Terms of awarding the Ph.D.

a) Each PhD candidate must make regular and significant progress in his doctoral research with a view towards successful and timely completion of their thesis.

b) The three-member advisory committee, in cooperation with the candidate shall submit a progress report to the department’s faculty assembly at the end of each year from the day the committee was formed.

Doctoral candidates are required to present their progress annually in written form and/or an oral presentation.

c) A candidate’s doctoral studies may be suspended by decision of the faculty assembly in the following  three disjunctive cases:

*  at the request of the candidate

*   if the candidate does not submit the required annual progress report within two months of the appointed deadline.

*   by recommendation of the candidate’s advisory committee
 

d) The fulfillment of the candidate’s research obligations is certified by the advisory committee in its report, based on the candidate’s original published work, which must include at least two (2) articles published in scientific peer-reviewed journals, one of which must have an impact factor.  In that case, the advisory committee recommends to the faculty assembly the formation of an examination committee (see below).

e) The final evaluation of a candidate’s doctoral thesis, upon completion of his/her research, will be performed by an examination committee made up of seven (7) faculty members, in a thesis defense which is open to the public. The date, time and location of the thesis defense is specified by the examination committee and is announced to the faculty and the candidate at least 5 days in advance. The candidate must present his/her thesis publicly before the seven-member committee and answer the committee’s questions. By the committee’s agreement, questions may also be put forth by members of the audience. Following that, the candidate leaves the room, the committee meets and makes its final decision, based on a) whether the thesis is original, b) whether the thesis makes a substantial contribution towards the advancement of science, and c) the candidate’s performance during the defense. Approval of the thesis requires at least five (5) concurring members of the examination committee.

f) Approval of the doctoral thesis is certified in writing by the committee, in a formal document which is signed by all of its members and is forwarded to the faculty assembly.

g) Upon approval of  the doctoral thesis, the candidate must file two (2) copies with the Department’s secretariat, two (2) copies with the University’s central library, and provide any additional copies, as required by law. The doctoral candidate must also surrender to the secretariat all documents which he/she received in that capacity.

h) The faculty assembly proclaims the candidate a Doctor of Philosophy by reading the thesis approval document in a public meeting.