consultancy, collaborations and other paid external assignments should be submitted for assessment before they begin, including when limited in duration.
RESEARCH & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Activities connected with the PhD
A connection with your research topic or the acquisition of professionally relevant skills may support the compatibility assessment, but does not replace the required authorisation.
02 · AUTHORISATION PROCEDURE
Complete the process before starting the activity
1
Discuss the proposed activity in advance with your Supervisor and Programme Coordinator.
2
Complete the working-activity request and provide the contract, appointment or other documents describing the activity.
3
The Academic Board assesses compatibility with your doctoral research and training pathway.
4
Where required by the Regulations, the procedure is completed with S.A.S. Board authorisation. Wait for completion before starting the activity.
03 · INFORMATION REQUIRED
Describe the proposed activity completely
ACTIVITY DETAILS
Type of contract or appointment
Employer or commissioning organisation
Duties and subject of the activity
Place and method of performance
Relationship with doctoral research or professional training
Employer or commissioning organisation
Duties and subject of the activity
Place and method of performance
Relationship with doctoral research or professional training
TIME & FINANCIAL DETAILS
Starting and ending dates
Weekly or total working hours
Expected remuneration or taxable income
Possible overlap with training or mobility
Any other information relevant to compatibility
Weekly or total working hours
Expected remuneration or taxable income
Possible overlap with training or mobility
Any other information relevant to compatibility
WORKING-ACTIVITY FORM
Submit the request sufficiently in advance
Complete and sign the form and attach the contract, appointment letter or other documentation containing the information necessary for the compatibility assessment. Submit the documentation early enough for the academic and administrative procedure to be completed before the activity begins.
04 · COMPATIBILITY ASSESSMENT
What is taken into consideration?
TIME
Duration, workload, timetable and overlap with research, training or mobility.
CONTENT
Duties, professional content and skills that may be acquired through the activity.
PHD PROGRESS
Research progress, training obligations and timely completion of the doctoral pathway.
FUNDING
Scholarship conditions, income limits and restrictions connected with the funded position.
PHD CANDIDATES WITH A SCHOLARSHIP · CYCLE XLI+
Annual income limit from working activities
For the entire period in which the PhD scholarship is received, the maximum annual emoluments from working activities may not exceed the annual amount of the PhD scholarship. For this purpose, the taxable income resulting from the work performed, as certified or declared, is taken into consideration.
SPECIFIC FUNDING CONDITIONS
Academic authorisation does not remove other incompatibilities
The approval of an activity does not override limits, exclusivity requirements or incompatibilities established by legislation, the Call for Applications, the scholarship funding programme, a research project, a national PhD Programme or a specific agreement. Candidates holding specially funded positions should therefore verify the conditions applying to their position before accepting an assignment.
05 · TUTORING AND SUPPLEMENTARY TEACHING
Activities that may form part of doctoral training
Tutoring and supplementary teaching follow specific rules and should not be confused with ordinary external working activities.
TUTORING
Tutoring, including paid tutoring
Under the Regulations applicable from Cycle XLI, PhD candidates may provide tutoring, including paid tutoring, to students enrolled in bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes as an integral part of doctoral training, subject to Academic Board approval and without increasing the PhD scholarship amount.
SUPPLEMENTARY TEACHING
Up to 40 hours per academic year
For Cycle XLI onwards, supplementary teaching activities may be undertaken up to a maximum of 40 hours per academic year. They require the candidate’s prior consent and Academic Board approval and must not compromise research training.
OTHER TEACHING OR ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Check the applicable procedure before accepting
Teaching appointments or other academic assignments that do not fall within ordinary tutoring or supplementary teaching must be assessed separately according to their nature, workload, remuneration and the legislation and University rules applicable to the individual case.
06 · CHANGES AND RENEWALS
An authorisation does not automatically cover future changes
RENEWAL OR EXTENSION
A new period requires a new assessment
A renewal, extension or new contract should be communicated and submitted for assessment even where the employer and duties remain substantially unchanged.
MATERIAL CHANGE
Hours, duties, dates or remuneration
Promptly communicate substantial changes concerning workload, duration, duties, employer, place of work, remuneration or other conditions relevant to the original assessment.
IMPORTANT
Unauthorised work may affect your doctoral career
Under the Regulations applicable from Cycle XLI, work undertaken without the required Academic Board authorisation is one of the circumstances that may lead to exclusion from the PhD Programme. Always complete the applicable procedure before beginning the activity.
RELATED INFORMATION
Forms, regulations and doctoral career
Forms & certificates
Find administrative forms and supporting documents used during the PhD.
UNICAM PhD Regulations
Check the University Regulation applicable to your admission cycle.
Career & training
Return to the overview of career, training and related procedures.
ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
Need assistance before submitting your request?
When contacting the Advanced Studies Office, indicate your PhD Programme, curriculum where applicable, cycle, Supervisor, type of proposed activity, employer or commissioning body, dates, workload, expected remuneration and scholarship or funding source.