The PhD program includes three types of didactic activities:
- base courses, A (mandatory in the first year);
- thematic courses/seminars, B (mandatory in all years);
- specialistic courses, C (two mandatory in each year).
Most courses have a 10-hour duration. Some activities (especially of the B type) can be given as seminars of shorter duration. Reading groups are included in the C type courses.
I year: PhD students take all A courses (normally 6 or 7), all B courses/seminars and two C courses.
II year: PhD students take all B courses/seminars and two C courses.
III year: PhD students take all B courses/seminars and two C courses.
Moreover, further activities aimed at transversal training are offered each year (mandatory for I and II year students), concerning software for data analysis, communicative skills, research management and innovation.
This schema guarantees at least 150 hours of training over the 3-year PhD duration.