Final Exam – Qualifying Degree

To be admitted to the final exam for obtaining the Master’s Degree in Pharmacy qualifying for the profession of Pharmacist, the student must:

  • Send the thesis assignment request to protocollo@unime.it, signed by the supervisor, at least 6 months before the start date of the first available graduation session. For this purpose, the date of the protocol registration will be considered valid. For students participating in mobility programs, this requirement will be certified by the internationalization coordinator.
  • Have obtained all the credits required by the planned study program, except those assigned to the final exam, and be up to date with the payment of university fees and contributions.
  • Submit the Online Degree Application within the deadlines established by the University (the procedure on Esse3 opens 40 days before the graduation session) and upload to Esse3, at least 7 working days before the final exam, the PDF files of the plagiarism report and the final thesis document.
  • Pay the required fees according to current regulations:
    • €49.58 government fee for admission to the professional qualification examination
      (Royal Decree 31 August 1933, no. 1592, art. 176; art. 2, paragraph 3, of the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 21 December 1990).
      This payment must be made to postal account no. 205906, payable to AGENZIA DELLE ENTRATE – Centro Operativo di Pescara – School Taxes – Region of Sicily (payment form available at post offices).
    • €52.00 professional qualification fee established by the Region of Sicily
      (Royal Decree 31 August 1933, no. 1592, art. 190; Regional Law 25 November 2002, no. 20, art. 29).

The qualification fee can be paid through the official website of the ERSU of Messina: www.ersu.me.it.
On the homepage, click the PAGO PA symbol at the bottom left.
Once the Online Payments page appears, access the “Spontaneous Payment Service PagoPA (without registration)”.
On the page PAY WITHOUT LOGIN, click “Create spontaneous payment” at the bottom and select “Professional Qualification Fee” from the drop-down menu.
You will then be able to complete the payment.

The PDF receipts of both payments must be uploaded under “career attachments” in your Esse3 personal area before the deadline for uploading the thesis in the “degree completion” section of Esse3.

The Student Secretariat will verify the payment when the online graduation application is submitted.

The final examination for obtaining the Master’s Degree qualifying for the profession of Pharmacist includes:

  • the Practical Evaluation Test (PPV)
  • the discussion of the graduation thesis

The Practical Evaluation Test (PPV) is designed to assess the professional skills acquired during the internship within the degree program and to verify the candidate’s technical preparation level for professional qualification. The PPV is oral and covers the topics indicated in Article 3 of the Regulation on the Practical Evaluation Internship for the Pharmacy and CTF degree programs.

The PPV takes place at least seven working days before the thesis discussion. To take the Practical Evaluation Test, it is necessary to:

  • Complete the internship activities and submit the documentation proving the completion of the internship to the Student Secretariat.
  • Start the Online Degree Application procedure.
  • Register via Esse3 for the Practical Evaluation Test scheduled for each graduation session.

Students who receive a passing evaluation in the PPV are allowed to proceed to the discussion of the graduation thesis.

The final examination for obtaining the Master’s Degree in Pharmacy concludes with the public defense of a thesis, based on original work carried out by the student. The thesis must concern an experimental research activity, through which the Examination Committee can assess the student’s cultural and scientific maturity as well as the quality of the work performed. The student and the Supervisor may be assisted by a Co-Supervisor, who may be a professor from another university, including a foreign one, or an external professional figure not affiliated with the University, including one of another nationality.

The Committee responsible for evaluating the final examination consists of at least seven members, with the participation of no more than two members appointed by the Order of Pharmacists of the Province of Messina.

To pass the final examination, a minimum score of 66/110 must be obtained. The maximum score is 110/110, with the possible awarding of honors (cum laude). The final degree mark, expressed out of 110, is determined by several components:

  • the base score, calculated from the weighted average of the grades obtained in the curricular examinations;
  • the curricular evaluation (maximum 4 points), which takes into account activities carried out by the student during their academic career (international mobility, completion of studies within the standard time, obtaining honors in exams, etc.);
  • the thesis evaluation score (maximum 7 points).

In evaluating the thesis, the Committee will consider the quality of the thesis work, the effort devoted to preparing the dissertation, the candidate’s presentation skills, and their ability to answer the Committee’s questions appropriately and relevantly. Honors (cum laude) may be awarded, upon the Supervisor’s proposal and with the unanimous agreement of the Committee, only for theses considered to be of high quality by the Committee.

The Master’s Degree final examinations are conducted publicly, and the announcement of the final result is also public.