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Università degli Studi di Parma Università degli Studi di Parma
Degree course in
Political science and international relations
Università degli Studi di Parma
Department of Law, Politics and International Studies

Thesis/Final examination

A degree in Political Science and International Relations requires the preparation and presentation of a thesis prepared under the guidance of a supervisor, possibly also in the context of a study experience abroad.
Information on the final examination can be found in the degree course regulations.

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Thesis preparation

The Degree Course periodically organises a thesis preparation course, aimed at providing students with the indispensable methodological criteria for drafting of the thesis, as well as the necessary skills for retrieving and selecting materials and citing content correctly.  
The course usually takes place in February and September each year, and consists of two two-hour meetings.
The course is taught by a researcher or research grant holder from the Department of Law, Politics and International Studies on a rotating basis.
Attendance on the course is not compulsory, so students who are unable to attend will be advised by the supervisor to make use of appropriate reference material, including computerised material (slides and video recordings), made available via the Degree Course website.
 
In the A.Y. 2021/2022, the thesis preparation course was held on the following dates:

In addition, two further meetings were held in connection with the preparation of the thesis in the historical field and in the socio-economic field:
historical field
18 May 17:00 - supervisors: Prof. Umberto Castagnino Berlinghieri and Prof. Fabio Corigliano Socio-economic field
23 May 11.00 a.m. - supervisor: Prof. Giacomo Degli Antoni and Prof. Michela Semprebon
 
For the A.Y. 2022/2023 meetings are scheduled in the following periods:

⇒ Thesis preparation course, more details on the Central Library website

Characteristics of the final examination

The final examination consists of the writing and discussion of a paper on a topic related to a course unit on the degree course. In this test, the student must demonstrate the ability to analyse a theme agreed with the supervisor based on the relevant scientific literature and using, where possible, a multidisciplinary approach. The final examination awards 8 ECTS credits.

Conduct of the final examination

The degree in Political Science and International Relations is obtained after passing a final examination, which consists of the writing and discussion of a paper, no less than 50 pages, on a topic related to a course unit on the degree course. In this test, the student must demonstrate the ability to analyse a problem inherent to the field of one of the disciplines of the degree course, starting from the relevant scientific literature and using, where possible, a multidisciplinary approach.
The final examination awards 8 ECTS credits.
The final test is divided into an inquiry phase and a proclamation phase.
The preliminary stage consists of the presentation and discussion of the final dissertation by the graduating student before the examining committee. The examining committee consists of a minimum of three members.
The proclamation phase, which follows the preliminary stage, consists of all candidates being summoned to a representation room before the proclamation committee. The proclamation committee, consisting of seven members and three substitute members, meeting in plenary session, proclaims the candidates.
The mark awarded in the final examination will be calculated on the basis of the weighted average of the examinations taken by the graduating students as communicated by the Student Registry Office, as a mark out of 110. The graduation committee may add up to seven points to the weighted average on the basis of the evaluation of the thesis and the discussion of the final examination. A student who obtains a degree in Political Science and International Relations within the third academic year is awarded an additional point, to be added to the average of the course-unit examinations and the points awarded by the Graduation Committee to the work of drafting and discussing the thesis. Students enrolled as of the 2017/2018 academic year who have been awarded at least 6 ECTS credits acquired abroad as part of one of the Department's internationalisation programmes will be awarded an additional point.
There are at least three graduation sessions per academic year.
Please refer to the Degree Course Regulations for further details.

AlmaLaurea Questionnaire

Graduating students must complete the AlmaLaurea questionnaire: ⇒ AlmaLaurea Questionnaire for Graduating Students 
The questionnaire allows students to contribute, with their own judgement, to improving the University, to guiding future students and to carrying out surveys to monitor how the professionalism of graduates fits into the world of work.