Notification of public defence of a doctoral thesis

When a date has been set and an opponent, a chairman for the public defence and members of the examination board have been proposed, it is time to send in the notification of public defence to the faculty. The notification is written by the person responsible for the subject. The notification is handled by the Research and Postgraduate Studies Board who should receive it at least two months before the proposed public defence and two weeks before the board's next meeting.

The notification is sent the secretary of the Research and Postgraduate Studies Board.

Form for notification of public defence (doc, in Swedish)

Meeting dates of the Research and Postgraduate Studies Board (in Swedish)

Time and place for the public defence

The defence should normally take place during the semester at a time and place appointed by the rector. It may only take place outside the semester if there are extraordinary circumstances and if special permission is given by the dean. The room where the defence is to take place is booked by the subject or department. The faculty officer sees to it that the time and place for the defence is announced in the rector's name in good time before the defence.

Examination board, chairman for the public defence and opponent

The grade for the doctoral thesis is decided by an examination board which should consist of three or five members. After the notification of public defence has reached the faculty, the Research and Postgraduate Studies Board sets the number of members and appoints them. The faculty also appoints the opponent and the chairman for the public defence.

At least one of the members of the examination board should be a teacher at another faculty or another university or university college. At the Faculty of Educational Sciences, the rule is that the majority of the members of the examination board should belong to a different department from that of the PhD student.

The opponent is entitled to be present at meetings with the examination board and to participate in the deliberations, but not in the decision. The main supervisor should be present at the meeting with the examination board and participate in the deliberations, but not in the decision.

The examination board can only take a decision when all its members are present. The board takes a majority decision.

The opponent and the members of the examination board should at least have the academic title docent (or the equivalent for an opponent from outside Sweden). Only if there are extenuating circumstances can another person be appointed as the opponent or as a member of the examination board. Where this is proposed, a detailed justification is required from the department in its notification of public defence.

The examination board normally meets directly after the public defence and writes a report of the meeting. If the thesis is passed, the report need only contain this information. If it is failed, the reasons should be given.

The opponent and the members of the examination board receive compensation for their travelling expenses. In addition, the opponent receives a fee in accordance with the university's regulations.  

The Degree of Licentiate

Before the licentiate thesis is graded, it should be publicly presented at a seminar at the department. On this occasion, an external examiner from another higher education institute or another department should take part. This examiner should hold a doctorate. The compulsory seminar should be held during the semester and be announced by the department no later than three weeks before. The dean may make an exception to this rule only if there are special reasons.

The thesis should be available at least three weeks before the licentiate seminar. It may have a preliminary design and be given its final wording after the seminar.

The licentiate thesis is judged by an examining committee consisting of at least three lecturers with doctorates appointed by the department.

The notification is sent the secretary of the Research and Postgraduate Studies Board.

Form for notification of licentiate degree (doc, in Swedish)

Local rules for the licentiate degree at Educational Sciences (in Swedish)

Grades

A doctoral thesis is awarded either a pass or a fail. The content of the thesis and its public defence should be taken into account when the grade is set.

A thesis written by two or more persons jointly may be accepted as a doctoral thesis if the individual efforts of the authors can be distinguished.

Page responsible: patrick.moreau-raquin@liu.se
Last updated: Mon May 07 13:41:44 CEST 2012