Careers - PhD programmes
Research and studying period abroad: how to obtain the economic support
The scholarship amount is increased by 50% for any periods of study or research abroad, which must be previously authorized by the Course Coordinator and supported by a certificate from the host institution, for a period not exceeding 12 months.
To obtain the increase, BEFORE DEPARTURE you must submit your travel authorization request for study or research abroad by accessing InfoStud and following the instructions on the platform: the Coordinator will then validate your request.
Upon returning from the trip, to have the increase recognized, it is essential to upload on the platform a certificate from the host institution/university
Please note: No other documents need to be uploaded on the platform!
If the period abroad exceeds one month, you may submit a request for the increase within the platform at the end of each individual month of stay, uploading the certification from the host institution relating to the specific period.
The scholarship increase for trips abroad can be granted to PhD candidates until the end of the scholarship period and, for PhD candidates without a scholarship from the 38th cycle onwards, for the entire three-year period. The increase is not granted for the period between the conclusion of the three-year course— or its extension — and the date of the final thesis defense.
The financial support mentioned above is compatible and cumulative with other scholarships granted by national and international institutions that support integrating PhD activities with stays abroad, as well as with funding from the MUR Youth Fund.
Enrolment in PhD Programmes
You will find enrolment information on the following pages:
SUSPENSIONS, EXTENSIONS, AUTHORIZATIONS FOR WORK/OTHER ACTIVITIES, TRAVEL: How to submit requests
According to Articles 15 and 16-bis of the Regulations for PhDs, it is possible to submit a request for suspension, extension, or authorization for work activities by accessing InfoStud and following the instructions in the PHD PROGRAMMES section of the portal.
It is also possible to submit a request for authorization to undertake trips for study and research purposes on the same platform, following the instructions provided on the system or by clicking on the following link: travel request instructions.
REPORT OF ANNUAL ACTIVITIES
At the end of each academic year, every PhD student enrolled in years following the first must submit, under their own responsibility, the reporting form accessible via Infostud. This form certifies the completed training activities, attended seminars, periods spent abroad, and publications resulting from research activities.
Download the circular for the academic year 2023/2024.
PASSAGE TO THE NEXT YEAR OF THE PHD PROGRAM
At the end of each academic year, once the passage to the next year is approved by the Teaching Board:
-all PhD students, both with and without scholarships, must pay the regional fee of €140.00 and the stamp duty of €16.00, through the payment slip downloadable from Infostud.
PhD students with a recognized disability of no less than 66%, or with disability recognition under Article 3, paragraph 3, or paragraph 1, of Law No. 104 of February 5, 1992, are exempt from the regional fee but not from the stamp duty.
If the regional fee and stamp duty are not paid by the established deadline, the academic career and/or the payment of PhD scholarship installments will be suspended until the administrative position is regularized.
ADMISSION AND COMPLETION OF THE FINAL EXAM
According to Article 18, paragraph 1, of the new Regulations, three annual sessions are established for the awarding of the PhD title.
Download the circular with the requirements and corresponding deadlines.
PROCEDURES TO OBTAIN THE PHD TITLE
Before the discussion of the final exam, it is mandatory to complete the Almalaurea questionnaire. The receipt of completion must be submitted to the examination committee so that it can be attached to the minutes of the final exam.
After the discussion of the final exam, in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 11, of Ministerial Decree dated April 30, 1999, prot. no. 224/1999, it is mandatory to deposit the PhD thesis in the IRIS catalogue. This aims to provide visibility to the research results achieved during the PhD years and allows the National Libraries of Rome and Florence to directly retrieve, archive, and permanently preserve the theses.
To access IRIS, it is necessary to have an institutional email account and follow the instructions outlined in the Guidelines for the Submission of PhD Theses in IRIS.
Archiving of PhD Theses in the IRIS Catalogue
After the discussion of the final exam, within 15 days, the PhD graduate is required to deposit an open-access copy of their thesis in electronic format in the University database, which will handle its transmission to the National Libraries of Rome and Florence (Article 18, paragraph 10 of the Regulations on PhD Programs).
Therefore, it is necessary to archive the PhD thesis in the IRIS catalogue to ensure the visibility of the research outcomes achieved during the doctoral studies.
To access IRIS, you must have an institutional email account in the format name.surname@uniroma1.it and follow the instructions provided in the Guidelines, which are also available on the Sapienza University webpage dedicated to IRIS: https://www.uniroma1.it/it/iris.
For requests regarding the restriction of parts of the thesis and/or an embargo (maximum of 12 months), there is a specific form available. This form must be submitted to the Academic Board via the Course Coordinator within a timeframe that allows compliance with the deposit obligations. The approved form must then be submitted together with the thesis at the time of the upload on IRIS to gruppo-pubblicazioni@uniroma1.it.
Joint Thesis Supervision: What It Is and How to Request It
Joint thesis supervision allows PhD students, enrolled at Sapienza University or foreign universities, to prepare their PhD dissertations by alternating research periods between their home university and the partner university, ultimately earning a dual degree.
Joint thesis supervision can be initiated within 18 months from the start of the PhD program through a specific agreement signed by the Rectors of the involved universities. This agreement must be approved in advance by the Academic Board of the PhD program, which will also confirm the availability of the financial resources necessary for its implementation.
For more information, please visit the dedicated page.
DIS-COLL Unemployment Benefit under Law 87/2017
As of July 1, 2017, the DIS-COLL unemployment benefit has been extended to include PhD scholarship holders and research fellows.
To learn about the eligibility requirements and how to submit an application, please refer to INPS Circular No. 115.
Diplomas
All diplomas for awarded PhD titles up to December 31, 2022, are available for collection. The diploma can be picked up at the PhD office during the following days and hours: Monday and Friday: 08:30am - 12:00pm, Tuesday and Thursday: 02:30pm – 04:30pm
Those who earned the title by December 31, 2016 must provide a valid identification document and a revenue stamp (marca da bollo) worth €16.00.
Those who earned the title after December 31, 2016 must provide a valid identification document and a proof of payment of the virtual revenue stamp (imposta di bollo virtuale) worth €16.00.
For those who earned the title from January 1, 2023, onward, the issuance of the diploma is subject to payment of the virtual revenue stamp. The diploma will generally be available for collection starting from the 10th day of the month following payment, after an email confirmation from the relevant offices.
For the payment of the virtual revenue stamp, you must log in to Infostud, select "PhD," and click on "Other payments" in the left menu.
The payment of the €16.00 stamp duty must be delivered via the Pago PA system. Two payment methods are available: a direct payment and the download of the payment notice (avviso di pagamento) to complete the transaction through any payment provider. It is recommended to pay using a credit card for immediate processing. If payment is made through a bank, processing time will depend on banking procedures.
If you encounter difficulties downloading the payment notice, contact the PhD Office at ufficio.dottorato@uniroma1.it for assistance. Spontaneous payments are discouraged, as they may be difficult to trace and associate with the correct reason for payment.
If you authorize someone else to collect your diploma on your behalf, the delegate must present a signed proxy letter (delega) and a copy of the delegator's valid identification document.
Duplicate of the Diploma in Case of Loss or Theft
The diploma certifying the conferment of the PhD title is issued as a single original copy. In case of loss, theft, or destruction, a duplicate can be requested by submitting a €16.00 revenue stamp (marca da bollo), the original report documenting the loss or theft and the receipt of the €75.00 payment issued by the PhD Office.
Doctor Europeus
The additional certification of “Doctor Europaeus” may be issued by the University, upon request of the PhD candidate and subject to approval by the Academic Board, provided that the following four conditions are met:
- The evaluations of the thesis work must be written by at least two professors from two different European universities other than the one where the thesis is defended;
- At least one member of the examining committee must come from a European country different from the one where the thesis is defended;
- Part of the defense must be conducted in one of the official European languages different from that of the country where the thesis is defended;
- The research presented in the thesis must have been carried out, at least in part, during a stay of at least 3 months in a European country different from that of the PhD candidate.
The procedure for issuing the certification is as follows:
1. The PhD candidate must submit a request to the Course Coordinator before admission to the final exam;
2. Upon receiving the request, the Coordinator must send to the PhD Office – courses and careers sector, before admission to the final exam, the resolution of the Academic Board and, subsequently, the extract of the Department Council resolution proposing the appointment of the Committee; both documents must clearly show that the required conditions for the certification have been met;
3. Once the Committee for the awarding of the degree is appointed, the Coordinator must send to the Committee, before the thesis defense date, the resolution of the Academic Board mentioned above.
Operating Fund for the PhD Program and How to Use It
The University annually determines the amount of a budget to be used for research activities in Italy and abroad and for the proper functioning of the PhD Programs.
Eligible expense categories include:
- PhD student mobility
- Reimbursement of expenses for external members of examination committees
- Conferences and seminars
- Inventory materials necessary for PhD activities
- Consumable materials
- Postal expenses and consumables for conducting competitions
- Informational and promotional materials and/or services
PhD candidates may request their Coordinator to use this fund for documented research and mobility needs until the final exam discussion. The operating fund is held at the Department associated with the PhD Program; the Department is responsible for reporting the expenses every 12 months.
TRAVEL: requirements and instructions to follow BEFORE departure
To request travel authorization, you must log in to InfoStud and, in the PHD section, submit the related request by following the instructions available on the platform.
The travel request on InfoStud must be submitted for ALL trips and must be done BEFORE departure, as it is necessary for the annual reporting of all doctoral activities, including study and research trips undertaken, as well as for requesting an increase in the scholarship in case of trips abroad.
Insurance Policies Covering PhD Students
All PhD students at the University are covered by the following insurance policies:
- Accident Policy (Polizza Infortuni): Policy no. 77.176966426, signed with Unipol Sai S.p.a.
- Third-Party Liability/Employer Liability Policy (Polizza RCT/RCO): Policy no. 65.176966423, signed with Unipol Sai S.p.a.
Both policies are valid from 12:00 AM on October 31, 2023, until 12:00 AM on October 31, 2026.
The full terms and conditions of the policies are available at the following link:
https://www.uniroma1.it/it/pagina/polizze-assicurative-studenti.
The policies are also valid for activities conducted at external locations and abroad, with a formal authorization approved by the PhD Program Coordinator.
On the webpage above, you can also find a pre-filled self-declaration form (Dichiarazione sostitutiva di atto notorio) containing the insurance policy details, which may be presented if requested.
For health insurance, each PhD student should check with their local health authority (ASL) regarding the reciprocity of Italian healthcare services. Alternatively, they can activate the RSMO - OUTGOING section health insurance policy.
Details about the RSMO Incoming/Outgoing Policy (Policy no. 40369Q), signed with EUROP ASSISTANCE ITALIA S.p.a., can be downloaded and reviewed in full at the following link:
https://www.uniroma1.it/it/pagina/copertura-assicurativa-il-rimborso-delle-spese-mediche-derivanti-da-malattia-ed-infortuni.