Obtaining the degree
Final examination
The final examination consists of a thesis originally developed by the student under the guidance of a Thesis Supervisor, based on work completed during the internship period.
The thesis may be written in Italian or English for the Master's degree in Evolutionary Biology and the Master's degree in Marine Biology. If written in English, an extended abstract in Italian of the work carried out must also be prepared. The discussion may be conducted in English.
The thesis must be written and discussed exclusively in English for the Master's degree in Marine Biology. From the academic year 2025-2026, it must also be written in English for the Master's degree in Evolutionary Biology.
The graduate will be required to sign a "Confidentiality Agreement", according to a model approved by the Academic Senate, regarding confidential information, knowledge and materials, i.e., those not publicly accessible, which will be made available for the development of the thesis.
How to proceed
The undergraduate student must complete the on-line Graduation Application (via the Uniweb system), which involves the student entering the title of the thesis and its subsequent approval by the lecturer by computer only.
The complete online graduation application procedure can be found by following the path: www.unipd.it - “Studentesse e Studenti” (Students) - “Gestione carriera studenti” (Student career management) - “Laurearsi” (Graduation) - “Domanda di laurea” (Graduation Application).
Students are also required to check the deadlines for submitting their final dissertation to the Biology Department’s Academic Office for the period in which they intend to graduate, as indicated in the graduation notices for each period.
Score
The final graduation mark is determined by the Master’s Degree Committee by adding up:
a. the weighted average grades of the examinations of the compulsory educational activities and free-choice activities, weighted for the relevant ECTS credits and related to 110ths;
b. the grade increment, also expressed in 110ths.
The maximum grade increment is 12 points, distributed as follows:
0 to + 4 points awarded by the Thesis Supervisor;
0 to + 4 points awarded by the Co-Examiner;
0 to + 4 points awarded by the Master’s Degree Committee
If the Thesis Supervisor deems it appropriate, they shall inform the Master’s Degree Committee, as soon as it has been set up, of their intention to propose the student for honours. The honours proposal must be unanimously accepted by the Master’s Degree Committee.
The Master’s Degree Committee may award honours to students who achieve a weighted average grade of 102 and a sum of marks equal to or greater than 111.
