A) Methods for carrying out the doctoral exam

Without prejudice to any different provisions that may be received by the University Bodies or by higher regulations and provisions, the final examinations for the achievement of the Ph.D. title will take place in the following ways for the entire duration of the current health emergency:

1. All candidates will take the exam electronically;

2. The entire Commission will carry out the work electronically;

B) Attendance of the departments / laboratories

Without prejudice to any different provisions that may be received by the University Bodies or by higher regulations and provisions, doctoral students will be able to access the facilities and laboratories only if there are circumstances of extraordinary need, to be assessed under the responsibility of the tutor and the Director of the Department. Doctoral students who are required to be present at the facilities and laboratories must be issued with a specific motivated authorization by the Director of the Department or laboratory, so that the doctoral student, should he/she find himself having to justify his/her movement on the national territory, can demonstrate that, despite the legal status that qualifies him as a "student", he is in a position to self-certify the existence of "proven work needs" as required by the Prime Ministerial Decree of 9 March 2020. Furthermore, in the face of urgent laboratory activities that cannot be postponed, it is necessary to comply with the safety rules already amply illustrated and, at the same time, to work to finish the activities as soon as possible, so that the doctoral student can return and stay at his / her own residence.

C) Mobility of incoming and outgoing PhD students

Without prejudice to any different provisions that may be received by the University bodies or by higher regulations and provisions, for the period of validity of the health emergency, mobility abroad, which has not yet started, is suspended. In the event that at the end of the emergency it is possible to resume mobility and take advantage of any funding assigned, the latter will still be disbursed. In the event that the previously assigned mobility grants and / or scholarships for mobility are not available due to the expiry of the term of use of the specific loan, the loss of the benefit will be taken into account as a priority for future assignments. Foreign doctoral students currently present in Unife and who for security reasons wished to return home, must request authorization from the Teaching Body which will have to evaluate the possibility or not of continuing the research activities by the interested party. In case of manifest impossibility to continue the research during the period of secondment from the University structures, the doctoral program and the relative scholarship will be suspended. With regard to the frequency of research laboratories and / or research facilities present on the national territory in temporary mobility for the purpose of developing research activities, what is reported in point B.

The IUSS Director

Prof. Massimo Coltorti

As from 01/07/2022, the scholarship (grant) for the University of Ferrara amounts to € 16.243,00 per year. (Italian Ministerial Decree No. 247 dated 23/02/2022)

N.B.: As of 1st January 2022 the contribution rates are 35,03% (for people who have not taken out any other forms of compulsory pension schemes).

• How can I check how much I have been credited with?

Monthly reports on the scholarship (grant) disbursement are published online, a few days before the payment is made. They can be consulted, together with the annual summary of the certifications for the Gestione Separata (Italian Separate National Insurance and Pension Scheme of Inps - Italian Social Security Authority), by accessing,  the reserved area where electronic payslips are published with your username. When salary coupons or other documents are published, an e-mail from stipendi@unife.it will inform interested parties of the presence of a new document available for consultation, and a link will provide direct access to be able to both view and download it. The e-mail is sent to your incoming mail box issued together with the password by the Helpdesk and Administration Services Unit. The system guarantees absolute confidentiality of data access. 
Here you can find a Guide to Payslip Consultation.

• Who is entitled to it, what is its duration and when is it paid?

The scholarships (grants), the number of which is stated for each PhD degree course in the relevant call for applications, are awarded following a comparative assessment of merit and in the order defined in the respective rankings. In the event of equal merit, the assessment of the economic situation determined in accordance with the Decree of the Italian President of the Council of Ministers dated 9th April 2001 published in Official Gazette No.172 dated 26/07/2001 will prevail. The annual amount of the scholarship (grant) is € 15,343.28, which is subject to the Gestione Separata contribution (Italian Separate National Insurance and Pension Scheme of Inps - Italian Social Security Authority),.
The duration of the scholarship (grant) is equal to the entire duration of the course (36 months).
The frequency of payment of the scholarship (grant) is deferred monthly.
The amount of the scholarship (grant) is increased by 50% for any period of residence abroad, up to a maximum of 18 months, except in the case of special agreements.

The supplement is paid at the end of the period spent abroad.
A person who has been awarded a scholarship for a PhD degree course, even for only one year or part of a year, may not apply for it a second time.
The scholarship (grant) cannot be combined with scholarships (grants) of any other kind whatsoever, except with those granted by national or foreign institutions to supplement the research activities of the scholarship holder through stays abroad.
Holders of research grants and non-EU scholarship (grant) holders awarded by the Italian government or the government awarded by their country of origin who have won the competition are admitted to the PhD programme without a scholarship (grant), even if the PdD course continues beyond the period covered by the research grant or scholarship.
In the event of scholarships (grants) not being awarded to successful candidates, they will be awarded to eligible candidates in the order of their ranking.

• Do I have to file a tax return?

It is important to specify immediately that the PhD research grant, regardless of its amount and of what is written on the criteria of the various tax declaration forms, is exempt from local income tax and from IRPEF (Personal Income Tax (Art. 4 of Law No. 476 dated 13/8/1984 and Art. 6 of Law No. 398 dated 30th November 1989). With regard to the obligation to submit a tax return (equivalent of the Italian 730 and UNICO forms), a taxpayer whose only income is a PhD scholarship (grant) is not required to submit a tax return. However, it is advisable to check this directly each year in the instructions either on the form or on the website of the Italian Inland Revenue website.

• What is the tax and social security treatment relating to the PhD scholarship (grant)?

The scholarship (grant) is not subject to IRPEF (Personal Income) taxation (Art. 4 of L. 476/84; Art. 6, paragraph 6 of L. 398/89), it is however necessary to submit the CU form.
A total pension contribution of 34.23% is due on the scholarship (grant), with the scholarship holder paying 11.41% of the instalment, while for those who pay contributions into other social security funds (e.g. the compulsory ones for those registered with a professional association) the INPS withholding tax rate is reduced. Contributions are automatically deducted from the monthly payment and paid by the University directly to the competent (INPS) social security authority.

• Do I need to submit any documentation to be able to benefit from the scholarship (grant)?

The opening of a social security account with INPS (Italian Social Security Authority) is required and the submission of the forms downloadable from the internet page dedicated to said forms.

• Can its amount be increased under special conditions?

The amount may be increased by the internal doctoral regulations.
In addition, the amount is increased by 50% for periods of stay abroad for reasons relating to the research grant, upon presentation of appropriate documentation, up to a maximum of 18 months, except in the case of special agreements.
The supplement is paid at the end of the period spent abroad.

• When and how are payments made?

As from 2014, the scholarship (grant) has been divided into 12 deferred monthly payments, paid on the 24th of the month following the reference period.

• What happens to the scholarship (grant) when the PhD course is interrupted?

The PhD regulations state that if you interrupt the PhD course, either voluntarily or because you have not been admitted to the following year by the Board of Lecturers, you are no longer entitled to receive the scholarship (grant). The scholarship (grant) for the period already completed does not have to be returned.

• Is a PhD student without a scholarship (grant) required to attend lectures?

A PhD student without a scholarship (grant) has the exact same obligations as a PhD student awarded with a scholarship (grant). He/she is also required to attend lectures, and to carry out research as determined by his/her Board of Lecturers.

• Are there any tax exemptions for PhD students?

Yes, the annual fee for enrolment on PhD courses is determined on the basis of the Indicatore della Situazione Economica Equivalente (ISEE) (Equivalent Economic Situation Indicator) and the Indicatore della Situazione Patrimoniale Equivalente (ISPE) (Equivalent Financial Situation Indicator) provided for in Article 1-bis of  Italian Prime Ministerial Decree No. 221 dated 7th May 1999 et seq.  For details of the tax reductions, see the Ufficio Diritto allo Studio (Right to Study Office)

• Can the scholarship (grant) be combined with other scholarships (grants) awarded?

The scholarship (grant) (in accordance with Law 398/1989) cannot be combined with scholarships (grants) of any other kind whatsoever, except with those granted by national or foreign institutions to supplement the research activities of the scholarship (grant) holder through stays abroad.

• Submission of the individual budget plan no later than30th November

• Membership renewal: From 2nd to 30th November
• Payment of the 1st instalment: From 2nd to 30th November
• Payment of the 2nd instalmentno later than 15th May

• Payment of the 1st instalment (for first-year students only): see call for applications
• Payment of the 2nd instalment (for first-year students only): no later than 31st January
• Payment of the 3rd instalment (for first-year students only): no later than 15th May

• Submitting an application for fee reduction no later than 15th May
• Final examination see dedicated page

Since printing on A4 size sheets (21 x 29.7 cm) is mandatory, we suggest you to layout the text by setting the following dimensions (using the "Word" program for Windows you can access the setting of the margins through the window: File / Set page.). Please note, these are general indications and not mandatory parameters:

• Top margin: 2 cm
• Bottom margin: 2 cm
• Left margin: 3 cm
• Right margin: 2.5 cm
• Distance from the edge - footer: 1.25 cm (to allow you to have the page numbers in the correct position)

The body of the text of the paragraphs could respect the following formats:

• Font type: "Times New Roman" or "Arial" (depending on personal preference);
• Font size 12 or 11 points;
• Leading: single or 1.5 lines. It is advisable to leave more spacing between one paragraph and another;
• Alignment: justified;
• Returns: none

The first page has to be the same of the cover of the thesis (see online model), and must contain the following information:

• University of Ferrara
• Name of the doctoral course
• Course coordinator
• Thesis title
• Scientific disciplinary sector
• Name and surname of the student (with original signature)
• Tutor's name and surname (with original signature)
• Years of the doctorate

The copy of the thesis

It is intended for deposit in the University Archives and is the only one to which the University will refer to issue, upon your request, the declaration of conformity of any copies for administrative use. Furthermore, this paper copy is intended for perennial storage in the archive for historical purposes. You will also have to prepare a thesis file intended for the University Archives which will be published in the institutional open access archive after the achievement of the PhD title or at the expiry of the embargo period (the same file will be transmitted by Unife to the legal deposit at the Central National Libraries of Rome and Florence). Abstract

Summary

Statement of the thesis work carried out, both in Italian and in English: it must be written in 2 separate files from the thesis (one for each language). Abstracts should not be reported on the hard copy.

Declaration of conformity

It must be completed in all its parts, bound with the paper copy of the thesis and signed according to the instructions contained therein. It is also necessary to scan it to be included in the IT platform.

Declaration of conformity with thesis embargo request

This document must also be completed in every part, bound with the paper copy of the thesis and signed according to the instructions contained therein and must be presented only if strictly necessary, for example for any prior agreements with publishers or for presence in the thesis of patent data to be protected; in essence, you can request the application of some limitations to the access of your thesis with the postponement of its online consultation for a period from 6 to 36 months, specifying the Embargo Reason in the declaration (provided for in the cases of:

1. Thesis in course of publication, 2. Thesis subject to agreement with third parties, 3. Public safety reasons, 4. Privacy, 5. Protection of intellectual property).

Thesis filing and consultation

The electronic versions of the thesis will be deposited by the University at the Central National Libraries where it will be available on PCs without peripherals; at the institutional archive of the University with open access (http://www.unife.it/ricerca/banche-dati/iris), which will guarantee its conservation and public consultation, and will also be available in paper format at the University Archive. The embargoed thesis will be made available at the end of the embargo period.

Copyright

You have to pay close attention to all aspects concerning copyright; we invite you to carefully read the document prepared in 2007 by the Open Access group of the CRUI Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities. By depositing the thesis in the open access institutional archive of the University, as the author you keep all copyright, moral and economic rights on it, in accordance with current legislation (Law 633/1941 and subsequent amendments and additions). Furthermore, the publication of your thesis in the open access institutional archive becomes a guarantee for you as it certifies the date and intellectual property of your work, and also allows you to circulate your name and the results of your work in the scientific world.

To the right of the page, you will also find the link to some useful guides for those who are preparing to obtain the PhD title: deadlines, technical indications for the correct drafting of the thesis, Crui guidelines and regulatory provisions.

Students are admitted to doctoral courses after a selection established by a call for applications.

PhD courses for the cycle 39 at Università di Ferrara - a.y. 2023/2024

Courses in agreement with other Italian Universities:

• Evolutionary biology and ecology: Administrative headquarter and competion 2023/24 at the University of Florence (UniFi)

• Economics and management of innovation and sustainability: Administrative headquarter and competion  2023/24 at the University of Parma (UniPr)

→ Go to the Call of University of Parma

National Interest Courses in which the University of Ferrara participates:

• "Regulation, Management and Law of Public Sector Organizations" - Università del Salento

• "Sviluppo Sostenibile e Cambiamento Climatico" - IUSS Pavia (News)
• "Space Science and Technology" - Università di Trento
• "Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience" - Università di Camerino
• "Learning Sciences and Digital Technologies" - Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia
• "Defense against natural risks and ecological transition of built environment" - Università degli Studi di Catania
• "Life Course Research" - Università degli Studi di Firenze
• “Immagine, linguaggio, figura. Forme e modi della mediazione” - Università degli Studi di Milano
• “Catalisi” - Università degli Studi di Perugia
• Scientific, Technological and Social Methods Enabling Circular Economy - Università degli Studi di Padova

Courses in associated form

Capacities Building for Global Health, sede amministrativa Università degli studi di Cagliari (con l’Università di Salerno, l’Università di Ferrara e l’Università di Palermo)

Expiring Courses

• Biomedical sciences and biotechnology

• Molecular Medicine

The PhD degree course may be suspended for up to a maximum of one year (at the same time the scholarship (grant) is also suspended) in case of maternity leave or serious documented illness or, in case of gaining employment, following completion of the duly documented trial period. In such cases, the PhD student is admitted to the same course year for the following academic year. For periods of suspension of less than 6 months, the PhD student is given the opportunity to make up the missed period of attendance following the favourable judgement passed by the Board of Lecturers. In all cases of suspension, it is possible to pay the balance of the enrolment fees already paid for the same course year.

• Maternity Leave:

The PhD may be "frozen" in the event of maternity/paternity leave. The suspension may last for varying periods of time, even less than a year. PhD students are entitled to a maternity allowance if they have received at least three months' contribution credits over the 12 months preceding the two months prior to the expected date of birth (see the INPS website and, in particular, the section dedicated to Maternity leave for semi-subordinate students/workers ).

Starting with the XXIX Cycle, in application of the new teaching regulations of the University and the Decree of the Minister of Labour and Social Security dated 12th July 2007 - the Maternity Protection Act, the PhD course is suspended, subject to the submission of a specific request, starting from the two months prior to the expected date of birth and for the following three months, or, starting from the month prior to the expected date of childbirth and for the following four months. Upon request, maternity leave may be extended for a total of one year per event. The PhD student retains the entitlement to the scholarship (grant), unless the said grant is interrupted and then recovered on resumption of attendance, it being understood that the years of scholarship (grant) must not exceed the duration of the course itself. During the months of suspension due to pregnancy, scholarship (grant) holders shall receive a maternity allowance from INPS (Italian National Social Security Institute); at the end of the period of suspension, the University shall resume payment of the scholarship (grant), which shall also be extended to the period that the PhD student shall have to make up for.

• How to suspend a PhD degree course:

In order to suspend the PhD degree course, and consequently “freeze” the scholarship (grant), it is necessary to submit to the following document to the to dottrato@unife.it: Suspension of Studies. This is a communication signed by the PhD student - and countersigned by the Co-ordinator which must also be handed in to the aforementioned office on resumption of the PhD degree course.

Doctoral students who intend to carry out study periods abroad must present a special authorization, signed by the Coordinator or the Tutor, to the Doctorate Office before departure. If the stay is equal to or longer than six months, the approval of the Academic Board is also required. For scholarship holders, there is also an increase of fifty percent in the scholarship for each day of stay abroad that is duly certified.

Before leaving

the required documentation consists of a form completed and signed by the doctoral student, and countersigned by the Coordinator of the Research Doctorate or by the Tutor when the continuous stay is less than six months. If the continuous stay is equal to or longer than six months, the Academic Board must officially approve it, and the date of the resolution must be indicated on the form.

Please note that the obligation to present this authorization to the Doctorate Office applies to both scholarship holders and those who do not receive it.

• Research abroad request_PhD with Scholarship
• Research abroad request_PhD without Scholarship

Upon returning

All doctoral students must submit a certification to the Doctorate Office within 15 days of their return to Italy regarding the period of study conducted abroad. This certification must be issued by the foreign institution where the stay took place and should indicate the start and end dates of the study period abroad. Alternatively, a declaration signed by the Coordinator or Tutor can be submitted.

Rientro frequenza all'estero (per studenti con e senza borsa)