PhDs
These pages contain information on practical matters you need to arrange before and during your doctoral research and explains how to go about your your PhD defense.
Read more about the regulations for obtaining a PhD at Maastricht University
Also read more about PhD's at Maastricht University.
Doctoral Regulations 2022
Doctoral Regulations 2023
* Doctoral Candidates that start from February 1 onwards fall under the new regulations. Doctoral Candidates that started before February 1 may fall under the old regulations until 1 August , unless they wish to apply the new regulations.
Guide to the public defence of your thesis
The degree ceremony means the public defense of your thesis. To help you prepare for it we provide you with the information below. You find the a step by step guide, answers to to most frequently asked questions, an agenda with upcoming online defenses and contact information.
A PhD Defence ceremony

A PhD Defence ceremony is a formal occasion with strict protocols governing each person’s role, responsibility, and even the language used. It all works a bit like a trial, hence the term ‘PhD defence’. The ceremony begins with the gathering of the degree committee members headed by the pro-rector. The pro-rector chairs the ceremony and ensures that protocol is followed.
The defence side consists of the candidate’s supervisor and co-supervisor. They are there for the PhD candidate, having supervised his or her work and approved their request for an official PhD Defence. On the other side of the committee are experts in the candidate’s field of research. It is their job to act as sceptics, asking the candidate questions and judging his or her readiness to be awarded a PhD.
The ceremony itself is structured as follows. The candidate gives a 15-minute presentation, after which the opposition has 45 minutes to question the candidate. Afterwards the degree committee members withdraw for a confidential assessment of the Defence.
Upcoming PhD defenses
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02 Jun10:00
PhD conferral Jamilla Wederfoort
"'Efficacy of Autologous Fat Transfer as a new Breast Reconstruction Technique"
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02 Jun13:00
PhD conferral Emmelie Hazelzet
"Promoting sustainable employability of employees in low-skilled jobs
Development, implementation, and evaluation of a dialogue-based intervention" -
05 Jun10:00
PhD conferral Ming Li
"Economic Growth in the Face of Changes"
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05 Jun13:00
PhD conferral Yue Zhang
"Towards more dose efficient cryogenic electron microscopy of biological samples"
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06 Jun10:00
PhD conferral Hannah Jane Gillespie
"Helping students become doctors: analysing tensions and releasing opportunities in clinical workplaces"
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06 Jun10:00
PhD defence: Hannah Jane Gillespie
"Helping students become doctors: analysing tensions and releasing opportunities in clinical workplaces"
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06 Jun13:00
PhD conferral Assia Tiane
"Relieving the epigenetic blockade in progressive MS – making remyelination accessible again"
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06 Jun16:00
PhD conferral Alessandra Sala
"Isolated Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation: assessment, timing and surgical treatment"
Selected past PhD defenses
Downloads
General documents
PhD ceremony allowance (UM Intranet)
'It takes two to tango' - Investigation of supervision of PhD students in the Netherlands.
Overview of PhD programmes
Research Data Management portal
Admission process public PhD defence
English
Thesis assessment form
Declaration of scientific integrity
Model letter 1
Model letter 2
Model letter 3
Model letter 4
Model letter 5a & 5b
Model letter 6
Model letter 7
Doctoral Regulations 2022
Doctoral Regulations 2023
* Doctoral Candidates that start from February 1 onwards fall under the new regulations. Doctoral Candidates that started before February 1 may fall under the old regulations until 1 August , unless they wish to apply the new regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- In what format do I need to prepare my powerpoint presentation?
- Can I reserve a parking slot on location?
- Do I need to put my presentation on a USB stick?
- How many people can I bring to my public Phd defense?
Some of the services available to you may depend on whether:
- you have a paid PhD position and are an employee of Maastricht University or
- you are not an employee but are enrolled in a PhD training programme or are an externally funded PhD candidate
If you are unsure of whether or not you are considered an employee, please see the descriptions on the PhD overview page or contact your supervisor.