After several (on average 4.75) years of doctoral research, it should be time for the public defense of your doctoral dissertation or doctoral exam.

For legal background, consult Section VI of the Education and Examination Code.

Practical information

Take into account the following (administrative) steps:

• Final evaluation of your DTP: you need to submit your curriculum in order to obtain a certificate.

• Submit your doctoral dissertation at your faculty. Be advised that every faculty has its own procedure and guidelines.

• The Faculty Board will check whether all conditions are met and appoints an Examination Commission, which in its turn will appoint a Reading Commission. The members of the Reading Commission will initially evaluate your dissertation, expressly putting forward an advice regarding your admission to the second part of the exam. Subsequently, the Examination Commission will deliberate and decide.

• In case of a positive decision (i.e. you're allowed to proceed to the second part of the exam), a date for the public defense will be set.

• The Central Student Administration is informed of all details of the defense so that your enrolment can be completed and a public announcement published on the website. You will be requested (via a bank transfer) to pay the tuition fee .

• The public (you can invite special guests as your audience) and oral defense of your dissertation can now take place. Immediately afterwards, the Examination Commission deliberates behind closed doors. Their decision is then made public to you and the rest of the audience ('proclamation').

• The administration will issue you with your diploma and (if applicable) a certificate for the Doctoral Training Programme.

• Don't forget to deposit your dissertation in the Academic Bibliographic and Institutional Repository of Ghent University ('Biblio').