First year

1.     Fill up educational gaps (please check the list of economic manuals students must be familiar with).

2.     Attend the ten PhD lecture blocks (from February to November) dealing with: data analysis and statistical techniques; poverty, inequality and their interaction with growth; development microeconomics; development macroeconomics; public economics; agricultural economics; industrial economics with a special focus on small and medium enterprises; international economics; and research methodology. A minimum attendance of 75% of all lectures is expected.

3.     Pass the final examinations concerning the ten blocks of lectures mentioned above (40 credits).

4.    Draft the first research paper (10 credits), which is assigned by April. The paper has to be delivered by the end of September.

5.     Start working on the second research paper to be assigned by the end of October. This paper has to be completed and delivered by the end of February of the following year.

6.    Present by the beginning of October the first research paper in a public meeting with predetermined discussants.

7.    Attend the specific seminars and workshops dedicated to country case studies and the analysis of specific issues. Also attend hands-on training courses organised by the Department of Economic Studies or carried out in cooperation with national and international organisations.

8.    Support the activities of the PhD programme and assist in the different courses of the Department of Economics at Florence University (10 credits).