Download here the schedule of 2023-2024 classes (timetables in progress, last modified April 30, 2024)

Download here the abstracts of this year's modules (abstract & learning goals of each of the 2023-2024 modules)

Download here the student's attendance Form (to be signed by the lecturers)

2024-2025 Classes (with abstract & learning goals)

Program overview
The 3-year program is designed for students holding an MS degree (awarded by the end September before the start of the program). The supervisor of Doctoral students can be one of the approximately 60 faculty members. These are experienced researchers in different areas of psychology. Each student defines the main area of their research in agreement with the supervisor before the start of the experimental work. During the three-year program, students are required to spend a period in a foreign University or Research Center, working under the supervision of an external advisor for a minimum period of 3 months to a maximum period of 12 months. In exceptional cases, the students might spend half of the PhD program (18 months) abroad. Padova University and the Departments involved in the program strongly support the mobility of the students providing them money for attending meetings, conferences, or summer schools.

Doctoral students are also expected to participate in the following activities: 
1st year: Doctoral students have to start to develop their research project and follow some basic courses in methodology, statistics, programming and other practical skills. Courses are taught in English language. At the end of each year, doctoral students have to discuss their theoretical area of research and the general content of their research project in front of a committee of faculty members
2nd year: Students are expected to have a research training in an international research center or university outside of Italy. Institutions are selected on the basis of the individual interests and career objectives of each student. 
3rd year: Preparation of the Ph.D. Thesis in either Italian or English language. At the end of the 3rd year, doctoral students have to present their work at the "School Lunch" meetings.

Two months before the end of the program the thesis should be sent to two external reviewers for admission to the Defence.  The reviewers are Italian or foreign researchers selected ad-hoc for each student.  At the end of the program, students, in groups of two-four, will defend their thesis in front of an external committee.  

Organization of Classes across the three years and other activities
Classes have two main goals:

1. Provide advanced knowledge in disciplines common to different research approaches and provide students with the main research skills
2. Expose students to several research areas, presenting them the new trends in the different domains of the Psychological Sciences and promoting interdisciplinarity in the approaches and methods.

Students must attend to some mandatory classes. It is highly recommended that students attend the mandatory classes during their first year. Derogations must be discussed with both the Coordinator and the Supervisor. Students can also choose among a large set of optional classes in order to deepen their knowledge in specific domains from both a theorretical and practical perspective. These classes can be attended during the three years, but students are suggested to attend to these courses during the first year of the PhD program. The classes are always organized so that timetable clash is prevented. 

Students are invited to attend a weekly seminar, every Thursday from 1 to 2 pm, named School Meeting or School Lunch:

School Meeting series (October to December)
Members of the academic staff or other visiting scholars report to students regarding the new trends and the hottest issues in Psychological Science.

School Lunch series (April to June) 
Students at the third year of the PhD program present their work to the academic staff. The series is open to all members of the Psychological Departments.