Types of thesis defence

Once the examination panel has been appointed, the thesis defence must be carried out within three months. The defence itself follows the same structure whether it is carried out in person or online.

The decision on the type of defence is taken by the Doctoral Studies Committee of your faculty, usually following the proposal of the Academic Committee of the doctoral programme, but a different decision can be taken at short notice in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
 

The UB currently allows four types of thesis defence:
 

• Face-to-face

  The standard defence is carried out in person on UB premises. In exceptional cases, the defence can be authorized in other spaces.

• Video conference with members of the panel not present in the room (type I)
  In this case, the doctoral student attends in person before a live audience and in the presence of at least one member of the examination panel. Those members who cannot be present attend and participate via video conference. The panel's deliberations are held behind closed doors, in a virtual room created specifically for this purpose. The full procedure for the announcement of the defence and the development of the session itself is established in the regulations of the EDUB. This model combines a face-to-face defence with the possibility of intervention by members of the examination panel who cannot travel. It also allows for the appointment of highly specialized panel members even if they live a long distance from Barcelona.
   
• Video conference with the doctoral student not present in the room (type II)
  If the doctoral student is unable to attend in person, they can do so via video conference. In this case, the members of the examination panel and the public attend the defence in person at the UB, although some of the public may attend via video conference. The full procedure for the announcement of the defence and the development of the session itself is established in the regulations of the EDUB. This model is used when the doctoral student is unable to travel to the UB. The deliberations of the panel take place in person, behind closed doors.
   
• Video conference with all parties attending online (type III)In this case, the defence is carried out fully online. The means of connecting to the session is provided with the public announcement of the defence. Anyone interested in the defence can request the link to connect online. Two virtual rooms are provided: one for the defence itself, and one for the deliberations of the examination panel. The secret vote for the cum laude distinction is also carried out electronically. The full procedure for the announcement of the defence and the development of the session itself is established in the regulations of the EDUB. This model is used when both the doctoral student and the examination panel will have difficulty travelling to the UB.