The program

The PhD program in Economics consists of two stages of equal importance. The first includes coursework and seminars, while the second involves the writing of a doctoral dissertation.

In theirfirst yearstudents are required to take six courses selected among the available options under the guidance of the PhD Director, taking into account the individual needs and interests of each student. The exams of these courses will have to be passed with minimum score 24/30 no later than June 15. By mid-March students will choose a field of specialization and a research supervisor with the help of the PhD Director; from then on they will work in close contact with their supervisor. In June, students will present their thesis project in the first-year PhD Forum (in 2012 it will be on June 5/6) . All doctoral students, supervisors and other members of the DSE are invited to this forum. The thesis project will consist of a max. 10-page paper to be discussed with the advisor, and of the slides of the presentation at the PhD Forum. The admission to the second year is conditional on passing all of the six courses, on receiving a positive assessment of the thesis project and of the presentation at the PhD Forum by the PhD Faculty (Collegio dei Docenti) and on active participation in the seminars and workshops organized by the DSE as explained below. Students will be informed by mid-July about their admission to the second year. Students should be aware that the admission to second year is by no means guaranteed.

During theirsecond yearstudents will choose with the help of their supervisor six more courses, consistent with their field of specialization among the available options. All second-year students are required to present a paper in the second-year PhD Forum (typically held in May): all doctoral students, supervisors and other members of the DSE are invited to the PhD Forum in which second-year students will present a complete draft of the first paper of their thesis. The admission to the third year is conditional on passing the six second-year courses (minimum score 24/30), on receiving a positive assessment of the presentation in the PhD Forum by the PhD Faculty (Collegio dei Docenti) and on active participation in the seminars and workshops organized by the DSE as explained below. Students will be informed by the end of June about their admission to the third year.

During their third year students will complete their dissertation and present a draft of their job market paper in the third-year PhD Forum (typically held in June) which - like its first- and second-year equivalent - is open to all doctoral students, supervisors and members of the DSE. The admission to the final Thesis Defense is conditional on a positive assessment of this presentation and of the entire thesis by the supervisor and the PhD Director. It must be also approved by the PhD Faculty.

In addition to coursework and PhD Forum presentations, doctoral students are also required to attend the research seminars and workshops organized by the DSE, which feature distinguished Italian and international scholars. These events are offered in order to complement courses with the most recent developments at the frontiers of economic research and to facilitate students in choosing their own research topics. Doctoral students are also required to participate in the monthly PhD meetings to be held from 1pm to 2.30pm on the first Wednesday of each month. At these meetings, students will take turns presenting and discussing the progress of their thesis work, in the presence of their supervisors. Active participation in these events will be taken into account in the assessment for promotion to the second and third year and for the admission to the Thesis Defense.

The ultimate goal of the PhD Program is the dissertation, which must prove that the candidate is capable of conducting original and valuable research. Writing a dissertation is the most difficult and rewarding part of the graduate experience. Students begin the dissertation by choosing a supervisor and a topic at the end of the first year and are encouraged to present their preliminary ideas within the monthly PhD meetings in order to receive feedback from senior Faculty members and helpful advice at an early stage of their research. Completed drafts of the thesis chapters will also be presented in the second- and third-year PhD Forums.

Usually, a PhD dissertation consists of three papers, not necessarily on strictly related topics, at least two of which must be publishable on an international refereed journal. The final Thesis Defense consists of an oral examination on the dissertation. The Thesis Committee includes three specialists in the field of the candidate, appointed by the University of Bologna, one of whom can be a member of the Department. Thesis Defense will typically take place in June/July of the fourth year: students willing to defend must apply in November and deliver the thesis in March. Since the fellowship only covers 36 months, it will normally end in September, at the beginning of the fourth year. However, the department may offer to outstanding and promising students financial support for the months between the end of the fellowship and the Thesis Defense (i.e. between September and June of the fourth year). This financial support may involve Teaching or Research Assistantship.

Annual Progress Report

Each year, by mid-June, students should fill in the progress report that can be downloadedhere
The report should be discussed with the supervisor who will then fill in his/her part. The supervisor will eventually forward the complete report to thePhD DirectorandPhD Administrator
Also these documents will be taken into consideration for promotion decisions.