PhD defence

Timeframe: The defence should not exceed 3 hours including breaks.
 

• The chairman of the assessment committee explains the procedures

Informs about time schedule, the order of opponents and the possibility of asking questions.
 

• Presentation of the PhD thesis (45 minutes)

The presentation should represent the content of the PhD study (hypothesis, material and methods / experimental design and results) including a general introduction to the research area and a general discussion accounting for further research perspectives.
 

• Break

Members of the audience who would like to ask questions should notify the chairman during the break.
 

• Examination (1 hour - approx. 30 minutes per external opponent)

The examination will be based on the content of the presentation and the PhD thesis. The aim of the examination is to give the student the opportunity to prove thorough knowledge of the topic covered, and to create a constructive and fruitful discussion.
 

• Closing the examination

The chairman may ask some supplementary questions about the content of the PhD thesis and then close the examination by posing a few overall questions, allowing the PhD student the possibility to put the conducted research into a broader perspective.
 

• Questions from the audience

The audience can ask questions as agreed with the chairman during the break.
 

• Conclusion of the defence

The chairman of the assessment committee concludes the defence by thanking the PhD student and the participants.
 

• Final recommendation

The assessment committee leaves the lecture hall to make their final recommendation. The chairman of the assessment committee ensures that the entire committee signs the document “Final Recommendation PhD Degree”.
 

• Announcement of the recommendation

The assessment committee enters the reception and the chairman of the committee announces their recommendation.
 

•  Submission of the Final Recommendation to GSTS 

The chairman of the assessment committee submits the final recommendation to the Graduate School of Technical Sciences.

Inspiration material for assessors, such as email templates, manuscripts and to do lists, is available on the ECE PhD Committee's SharePoint. Contact the ECE PhD Coordinator for more information.

The ECE PhD coordinator assists with:

• Booking venues for the PhD defence and assessment committee meeting
• Inviting and informing relevant parties
• Announcing the defence on the staff portal and LinkedIn
• Ordering breakfast/lunch for the assessment committee meeting