tesi

Tesi, in Italian, refers to a thesis or dissertation, a long research document submitted in partial fulfillment of a degree. The singular is la tesi and the plural le tesi. The term derives from Latin thesis and Greek thesis, meaning a proposition to be proved. In Italian higher education, tesi are required at various levels: la tesi di laurea for undergraduate or master’s degrees, la tesi di laurea magistrale for graduate studies, and la tesi di dottorato for doctoral studies.

Purpose and content: A tesi demonstrates the ability to carry out independent research, address a defined question, and present evidence and reasoning. It may be theoretical, empirical, or a combination, and typically includes a summary, introduction, literature review, methodology, results or findings, discussion, conclusions, and references. The exact structure can vary by discipline and university guidelines.

Process: Students write a tesi under the supervision of a professor, following institutional guidelines on formatting, length, and citation style. The completed work is submitted to a committee and usually defended in an oral examination known as la discussione della tesi. Depending on the program, the defense may be public or private, and the committee decides whether the thesis meets the degree requirements. Plagiarism checks are commonly performed.

Impact: Theses may be stored in university libraries, archived online, and in some cases published as articles or monographs. They often form the basis for future research, further study, or professional qualification, and can contribute to a researcher’s early career credentials.