Finalising and defending the PhD thesis

As you approach the final phase of your PhD trajectory, preparing your thesis and defence becomes a key focus. UM provides clear guidelines and support to help you navigate this process, from finalising your manuscript to meeting formal requirements and organising your defence. Understanding the necessary steps and timelines will ensure a smooth transition toward completing your doctorate.

For more (general) information, please check out the pages below.

PhD Office
Support for PhD candidates
FAQ
Printing

General timeline

See below for a short example of a general timeline and proposed actions. For a full and complete overview, please see the UM doctoral regulations .

After the thesis is complete, the PhD candidate will ask the supervisor to approve the thesis and to submit it for assessment to the Assessment Committee.
Within two months, the supervisor will decide whether to submit the thesis to an assessment committee.
The supervisor, together with the intended chairperson, proposes the Assessment Committee members to the Dean.
As soon as a positive decision has been made, the thesis will be sent out to the assessment committee.
Within four weeks of receipt of the thesis by the Assessment Committee, a decision will be made whether the PhD candidate will be admitted to the defence ceremony.
Depending on the outcome of the assessment committee:

In the event of a rejection, the PhD candidate has 6 months to submit a new version of the thesis.
In the event of a positive opinion, the PhD candidate will consult the supervisor and the PhD Office about the degree ceremony date, which needs to be planned within 6 months after approval. In some occasions the PhD candidate might be requested by the committee to introduce minor changes to the dissertation without being necessary to have another approval by the Assessment Committee.
In between the positive opinion of the assessment committee and the planned defense ceremony date, the PhD candidate needs to be aware of the actions as described in the doctoral regulations and emailed to the candidate by the PhD office.