Missions
For off-site training or research needs (such as conferences, workshops, summer schools, or consultation of archival and/or bibliographic materials), PhD students can apply for a “mission” through the appropriate form. These requests must be approved by the Coordinator of the PhD Course and sent to the missioni@sp.unipi.it address at least eight days before the scheduled departure date. According to the dedicated regulations, once the mission has been completed, the PhD student must submit to the administration all supporting documentation for the expenses for which they are requesting reimbursement.
Period abroad
All PhD students are invited to spend at least three months at high-level research institutes abroad during the second and/or third year of the course. For stays abroad, the scholarship amount is increased by 50% in proportion to the number of days spent at the host institution. Each period must be at least 15 consecutive days; the maximum period eligible for the increase is 18 months.
For further information and forms, please refer to the dedicated webpage.
Co-tutorship
The PhD in Political Science actively participates in the internationalization process promoted by the University through numerous co-tutorship agreements with prestigious foreign universities. The co-supervision of doctoral theses represents a particular form of internationalization that allows for the issuance of a double or joint degree, which is recognized in both partner countries. The co-tutorship course will enable students to learn about the realities of two university and scientific systems, expand and deepen their linguistic and intercultural skills, and encourage the mobility of doctoral students.
The doctoral thesis in co-tutorship is developed under the joint supervision of two thesis directors, one at the University of Pisa and the other at the foreign University. The discussion of the thesis is conducted once and takes place at a single location.
The requirements for a co-tutorship path are:
- a regularized position with respect to university fees (only for outgoing co-tutorships);
- the approval of the Academic Board of the PhD Course;
- the obligation to carry out research in alternating periods in the two universities, according to the procedures defined in the agreement;
- the stipulation of a co-tutorship agreement.
The application for the activation of the co-tutorship, drawn up according to the relevant facsimile available on the dedicated page, must be submitted to the PhD Unit by the Thesis Director of the University of Pisa.
The co-tutorship agreement cannot be stipulated in the last year of the course, applies to a single doctoral student, and specifies the following conditions agreed upon between the two universities:
- the performance of research activities;
- the university contribution that will be paid to one of the two universities (usually the place of first enrolment), except the annual regional tax that the doctoral student must pay every year to the University of Pisa;
- the final exam, the examining committee, and the issuance of the qualification.
Doctor Europaeus Certification
To promote and facilitate the international cooperation of doctoral courses, the University of Pisa also issues the Doctor Europaeus certification, an additional qualification to the title of PhD, which the University issues under certain conditions.
For more information, see the dedicated webpage.