Final examination: modalities

The Final Examination for obtaining the Master's degree consists in a thesis that has to be written and elaborated in an original fashion by the student, and in its discussion in front of a Degree Commission.

The thesis deals with and tackles a scientific problem on a topic compatible with the objectives of the curriculum and is devoted to the recognition, evaluation and management of primary and secondary raw materials within a broader circular economy framework, eventually in combination with a strong entrepreneurial orientation. The thesis, carried out under the guidance of a supervisor, has to contain a section dealing with the phase of analysis and interpretation of the gathered data, possibly of an experimental nature, which may also include the collection of data in the field and/or in the laboratory. By the end of the Final Examination the students are expected to demonstrate that they have the ability to operate autonomously and with critical ability, and to present and discuss the results of their dissertation with clarity and full mastery.

Graduation application

To submit your application online, you must access Studenti Online before the deadlines set for the application submission and the requirements.

Admission Requirements

In order to graduate, you must have:

• sat all the exams in your study plan and had them recorded;
• paid all tuition fees;
• uploaded the dissertation in pdf format on Studenti Online. The dissertation can be uploaded multiple times, until the requirements deadline expires. When uploading the dissertation, the system will ask you to enter some key words and a brief abstract;
• compiled the Alma Laurea questionnaire on Studenti Online.

The Student Administration Office will verify all requirements and will contact you if there are any issues, to allow you to regularise your position before the final examination.

The graduation application is valid for just one graduation session. If you graduate in a later session, you will have to re-submit your graduation application and pay only the duty stamp.

Deadlines a.y. 2023/2024

One graduation session is scheduled each year. The session includes a number of dates, each with their deadlines for the submission of the graduation application, requirements and dates (dd/mm/yyyy).

The Final Examination Discussion

The thesis is discussed publicly during a specific final examination session in front of a Board with the support of slides. The Board is composed by at least three members. The student illustrates the thesis project and its results in 15 minutes, followed by a Q&A session with the Board.

The thesis is evaluated by the supervisor and the opponent who submit a written grade to the degree programme director. The evaluation of the supervisor (expressed in points out of 10) assesses the autonomy, accuracy and results. The evaluation of the opponent (expressed in point out of 10) assesses the consistency, editorial accuracy and overall methodology.

The final grade is the sum of the following evaluations:

1. grade out of one hundred and ten (/110) determined by the weighted average of the candidate;
2. +1 point if the student is completing the course during its regular duration (2 academic years);
3. average of the evaluations of the supervisor and opponent;
4. evaluation of the Board awarding from -2 to +2 points, based on the quality of the discussion and the effectiveness and accuracy of the answers of the Q&A session.

The sum of the evaluations c) and d) is rounded to the nearest whole number, expressed as out of 10. The honours (lode) is automatically granted by the Board if the sum is equal or above 113. If the sum is a grade between 110 and 113 the supervisor, the opponent or one of the members of the Board can propose the awarding of the honours, which can only be granted by unanimous decision.