Authorization of the defence and appointment of the examination panel
The faculty's Doctoral Studies Committee is responsible for authorizing the thesis defence, within no more than twenty days from the end of the thesis deposit period. Before the defence is authorized, the thesis must be analysed using plagiarism detection software and, if any doubts arise, reviewed by two specialists (who may not be the thesis supervisor or tutor).
If the defence is not authorized, the Doctoral Studies Committee will notify you and the Academic Committee of your programme, outlining the reasons for its decision. In order to deposit a thesis at the UB at a later date, it is essential to address the concerns raised by the Academic Committee.
If the thesis defence is authorized, the examination panel must be appointed in the same document.
Although the examination panel is appointed based on proposals made by the Academic Committee, the Doctoral Studies Committee may also appoint experts to the panel.
You must pay the fee for the thesis defence within ten days from the day after you receive authorization.
Once payment has been made, within ten days, the chair of the Doctorate Studies Committee will notify all members (and substitutes) of their appointment to the examination panel and send them an electronic copy of the thesis. The members of the panel must confirm their appointment or withdraw.
Depending on the doctoral programme, there are three or five members:
- Examination panels of five members are formed of five full members—a chairperson, a secretary and three other members—and three substitutes. No more than two can be from the UB.
- Examination panels of three members are formed of three full members—a chairperson, a secretary and another member—and two substitutes. No more than one can be from the UB.
All panel members must hold a doctoral degree and have accredited research experience (at the UB, this is generally understood to mean having a specified by having an active six-year research premium;if a member is from the UB, they must be able to accredit research activity in the academic commitment plan or demonstrate equivalent merits).
The following individuals may not sit on the panel:
- The supervisor (unless in the case of joint supervision, if provided for by the relevant legislation in the other country).
- The tutor.
- The co-authors of the corresponding articles/chapters, in the case of theses by publication.
If the doctoral student is applying for the international doctorate certification, at least one member of the examination panel must belong to a higher education institution or research centre that is not in Spain.
Each panel has a chair and a secretary. For technical reasons, in the case of thesis defences carried out online, it is advisable for at least one of these members to be from the UB.