Final exam

Didactic Regulations A.A. 2025/26

Art. 8 – Final exam

The final exam will consist of the discussion of a written work, in English language, prepared by the student under the guide of a supervisor teacher, in front of a Committee of teachers that will evaluate contents and exposition capabilities. The dissertation thesis will deal with a theme concerning one or more disciplines of the educational path. The programme of study foresees a final exam with a strong experimental and innovative character, that might stimulate the graduates to carry out the work from the beginning with a critical spirit, also under the guide of the supervisor and of eventual other co-supervisors.

To have access to the final exam, and to acquire the related 4 credits, the student must have gained all CFU foreseen by this didactic regulation, unless those of the exam itself. The student must present to the didactic secretary of the CdS the form requiring the dissertation thesis, fully compiled as concerns the student career and the part proposing the topic on which develop the work, validated by the supervisor.

The bachelor degree will be conferred by the Committee, made up of at least seven teachers. The Committee is usually chaired by the Coordinator, but in his/her absence it will be chaired by the eldest permanent teacher. The final vote will be expressed in 110mi. Computation of the bachelor degree vote follows these regulations, approved by the Council of the Course of Study. If the highest grade is achieved, by unanimous decision of the Commission, laude may be awarded.

The final exams will take place over at least four sessions, distributed as follows: from May to July; from October to December; from February to April. At the beginning of the academic year, the Council predisposes the calendar of the sessions for the dissertation thesis to be approved. Following adequately motivated request by a congruous number of students, additional thesis sessions may be scheduled.

The final exam consists of the preparation of an experimental written work and in the oral presentation of the results. The student has at disposal a format prepared by the Council, useful to uniformize the style of redaction of the dissertation thesis, and that includes some suggestions. The format can be downloaded at the website of the Course of Study in the area 'Students', section 'Set of forms'.

Fifteen days before the degree session, the student, by using the telematic platform Bibliotela, will deliver the final work that will be submitted to the supervisor for approval. The Coordinator will inform the Committee of the delivering. The thesis remains at disposal of all the teachers of the Course of Study to allow evaluation of its content. The possible observations by the teachers will be given to the Coordinator that will inform the Committee. Some days before the session, the Coordinator calls the students in Aula Magna to provide suggestions useful to the session.

The final exam represents an important individual didactic occasion to complete the course of studies. In order to obtain the Bachelor Degree in Earth System and Global Changes, the student will have to discuss orally a dissertation in front of a degree commission, nominated according to the current dispositions. The discussion will take place in Aula Magna, with a 10-minutes power-point presentation, during which the student will illustrate the main results obtained. The discussion is open to the public.

Once the discussion is completed, the degree Commission gathers behind closed doors, and, after the opinion of the supervisor, and those of other members of the Commission, attributes the vote to the student. In particular, there is a 1 point award if the student has regularly completed his/her educational path; attribution of the laude, when the student reaches a vote of at least 110/110, is at the Commission discretion, and in any case the unanimity is required. If the student reaches a vote of at least 117/110, and is not fuori corso (not completed the exams in the set time period) for more than 1 year, in addition to the laude the Commission considers the plaudit, too.

After the decision, the Committee goes back in the Aula Magna, and the Coordinator carries out the proclamation.