The PhD studies at DEIB are structured in courses attendance and research activities. During the first two years the students have to choose about 5 post-graduate courses, offered by the Department, the POLIMI PhD School, other POLIMI PhD Programs, University, or national and international schools, for a total of 25 credits. Courses provide advanced knowledge, and gives the students the necessary training for addressing research issues in a professional and competitive way. Should it be necessary to fill in any gap from their previous training, PhD students may follow preparatory courses, which are normally chosen among the wide choice of graduate courses in Information Technology offered at Politecnico di Milano.

In particular, courses have to be selected following the rules reported here below, which implement the popular "T-shaped" approach to higher education.

• Core courses that present, examine and discuss the major questions, theories and methods of the scientific research in the field of Information Technology (15 credits to be completed by the end of the second year, of which at least 10 obtained by passing courses offered by this PhD Program), such as:

• Main PhD courses in Information Technology offered by DEIB Professors or by invited foreign Professors. The courses offered by the PhD Program in Information Technology are organized in 4 areas (Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics, Systems and Control, Telecommunications), though several courses are actually interdisciplinary. A student enrolled in one area may take courses from the other areas as well.
• External courses with evaluation: doctoral courses taken from other Universities or PhD Schools as well as Summer Schools.

• Transversal skills courses, aimed to develope skills independent from the specific curriculum (10 credits)

• Skill development courses, offered by the Polimi Doctoral School to develop transversal skills such as oral and written presentation, research management, ethics of research, pubblic speaking, and many others.

Other activities make the student to develop in-depth knowledge in the specific field of research of his/her doctoral dissertation, such as:

• participation in seminars, conferences and workshops;
• publications;
• study and research activities carried out outside Politecnico, preferably abroad;
• minor research theme (optional): in order to broaden their scientific knowledge and to foster interpersonal relationships, PhD students may choose and discuss a second so called minor research related to topics different from the ones of the major research for the Doctoral dissertation.

During the three years students will be required to give seminars in front of DEIB's or foreign professors or to attend international scientific conferences and present the results of their research. PhD students are thus led to develop their ability for public speaking and improve their communication skills, in both writing and speech.

For further information see the Courses section of this site.

Courses are also open to external candidates (through an application procedure, see link)