Public defence of the PhD thesis

At the University of Copenhagen, PhD theses must undergo a public and successful defence to earn the author a PhD degree. To initiate a defence, the thesis must first receive a positive preliminary recommendation from the Assessment Committee.

During the assessment period, the committee chair will coordinate with all relevant parties to schedule a suitable date for the defence. This defence can take place no earlier than three weeks after the submission of the written assessment, and no later than three months after the thesis submission, unless special circumstances apply. The chair must inform PhD Administration of the chosen date at the earliest opportunity.

It is a requirement that PhD defences are open to the public, and the PhD thesis should be made accessible to the public within a reasonable timeframe, typically at least two weeks before the defence. If the thesis is in print, copies must be made available to the public. Any confidential parts of the research project cannot serve as the basis for granting the PhD degree.

All members of the Assessment Committee actively participate in the defence, either online through digital connection or in person.