Study Plan

This Doctoral Program in Computer Science is organised along three phases: 

• Preparation
• Research
• Writing Up 

The programme has a typical duration of four years, although the research and writing up phases may vary. Nevertheless, a student may not be allowed to enrol in the programme for more than 6 years.

Preparation

The preparation phase is expected to span for 12 to 18 months, where students are expected to:

• Complete the Doctoral Program Course (detailed description available here). Upon completion of the Doctoral Program Course, students are entitled to receive a Diploma of Advanced Studies.
• Prepare and defend a PhD Thesis Plan that motivates and justifies the planned research work in the context of the current state-of-the-art of the scientific area (detailed description available here). 

Upon enrolment, all students are assigned individual Tutors (among the Program’s lecturers) by the Doctoral Program’s Scientific Committee. Tutors will provide initial guidance and support, particularly in the selection of the units of the Doctoral Program Course.

Tutors are eventually replaced with PhD Supervisors, chosen by mutual consent between student and faculty member. Supervisors will guide the preparation of the PhD Thesis Plan and subsequent research work.

Students must publicly present their Thesis Plan before their Thesis Advisory Committee, composed by their supervisor(s) and two other specialists in the specific area of research, formed according to the rules and procedures available here.

Research

Upon approval of the Thesis Plan, students enter the research phase, under the supervision of their PhD Supervisors.

The research phase is expected to span for 2 years, where the students are expected to:

• Present yearly progress reports to their Thesis Advisory Committee (detailed description available here).
• Participate in the PhD Workshop, and present (at least) two Flash Talks, e.g., one per year.
• Prepare and defend a PhD Thesis Proposal that presents a summary of the results obtained from carrying out the research described in the Thesis Plan (detailed description available here).

Students must publicly present their Thesis Proposal before the Thesis Advisory Committee, who will assess the maturity and results of the work produced thus far, and determine whether they are able to produce the PhD Thesis after another year of full-time work. The Thesis Advisory Committee will either approve the Thesis Proposal, recommending the move to the writing up phase, or that further research is necessary before a revised Thesis Proposal is prepared and defended.

Writting Up

Upon approval of the Thesis Proposal, students enter the final phase of the PhD Programme, the writing up phase. 

The writing up phase is expected to span for one year, where the students are expected to:

• Extend or review results previously reported in the Thesis Proposal, taking into account the recommendations of the Thesis Advisory Committee.
• Prepare and defend a PhD Thesis. 

The PhD Thesis is presented and defended in a public Viva Examination before a Jury, formed according to the rules and procedures that can be found here.