Thesis/Final examination

The final exam consists in the presentation and discussion of an original thesis under the supervision of one or more lecturers, which demonstrates the student's acquisition of a solid background of knowledge and skills in at least one of the subject areas studied during the course, as well as solid skills of independent analysis and critical reworking of data and texts.
If part of the final exam is carried out as part of an internship, it is possible for the Commission to assign part of the credits normally assigned to the final exam.

Students have to write a dissertation to graduate from the programme. Although the process can be started in the first year of the programme, it is during the second one that students are called upon to work on a research project which leading to a dissertation which has to be discussed during the final exam.

The programme allows students to gradually approach this final task by offering a unit on Academic writing in the first year and one on Research methodology in the second year, together with different opportunities to work on a research project, e.g. in relation to the internship programme, studying and training mobility, etc.

The procedures for the final examination are set out in detail in the Course Regulations.

The criteria for assessing the final examination are divided into two parts and concern the written paper:
- the ability to organise one's own reflection in an autonomous and critical manner, creating a text that meets the criteria of the academic writing methods in use in the field(s) within which the thesis is set
- the ability to make appropriate use of bibliographic documentation, consciously and autonomously sourced and selected, in line with the needs expressed by the thesis work
- the ability to select and interpret data appropriately, making them available for a coherent development of the arguments put forward in the thesis.

The quality of the oral presentation at the thesis discussion contributes to the final assessment. In particular, the criteria should include the assessment of the quality of the exposition at the linguistic-communicative level, the logical development of thought, the soundness and relevance of the argumentation of the topics covered, and the communicative interaction.

The written paper may be written in English, in Italian or in the second foreign language studied by the candidate in the course of his/her studies. In any case, the thesis will be accompanied by an extensive English-language abstract.

The final oral presentation may be given in English, in Italian or in the second foreign language studied by the candidate during the course of studies.

After approving the dissertation, the Degree Committee shall proceed to award marks in hundredths.