Thesis defence procedure

How do I defend my thesis at the EDUB?

We take you through each of the steps for submitting and defending your doctoral thesis

You have completed the thesis

  • ​​​​​​First, you need to confirm with the supervisor and tutor that you have their approval to submit it.
  • Consult the Secretary's Office for Students and Teaching Staff for the formal characteristics of the thesis.
  • You will also be informed about the different administrative procedures the thesis defence entails and when they need to be completed.

 Request authorization to deposit your thesis

  • Submit the thesis deposit request, the supporting documentation and an electronic copy of the thesis via the UB's General Registry (in person or online).
  • ​​​​​​Prepare all of the relevant documentation, in case it is needed.

 The Academic Committee authorizes the deposit

  • ​​​​​The Academic Committee will issue authorization to proceed to the thesis defence within twenty days.
  • Notification is sent to the Doctoral Committee of your faculty, together with the thesis and a proposal of experts to form the examination panel.

The deposit is publicly announced

  • The thesis deposit is publicly announced within no more than five days.

The deposit takes effect

  • The thesis is deposited with the corresponding Faculty.
  • The full thesis is then made available for consultation by any PhD holder over the next seven days

 The thesis is approved and the examination panel is appointed

  • ​​​​​​​The faculty's Doctoral Studies Committee approves the thesis.
  • The examination panel is appointed.

 Pay the thesis defence fee

  • The fee entitling you to carry out the thesis defence must be paid within ten days.

 The composition of the examination panel is publicly announced

  • Once payment has been made, the prospective members of the examination panel are contacted for confirmation.
  • If there are no objections, each member confirms their appointment.

 The thesis defence is carried out

  • The thesis defence must be carried out within three months.
  • The chair of the examination panel then sets a date and time for the thesis defence, giving at least seven days notice.
  • The thesis defence is carried out.
  • The grade is announced at the end of the session.
  • If the descriptive grade of "excellent" is awarded, the panel members conduct a secret vote to determine whether the student merits the cum laude distinction