The academic recognition of a PhD degree obtained abroad is an evaluation procedure aimed at obtaining the equivalent third-cycle degree in Italy. It therefore has the objective of issuing an Italian PhD of the same nature, i.e. having legal value in the Italian academic system.
The procedure involves a detailed verification of the correspondence of level and contents between the foreign degree and the Italian degree.
Applications for recognition of a PhD degree obtained abroad may be submitted throughout the year, by sending via e-mail the request to the PhD Office (segr.dottorati@unimore.it), completing and signing the appropriate form, affixing a €16 paper revenue stamp, and attaching the documentation listed below.
Required documents:
- Official certificate of the foreign PhD degree corresponding to the third cycle according to the Bologna Process qualification framework and level 8 according to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) obtained at a foreign higher-education institution. This degree must be accompanied by confirmation of authenticity through legalization or Apostille: the degrees and certificates must be legalized at the Italian Embassy to guarantee their authenticity; or with the verification certificate issued by CIMEA, the Italian ENIC-NARIC centre.
- Certificate/attestation issued by the competent foreign higher-education institution attesting the elements and activities of the PhD programme undertaken for the award of the final degree, as well as indicating the number of years of the course.
- Documents relating to the value of the qualification, such as: Declaration of Value (DOV) issued by the Italian Embassy in the country where the qualification was obtained, OR Diploma Supplement based on the standards of the European Commission issued for academic degrees awarded by universities and higher-education institutions from countries belonging to the European Higher Education Area. The Diploma Supplement must be signed and apostilled; OR Comparability Certificate issued by CIMEA, or Correspondence Certificate downloadable directly from the “Ardi” platform of CIMEA - website https://ardi.cimea.it/en (for countries parties to the Lisbon Recognition Convention).
- Copy of the PhD thesis carried out and/or indication of the web address of the university repository or the library in which the approved thesis is stored and consultable, or indication of the references of the competent office from which access may be requested for verification of correspondence.
- Copy of the second-cycle foreign or Italian qualification that gave access to the foreign PhD programme.
- Any other documentation, such as a Curriculum Vitae, letters of presentation etc.
- Copy of the passport or, for EU citizens only, an identity document.
- Form “Information on the processing of personal data”.
The application must specify the PhD programme at the University for which recognition is requested. The list of PhD courses of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and the related details are available on the webpage https://www.unimore.it/en/education/doctoral-research-programmes. The recognition cannot be requested for PhD programmes not yet activated up to the last year of the course.
The procedure requires the payment of a non-refundable contribution of €516 (including the virtual revenue stamp for the issuance of the diploma) to be made by the methods and within the timelines indicated by the PhD Office.
The evaluation of the recognition requests is carried out by the Teaching Board established in the disciplinary sectors compatible with the foreign degree to be recognised. The outcomes of the said evaluation are communicated to applicants by the PhD Office within ninety days from the date of receipt of the requests; in the case of a positive evaluation, the outcome will be communicated to the applicant by Rectoral Decree.