Final examination: procedures and deadlines

Students who are graduating in March 2025 cannot change the study plan submitted in the AY 2023/24.

Students who are graduating in March 2026 cannot change the study plan submitted in the AY 2024/25

In their study plan, students can choose among three different options to complete the final exam. The second and the third options allow students to gain part of the 24 CFUs of the final exam abroad.

1) Final Exam (24 CFUs): students write their dissertation without any institutional activities carried out abroad.

2) Final examination (12 CFU) with Preparation for the final examination abroad (12 CFU): 
Students conduct a research period abroad in agreement with their supervisor. The Department of History and Cultures might provide some fundings.

• 12 CFUs are recognised for the period abroad, which is exclusively aimed at completing the final dissertation. These CFUs must be certified by the supervisor, who will verify the completion of the research carried out abroad. In case of periods abroad within mobility programs, credits acquired at a partner university may be recognised in accordance with the supervisor.
• The remaining 12 CFUs relate to the completion of the dissertation work.

3) Final examination (12 CFU) with Internship abroad (6 CFU) and Preparation for the final examination abroad (6 CFU): 
Students conduct a research period abroad according with their supervisor. The Department of History and Cultures might provide some fundings.

• 6 CFUs are recognised for the period abroad, which is exclusively aimed at completing the final dissertation. These CFUs must be certified by the supervisor, who will verify the completion of the research carried out abroad.
• 6 CFUs are recognised for the internship that students carried out abroad in accordance with their supervisor. CFUs need to be certified by the supervisor who will verify the completion of the internship. In case of periods abroad within mobility programs, credits acquired at a partner at a university or organisation or partner company may be recognised in accordance with the supervisor.
• The remaining 12 CFUs relate to the completion of the dissertation work.

In order to get your degree, you need to pass a public final exam, written and oral, and if necessary, supported by presentations, videos, audios etc.

During the final exam you are expected to show your skills in critically interpreting historical sources as well as your ability in projecting, writing, and presenting a dissertation that originally faces an important historical and cultural issue.

The final exam of the Master's degree will be assigned preferably in a discipline indicated by the student. This discipline should normally be present in the study plan. The thesis supervisor is either the academic responsible for the teaching activity or the teacher with whom the student has taken the exam for the teaching activity. The student may, however, apply to the Board of the Master’s degree, using the 'Interdisciplinary Thesis Form' (box on the side), to request the assignment of a teaching activity that is not included in the study plan, as long as it is consistent with the specific educational objectives of the Master's degree. In this case, the co-supervisor is appointed by the Board from among the faculty affiliated with the Master's degree course. This application is not necessary if the discipline in which the student wants to graduate is present in the curriculum of the Master’s degree in History and Oriental studies.

In order to get 24 CFU, your dissertation must be at least 150 pages long (2000 characters including spaces for each page = 300.000 characters)

Your dissertation may be enriched by audio and visual media and must be conducted under the supervision of one faculty member (relatore).

Students usually choose the supervisor of their dissertation among the faculty members who teach courses listed in their study plan.

In case you would choose a faculty member whose course is out of your study plan, you need to ask the Board of the Degree Program. The Board will also appoint a co-supervisor among the faculty members of the Degree Program.

Dissertation and abstract must be uploaded only in pdf format on Studenti Online by the dates in which you have completed all requirements

Your dissertation and presentation will be graded and points will be added to the average grade to get your final grade:

• 4 points (excellent): only in case of outstanding research and brilliant presentation
• 3 points (very good)
• 2 points (good)
• 1 point (fair)
• 0 points (passing grade)

If you get a total of 110 points, the Degree Board may decide to add honours (lode) to your final grade.