The final examination of the Master’s Degree in Social Sciences and Digital Data represents a crucial moment of synthesis, reflection, and evaluation of the competencies acquired by students throughout their academic journey. It takes the form of the preparation and public defense of an original thesis (see guidelines available below), developed under the guidance of a faculty advisor, and may, when relevant, also be connected to a professional internship experience.
Remember that:
- The Almalaurea questionnaire must be completed online before graduation.
- At the confirmation stage of the procedure, you will receive a payment request via Uniweb, which must be settled within 24 hours.
- Students who are unable to complete their thesis in time are strongly advised to cancel their registration promptly (see the “How to change your application” section at https://www.unipd.it/en/graduation
The thesis requires students to conduct an independent and in-depth investigation of a topic proposed in agreement with their advisor. This work may include one or both of the following components:
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Project development, which may involve the use of digital tools, the design of an experimental or laboratory activity, and/or the advancement of theoretical perspectives on the selected topic.
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Empirical research and critical literature review, which entails analyzing relevant academic contributions (books, journal articles, methodological texts, or technical manuals) in order to contextualize the work and substantiate its findings.
The research process culminates in a written thesis in English, in which students are expected to present their results in a clear, coherent, and rigorous way. Particular attention should be devoted to the social, ethical, and political implications of digital transitions and processes of digitization. In this context, the thesis must demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical and methodological knowledge acquired during the program, while also offering an original contribution to the understanding of the selected theme.
The assessment of the thesis occurs in two main stages:
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Preliminary evaluation by the faculty advisor, who verifies the scientific soundness, methodological consistency, and originality of the work.
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Public defense before the Graduation Committee, during which the candidate presents the results, answers the Committee’s questions, and justifies methodological and theoretical choices.
During the defense, students are expected to demonstrate:
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solid mastery of the chosen topic;
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strong oral communication skills;
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the ability to critically defend their conclusions.
Overall, the final examination is designed to consolidate the interdisciplinary skills acquired during the program. It provides students with the opportunity to showcase their academic and professional maturity, employ innovative methods and digital tools to address complex problems, and refine their capacity to communicate effectively in both written and oral form.
As such, the thesis defense is not only the culminating academic requirement of the degree program, but also a formative passage toward future research and professional endeavors in the field of social sciences and digital data.
Fees payment
All enrolment fees must be paid before starting the graduation procedure. Please check that you have followed the payment procedures correctly.