Choosing the subject and the rules on preparing the dissertation for the final examination.
The application for the final examination is strictly linked to a specific date in that session. If you decide not to graduate on your assigned date please send an immediate cancellation request to the Student Administration Office (segscpol@unibo.it) from your institutional e-mail address. If the request is sent in due time the Student Administration Office will cancel your application and will allow you to send a different one within the deadline. No fees shall be charged in this case.
Students need to submit a new application for the next final examination session they wish to participate in. Stamp tax fees shall be charged for the new application. In the event of an increase in the graduation fees students should pay the difference. No additional fees are due.
The dissertation will cover a topic agreed with the thesis advisor at least four months before the examination session, and in any case, within the deadlines set by the degree programme regulations. Students may adjust the title within the deadline. However, they cannot change the field, the topic and the thesis advisor. Students should bear in mind that they will not be able to change the title once the thesis advisor has approved it.
Students usually choose the dissertation topic together with their thesis advisors. The choice of the research field must comply with the degree programme regulations and guidelines. Otherwise, the authorisation of the Degree Board is required. However, the topic should be consistent with the educational objectives imposed by the degree programme. If students decide to present a thesis proposal regarding a topic not covered by the courses in their degree programme they should first obtain the authorisation from the Degree Board.
Students will defend their dissertations in front of a Degree Commission, which the thesis advisor is a member of. The dates are indicated here
The thesis advisor may appoint a co-examiner from among the members of the examination commission. The co-examiner will be informed at least 15 days before the dissertation defence day.
The solemn proclamation and the announcement of the graduation results will take place on a different date, which will be indicated on your Studenti OnLine portal.
Graduation’s conference call: how guests can join the call
In order to allow your guests to take part in the graduation remotely, click on the button “Ospiti” available in the Graduation procedure on Studenti Online. You will receive an email with the credentials that should be used to log in to Teams and access the graduation virtual room. These credentials can be used by multiple people at the same time. Only after, share the link included in the invitation.
The Student Administration Office will provide the commission with the statement of results (“statino di laurea” in Italian), which contains the weighted average (unrounded) of all previous exams prior to the final examination.
The weighted average relates grades to credits. Each grade is multiplied by the corresponding amount of credits; the products are added together and the sum is divided by the total number of credits. The result is multiplied by 110 and then divided by 30. The pass/fail exams are excluded from the average calculation.
The exam statement indicates only the weighted average of the exams passed during the 2nd cycle degree programme. Therefore, the exams that students passed during a 1st cycle degree programme and were subsequently recognized for the 2nd cycle degree programme study plans are excluded.
In the case of granting a maximum grade (110/110), the Board may also grant honours (lode) by unanimous decision.
The final examination for the master's degree consists of the writing and public discussion of an original thesis by the student, on a topic consistent with the objectives of the course of study, under the guidance of a supervisor.
The dissertation must demonstrate mastery of the arguments, critical capacity, the ability to work independently and good communication skills.
The topic and structure of the final paper must be defined and agreed upon between the candidate and the supervisor.
The results are discussed in relation to the reference literature and bring elements of new conceptual and/or applicative understanding.
The supervisor - depending on the topic, research questions, method and techniques to be used in the final examination - may propose a specific structure for the thesis.
As an indication, the final thesis may take the following structure:
- Title page.
- Abstract and keywords.
- Table of contents. The table of contents lists the chapters, paragraphs and subsections into which the thesis is structured and the corresponding page number;
- Introduction. The introduction provides the reader, in a concise manner, with the key to the reading of the entire paper. What is the topic of the final paper? What were the initial hypotheses? What methodology / analysis tools / theoretical references were adopted? What difficulties were encountered (if any)? What confirmations (or denials of hypotheses)? What are the individual chapters about? What conclusions have been reached?
- Central part. This part is divided into chapters in which the chosen topic will be dealt with, organising the bibliographical materials found and one's own reflections on them in an organic and coherent manner, and any findings from the investigation conducted.
- Conclusions. The Conclusions contain the elements of synthesis of the work carried out,
especially with reference to what was initially set out to be done and possible future developments of the research.
- Bibliography. The bibliography contains a list of all the products (books, editions, articles, journal articles, other essays) consulted to compile the final dissertation and cited within the main text
Full bibliographical references should only be given in the bibliography.
Please, always refer to your supervisor for more specific indications regarding your dissertation.
The thesis score may range from a minimum of 0 (zero) points to a maximum of 6 (six) points.
The score refers to the thesis and its dissertation, not to the previous student career.
Within each bracket, the highest or lowest mark is awarded depending on the quality of the oral presentation and dissertation.
The final graduation grade is the simple sum of the average of the examinations and the final examination grade (excluding regularity points).
All degree points must be awarded (even 99 or 109).
Starting with students entrolled in academic year 2019/20, the number of "lodi" achieved in individual examinations is not directly taken into account when calculating the starting grade for the degree examination.
The 110-cum-laude is intended to reward candidates who present a particularly meritorious thesis and career. The Commission will assess all these elements.
* The type of thesis is agreed with the lecturer.
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Information about photographs and video recordings during graduation sessions (degree programmes and PhDs).
