Conduct of the final examination
In order to obtain the degree of Doctor of Biology, the student must first take a final examination (graduation examination), after passing all the examinations and other educational activities. The final examination normally takes place in July, October, December and April of each academic year. Admission requirements, application procedures, notices and the calendar of sessions are published on the CoS website. The Examination Board for the final examination is appointed by the Rector on the recommendation of the President of the School of Studies. It is composed of a minimum of five members, the majority of whom must be full professors, and is chaired by the President of the School of Studies or his delegate. The President of the Graduation Committee is responsible for ensuring the orderly conduct of the examination. The President also appoints a Secretary from among the members of the Commission to be responsible for recording the proceedings of the final examination.
The procedures for the conduct and assessment of the final examination are laid down as follows: at the end of the practical-application training (internship), the undergraduate student must submit a short written report to the Degree Course Delegate for Practical Training in which he/she describes the methods used and the main results obtained. Subsequently, before the Degree Committee (which includes his supervisor and assistant supervisor, if any), he presents and discusses the methodologies applied and the results obtained during his internship. The maximum time available to the student for the oral presentation is 10 minutes, during which they may use computer aids. The Commission may ask the student questions aimed in particular at verifying the autonomy achieved in the development of practical internship experience. The Board collectively assesses the student's ability to expound and critically discuss the issues related to the presentation and awards a maximum score of 5 points for the final examination, to be added to the arithmetic mean of the student's career marks, to which the following marks may be added 3 points if the student graduates in the current year, 2 points if the student graduates in the first year outside prescribed time for course completion. If the candidate obtains the highest mark, honours may be awarded in the unanimous opinion of the committee. The final mark is expressed in one hundred tenths, irrespective of the number of members of the selection board. The examination is passed with the attainment of at least sixty-six / one hundred tenths (66/110). The proclamation is made by the President of the Degree Committee by proxy received from the Magnifico Rettore. Registration for the final examination must be carried out exclusively online, as described on the degree course website.