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PhD Defence Process: A Comprehensive Guide

Embarking on the journey toward a PhD is an intellectual odyssey marked by tireless research, countless hours of contemplation, and a fervent commitment to contributing to the body of knowledge in one’s field. As the culmination of this formidable journey, the PhD defence stands as the final frontier, the proverbial bridge between student and scholar.

In this comprehensive guide, we unravel the intricacies of the PhD defence—a momentous occasion that is both a celebration of scholarly achievement and a rigorous evaluation of academic prowess. Join us as we explore the nuances of the defence process, addressing questions about its duration, contemplating the possibility of failure, and delving into the subtle distinctions of language that surround it.

Beyond the formalities, we aim to shed light on the significance of this rite of passage, dispelling misconceptions about its nature. Moreover, we’ll consider the impact of one’s attire on this critical day and share personal experiences and practical tips from those who have successfully navigated the defence journey.

Whether you are on the precipice of your own defence or are simply curious about the process, this guide seeks to demystify the PhD defence, providing a roadmap for success and a nuanced understanding of the pivotal event that marks the transition from student to scholar.

Introduction

A. definition and purpose:, b. overview of the oral examination:, a. general duration of a typical defense, b. factors influencing the duration:, c. preparation and flexibility:, a. preparation and thorough understanding of the research:, b. handling questions effectively:, c. confidence and composure during the presentation:, d. posture of continuous improvement:, a. exploring the possibility of failure:, b. common reasons for failure:, c. steps to mitigate the risk of failure:, d. post-failure resilience:, a. addressing the language variation:, b. conforming to regional preferences:, c. consistency in usage:, d. flexibility and adaptability:, e. navigating language in a globalized academic landscape:, a. debunking myths around the formality of the defense:, b. significance in validating research contributions:, c. post-defense impact:, a. appropriate attire for different settings:, b. professionalism and the impact of appearance:, c. practical tips for dressing success:, b. practical tips for a successful defense:, c. post-defense reflections:, career options after phd.

Embarking on the doctoral journey is a formidable undertaking, where aspiring scholars immerse themselves in the pursuit of knowledge, contributing new insights to their respective fields. At the pinnacle of this academic odyssey lies the PhD defence—a culmination that transcends the boundaries of a mere formality, symbolizing the transformation from a student of a discipline to a recognized contributor to the academic tapestry.

The PhD defence, also known as the viva voce or oral examination, is a pivotal moment in the life of a doctoral candidate.

PhD defence is not merely a ritualistic ceremony; rather, it serves as a platform for scholars to present, defend, and elucidate the findings and implications of their research. The defence is the crucible where ideas are tested, hypotheses scrutinized, and the depth of scholarly understanding is laid bare.

The importance of the PhD defence reverberates throughout the academic landscape. It is not just a capstone event; it is the juncture where academic rigour meets real-world application. The defence is the litmus test of a researcher’s ability to articulate, defend, and contextualize their work—an evaluation that extends beyond the pages of a dissertation.

Beyond its evaluative nature, the defence serves as a rite of passage, validating the years of dedication, perseverance, and intellectual rigour invested in the research endeavour. Success in the defence is a testament to the candidate’s mastery of their subject matter and the originality and impact of their contributions to the academic community.

Furthermore, a successful defence paves the way for future contributions, positioning the scholar as a recognized authority in their field. The defence is not just an endpoint; it is a launchpad, propelling researchers into the next phase of their academic journey as they continue to shape and redefine the boundaries of knowledge.

In essence, the PhD defence is more than a ceremonial checkpoint—it is a transformative experience that validates the intellectual journey, underscores the significance of scholarly contributions, and sets the stage for a continued legacy of academic excellence. As we navigate the intricacies of this process, we invite you to explore the multifaceted dimensions that make the PhD defence an indispensable chapter in the narrative of academic achievement.

What is a PhD Defence?

At its core, a PhD defence is a rigorous and comprehensive examination that marks the culmination of a doctoral candidate’s research journey. It is an essential component of the doctoral process in which the candidate is required to defend their dissertation before a committee of experts in the field. The defence serves multiple purposes, acting as both a showcase of the candidate’s work and an evaluative measure of their understanding, critical thinking, and contributions to the academic domain.

The primary goals of a PhD defence include:

Presentation of Research: The candidate presents the key findings, methodology, and significance of their research.
Demonstration of Mastery: The defence assesses the candidate’s depth of understanding, mastery of the subject matter, and ability to engage in scholarly discourse.
Critical Examination: Committee members rigorously question the candidate, challenging assumptions, testing methodologies, and probing the boundaries of the research.
Validation of Originality: The defence validates the originality and contribution of the candidate’s work to the existing body of knowledge.

The PhD defence often takes the form of an oral examination, commonly referred to as the viva voce. This oral component adds a dynamic and interactive dimension to the evaluation process. Key elements of the oral examination include:

Presentation: The candidate typically begins with a formal presentation, summarizing the dissertation’s main components, methodology, and findings. This presentation is an opportunity to showcase the significance and novelty of the research.
Questioning and Discussion: Following the presentation, the candidate engages in a thorough questioning session with the examination committee. Committee members explore various aspects of the research, challenging the candidates to articulate their rationale, defend their conclusions, and respond to critiques.
Defence of Methodology: The candidate is often required to defend the chosen research methodology, demonstrating its appropriateness, rigour, and contribution to the field.
Evaluation of Contributions: Committee members assess the originality and impact of the candidate’s contributions to the academic discipline, seeking to understand how the research advances existing knowledge.

The oral examination is not a mere formality; it is a dynamic exchange that tests the candidate’s intellectual acumen, research skills, and capacity to contribute meaningfully to the scholarly community.

In essence, the PhD defence is a comprehensive and interactive evaluation that encapsulates the essence of a candidate’s research journey, demanding a synthesis of knowledge, clarity of expression, and the ability to navigate the complexities of academic inquiry. As we delve into the specifics of the defence process, we will unravel the layers of preparation and skill required to navigate this transformative academic milestone.

How Long is a PhD Defence?

The duration of a PhD defence can vary widely, but it typically ranges from two to three hours. This time frame encompasses the candidate’s presentation of their research, questioning and discussions with the examination committee, and any additional deliberations or decisions by the committee. However, it’s essential to note that this is a general guideline, and actual defence durations may vary based on numerous factors.

Sciences and Engineering: Defenses in these fields might lean towards the shorter end of the spectrum, often around two hours. The focus is often on the methodology, results, and technical aspects.
Humanities and Social Sciences: Given the theoretical and interpretive nature of research in these fields, defences might extend closer to three hours or more. Discussions may delve into philosophical underpinnings and nuanced interpretations.
Simple vs. Complex Studies: The complexity of the research itself plays a role. Elaborate experiments, extensive datasets, or intricate theoretical frameworks may necessitate a more extended defence.
Number of Committee Members: A larger committee or one with diverse expertise may lead to more extensive discussions and varied perspectives, potentially elongating the defence.
Committee Engagement: The level of engagement and probing by committee members can influence the overall duration. In-depth discussions or debates may extend the defence time.
Cultural Norms: In some countries, the oral defence might be more ceremonial, with less emphasis on intense questioning. In others, a rigorous and extended defence might be the norm.
Evaluation Practices: Different academic systems have varying evaluation criteria, which can impact the duration of the defence.
Institutional Guidelines: Some institutions may have specific guidelines on defence durations, influencing the overall time allotted for the process.

Candidates should be well-prepared for a defence of any duration. Adequate preparation not only involves a concise presentation of the research but also anticipates potential questions and engages in thoughtful discussions. Additionally, candidates should be flexible and responsive to the dynamics of the defense, adapting to the pace set by the committee.

Success Factors in a PhD Defence

Successful defence begins with a deep and comprehensive understanding of the research. Candidates should be well-versed in every aspect of their study, from the theoretical framework to the methodology and findings.
Thorough preparation involves anticipating potential questions from the examination committee. Candidates should consider the strengths and limitations of their research and be ready to address queries related to methodology, data analysis, and theoretical underpinnings.
Conducting mock defences with peers or mentors can be invaluable. It helps refine the presentation, exposes potential areas of weakness, and provides an opportunity to practice responding to challenging questions.
Actively listen to questions without interruption. Understanding the nuances of each question is crucial for providing precise and relevant responses.
Responses should be clear, concise, and directly address the question. Avoid unnecessary jargon, and strive to convey complex concepts in a manner that is accessible to the entire committee.
It’s acceptable not to have all the answers. If faced with a question that stumps you, acknowledge it honestly. Expressing a willingness to explore the topic further demonstrates intellectual humility.
Use questions as opportunities to reinforce key messages from the research. Skillfully link responses back to the core contributions of the study, emphasizing its significance.
Rehearse the presentation multiple times to build familiarity with the material. This enhances confidence, reduces nervousness, and ensures a smooth and engaging delivery.
Maintain confident and open body language. Stand tall, make eye contact, and use gestures judiciously. A composed demeanour contributes to a positive impression.
Acknowledge and manage nervousness. It’s natural to feel some anxiety, but channelling that energy into enthusiasm for presenting your research can turn nervousness into a positive force.
Engage with the committee through a dynamic and interactive presentation. Invite questions during the presentation to create a more conversational atmosphere.
Utilize visual aids effectively. Slides or other visual elements should complement the spoken presentation, reinforcing key points without overwhelming the audience.
View the defence not only as an evaluation but also as an opportunity for continuous improvement. Feedback received during the defence can inform future research endeavours and scholarly pursuits.

In essence, success in a PhD defence hinges on meticulous preparation, adept handling of questions, and projecting confidence and composure during the presentation. A well-prepared and resilient candidate is better positioned to navigate the challenges of the defence, transforming it from a moment of evaluation into an affirmation of scholarly achievement.

Failure in PhD Defence

While the prospect of failing a PhD defence is relatively rare, it’s essential for candidates to acknowledge that the possibility exists. Understanding this reality can motivate diligent preparation and a proactive approach to mitigate potential risks.
Failure, if it occurs, should be seen as a learning opportunity rather than a definitive endpoint. It may highlight areas for improvement and offer insights into refining the research and presentation.
Lack of thorough preparation, including a weak grasp of the research content, inadequate rehearsal, and failure to anticipate potential questions, can contribute to failure.
Inability to effectively defend the chosen research methodology, including justifying its appropriateness and demonstrating its rigour, can be a critical factor.
Failing to clearly articulate the original contributions of the research and its significance to the field may lead to a negative assessment.
Responding defensively to questions, exhibiting a lack of openness to critique, or being unwilling to acknowledge limitations can impact the overall impression.
Inability to address committee concerns or incorporate constructive feedback received during the defense may contribute to a negative outcome.
Comprehensive preparation is the cornerstone of success. Candidates should dedicate ample time to understanding every facet of their research, conducting mock defences, and seeking feedback.
Identify potential weaknesses in the research and address them proactively. Being aware of limitations and articulating plans for addressing them in future work demonstrates foresight.
Engage with mentors, peers, or advisors before the defence. Solicit constructive feedback on both the content and delivery of the presentation to refine and strengthen the defence.
Develop strategies to manage stress and nervousness. Techniques such as mindfulness, deep breathing, or visualization can be effective in maintaining composure during the defence.
Conduct a pre-defense review of all materials, ensuring that the presentation aligns with the dissertation and that visual aids are clear and supportive.
Approach the defence with an open and reflective attitude. Embrace critique as an opportunity for improvement rather than as a personal affront.
Clarify expectations with the examination committee beforehand. Understanding the committee’s focus areas and preferences can guide preparation efforts.
In the event of failure, candidates should approach the situation with resilience. Seek feedback from the committee, understand the reasons for the outcome, and use the experience as a springboard for improvement.

In summary, while the prospect of failing a PhD defence is uncommon, acknowledging its possibility and taking proactive steps to mitigate risks are crucial elements of a well-rounded defence strategy. By addressing common failure factors through thorough preparation, openness to critique, and a resilient attitude, candidates can increase their chances of a successful defence outcome.

PhD Defense or Defence?

The choice between “defense” and “defence” is primarily a matter of British English versus American English spelling conventions. “Defense” is the preferred spelling in American English, while “defence” is the British English spelling.
In the global academic community, both spellings are generally understood and accepted. However, the choice of spelling may be influenced by the academic institution’s language conventions or the preferences of individual scholars.
Academic institutions may have specific guidelines regarding language conventions, and candidates are often expected to adhere to the institution’s preferred spelling.
Candidates may also consider the preferences of their advisors or committee members. If there is a consistent spelling convention used within the academic department, it is advisable to align with those preferences.
Consideration should be given to the spelling conventions of scholarly journals in the candidate’s field. If intending to publish research stemming from the dissertation, aligning with the conventions of target journals is prudent.
If the defense presentation or dissertation will be shared with an international audience, using a more universally recognized spelling (such as “defense”) may be preferred to ensure clarity and accessibility.
Regardless of the chosen spelling, it’s crucial to maintain consistency throughout the document. Mixing spellings can distract from the content and may be perceived as an oversight.
In oral presentations and written correspondence related to the defence, including emails, it’s advisable to maintain consistency with the chosen spelling to present a professional and polished image.
Recognizing that language conventions can vary, candidates should approach the choice of spelling with flexibility. Being adaptable to the preferences of the academic context and demonstrating an awareness of regional variations reflects a nuanced understanding of language usage.
With the increasing globalization of academia, an awareness of language variations becomes essential. Scholars often collaborate across borders, and an inclusive approach to language conventions contributes to effective communication and collaboration.

In summary, the choice between “PhD defense” and “PhD defence” boils down to regional language conventions and institutional preferences. Maintaining consistency, being mindful of the target audience, and adapting to the expectations of the academic community contribute to a polished and professional presentation, whether in written documents or oral defences.

Is PhD Defense a Formality?

While the PhD defence is a structured and ritualistic event, it is far from being a mere formality. It is a critical and substantive part of the doctoral journey, designed to rigorously evaluate the candidate’s research contributions, understanding of the field, and ability to engage in scholarly discourse.
The defence is not a checkbox to be marked but rather a dynamic process where the candidate’s research is evaluated for its scholarly merit. The committee scrutinizes the originality, significance, and methodology of the research, aiming to ensure it meets the standards of advanced academic work.
Far from a passive or purely ceremonial event, the defence involves active engagement between the candidate and the examination committee. Questions, discussions, and debates are integral components that enrich the scholarly exchange during the defence.
The defence serves as a platform for the candidate to demonstrate the originality of their research. Committee members assess the novelty of the contributions, ensuring that the work adds value to the existing body of knowledge.
Beyond the content, the defence evaluates the methodological rigour of the research. Committee members assess whether the chosen methodology is appropriate, well-executed, and contributes to the validity of the findings.
Successful completion of the defence affirms the candidate’s ability to contribute meaningfully to the academic discourse in their field. It is an endorsement of the candidate’s position as a knowledgeable and respected scholar.
The defence process acts as a quality assurance mechanism in academia. It ensures that individuals awarded a doctoral degree have undergone a thorough and rigorous evaluation, upholding the standards of excellence in research and scholarly inquiry.
Institutions have specific criteria and standards for awarding a PhD. The defence process aligns with these institutional and academic standards, providing a consistent and transparent mechanism for evaluating candidates.
Successful completion of the defence is a pivotal moment that marks the transition from a doctoral candidate to a recognized scholar. It opens doors to further contributions, collaborations, and opportunities within the academic community.
Research presented during the defence often forms the basis for future publications. The validation received in the defence enhances the credibility of the research, facilitating its dissemination and impact within the academic community.
Beyond the academic realm, a successfully defended PhD is a key credential for professional advancement. It enhances one’s standing in the broader professional landscape, opening doors to research positions, teaching opportunities, and leadership roles.

In essence, the PhD defence is a rigorous and meaningful process that goes beyond formalities, playing a crucial role in affirming the academic merit of a candidate’s research and marking the culmination of their journey toward scholarly recognition.

Dressing for Success: PhD Defense Outfit

For Men: A well-fitted suit in neutral colours (black, navy, grey), a collared dress shirt, a tie, and formal dress shoes.
For Women: A tailored suit, a blouse or button-down shirt, and closed-toe dress shoes.
Dress codes can vary based on cultural expectations. It’s advisable to be aware of any cultural nuances within the academic institution and to adapt attire accordingly.
With the rise of virtual defenses, considerations for attire remain relevant. Even in online settings, dressing professionally contributes to a polished and serious demeanor. Virtual attire can mirror what one would wear in-person, focusing on the upper body visible on camera.
The attire chosen for a PhD defense contributes to the first impression that a candidate makes on the examination committee. A professional and polished appearance sets a positive tone for the defense.
Dressing appropriately reflects respect for the gravity of the occasion. It acknowledges the significance of the defense as a formal evaluation of one’s scholarly contributions.
Wearing professional attire can contribute to a boost in confidence. When individuals feel well-dressed and put-together, it can positively impact their mindset and overall presentation.
The PhD defense is a serious academic event, and dressing professionally fosters an atmosphere of seriousness and commitment to the scholarly process. It aligns with the respect one accords to academic traditions.
Institutional norms may influence dress expectations. Some academic institutions may have specific guidelines regarding attire for formal events, and candidates should be aware of and adhere to these norms.
While adhering to the formality expected in academic settings, individuals can also express their personal style within the bounds of professionalism. It’s about finding a balance between institutional expectations and personal comfort.
Select and prepare the outfit well in advance to avoid last-minute stress. Ensure that the attire is clean, well-ironed, and in good condition.
Accessories such as ties, scarves, or jewelry should complement the outfit. However, it’s advisable to keep accessories subtle to maintain a professional appearance.
While dressing professionally, prioritize comfort. PhD defenses can be mentally demanding, and comfortable attire can contribute to a more confident and composed demeanor.
Pay attention to grooming, including personal hygiene and haircare. A well-groomed appearance contributes to an overall polished look.
Start preparation well in advance of the defense date. Know your research inside out, anticipate potential questions, and be ready to discuss the nuances of your methodology, findings, and contributions.
Conduct mock defenses with peers, mentors, or colleagues. Mock defenses provide an opportunity to receive constructive feedback, practice responses to potential questions, and refine your presentation.
Strike a balance between confidence and humility. Confidence in presenting your research is essential, but being open to acknowledging limitations and areas for improvement demonstrates intellectual honesty.
Actively engage with the examination committee during the defense. Listen carefully to questions, respond thoughtfully, and view the defense as a scholarly exchange rather than a mere formality.
Understand the expertise and backgrounds of the committee members. Tailor your presentation and responses to align with the interests and expectations of your specific audience.
Practice time management during your presentation. Ensure that you allocate sufficient time to cover key aspects of your research, leaving ample time for questions and discussions.
It’s normal to feel nervous, but practicing mindfulness and staying calm under pressure is crucial. Take deep breaths, maintain eye contact, and focus on delivering a clear and composed presentation.
Have a plan for post-defense activities. Whether it’s revisions to the dissertation, publications, or future research endeavors, having a roadmap for what comes next demonstrates foresight and commitment to ongoing scholarly contributions.
After successfully defending, individuals often emphasize the importance of taking time to reflect on the entire doctoral journey. Acknowledge personal and academic growth, celebrate achievements, and use the experience to inform future scholarly pursuits.

In summary, learning from the experiences of others who have successfully defended offers a wealth of practical wisdom. These insights, combined with thoughtful preparation and a proactive approach, contribute to a successful and fulfilling defense experience.

You have plenty of career options after completing a PhD. For more details, visit my blog posts:

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The journey from a curious researcher to a recognized scholar culminates in the PhD defence—an intellectual odyssey marked by dedication, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge. As we navigate the intricacies of this pivotal event, it becomes evident that the PhD defence is far more than a ceremonial rite; it is a substantive evaluation that validates the contributions of a researcher to the academic landscape.

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PhD Dissertation Defense Slides Design: Start

Tips for designing the slides
Presentation checklist
Example slides
Additional Resources

Purpose of the Guide

This guide was created to help ph.d. students in engineering fields to design dissertation defense presentations. the guide provides 1) tips on how to effectively communicate research, and 2) full presentation examples from ph.d. graduates. the tips on designing effective slides are not restricted to dissertation defense presentations; they can be used in designing other types of presentations such as conference talks, qualification and proposal exams, and technical seminars., the tips and examples are used to help students to design effective presentation. the technical contents in all examples are subject to copyright, please do not replicate. , if you need help in designing your presentation, please contact julie chen ([email protected]) for individual consultation. .

Example Slides Repository
Defense slides examples Link to examples dissertation defense slides.

Useful Links

CIT Thesis and dissertation standards
Dissertations and Theses @ Carnegie Mellon This link opens in a new window Covers 1920-present. Full text of some dissertations may be available 1997-present. Citations and abstracts of dissertations and theses CMU graduate students have published through UMI Dissertation Publishing. In addition to citations and abstracts, the service provides free access to 24 page previews and the full text in PDF format, when available. In most cases, this will be works published in 1997 forward.
Communicate your research data Data visualization is very important in communicating your data effectively. Check out these do's and don'ts for designing figures.

Power Point Template and other Resources

CEE Powerpoint Slide Presentation Template 1
CEE Powerpoint Slide Presentation Template 2

Source: CEE Department Resources https://www.cmu.edu/cee/resources/index.html

CMU Powerpoint Slide Template

Source: CMU Marketing and Communications

https://www.cmu.edu/marcom/brand-standards/downloads/index.html

Use of CMU logos, marks, and Unitmarks

Email me for questions and schedule an appointment

2. Emphasize YOUR contribution

Having a ph.d. means that you have made some novel contributions to the grand field. this is about you and your research. you need to keep emphasizing your contributions throughout your presentation. after talking about what needs to be solved, try to focus on emphasizing the novelty of your work. what problems can be solved using your research outcomes what breakthroughs have you made to the field why are your methods and outcomes outstanding you need to incorporate answers to these questions in your presentation. , be clear what your contributions are in the introduction section; separate what was done by others and what was done by you. , 3. connect your projects into a whole piece of work, you might have been doing multiple projects that are not strongly connected. to figure out how to connect them into a whole piece, use visualizations such as flow charts to convince your audience. the two slides below are two examples. in the first slide, which was presented in the introduction section, the presenter used a flow diagram to show the connection between the three projects. in the second slide, the presenter used key figures and a unique color for each project to show the connection..

Xiaoju Chen Defense Slides with Notes

4. Tell a good story

The committee members do not necessarily have the same background knowledge as you. plus, there could be researchers from other fields and even the general public in the room. you want to make sure all of your audience can understand as much as possible. focus on the big picture rather than technical details; make sure you use simple language to explain your methods and results. your committee has read your dissertation before your defense, but others have not. , dr. cook and dr. velibeyoglu did a good job explaining their research to everyone. the introduction sessions in their presentations are well designed for this purpose. .

Laren M. Cook Defense Slides with Notes
Irem Velibeyoglu Defense with Notes

5. Transition, transition, transition

Use transition slides to connect projects , it's a long presentation with different research projects. you want to use some sort of transition to remind your audience what you have been talking about and what is next. you may use a slide that is designed for this purpose throughout your presentation. , below are two examples. these slides were presented after the introduction section. the presenters used the same slides and highlighted the items for project one to indicate that they were moving on to the first project. throughout the presentation, they used these slides and highlighted different sections to indicate how these projects fit into the whole dissertation. .

You can also use some other indications on your slides, but remember not to make your slides too busy. Below are two examples. In the first example, the presenter used chapter numbers to indicate what he was talking about. In the second example, the presenter used a progress bar with keywords for each chapter as the indicator.

Use transition sentences to connect slides

Remember transition sentences are also important; use them to summarize what you have said and tell your audience what they will expect next. if you keep forgetting the transition sentence, write a note on your presentation. you can either write down a full sentence of what you want to say or some keywords., 6. be brief, put details in backup slides , you won't have time to explain all of the details. if your defense presentation is scheduled for 45 minutes, you can only spend around 10 minutes for each project - that's shorter than a normal research conference presentation focus on the big picture and leave details behind. you can put the details in your backup slides, so you might find them useful when your committee (and other members of the audience) ask questions regarding these details., 7. show your presentation to your advisor and colleagues, make sure to ask your advisor(s) for their comments. they might have a different view on what should be emphasized and what should be elaborated. , you also want to practice at least once in front of your colleagues. they can be your lab mates, people who work in your research group, and/or your friends. they do not have to be experts in your field. ask them to give you some feedback - their comments can be extremely helpful to improve your presentation. , below are some other tips and resources to design your defense presentation. .

Tips for designing your defense presentation

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Last Updated: Jan 9, 2024 11:18 AM
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Evaluation Decisions for Doctoral Defense

Doctoral students are required to review the degree plans for their program, along with information about specific degree requirements and estimated timelines to reach various benchmarks for the different degree plan specializations.

There are three possible evaluation decisions for the doctoral defense. All decisions—with the exception of “fail”—must be unanimous.

“Pass” requires that both the defense and the document (dissertation or treatise) are acceptable. In some cases, the committee may require revisions, which will be checked by the entire committee or by the supervising professor only. This should be agreed upon at the time of the defense and communicated with the student.

While the supervisor should wait to sign the Report of Dissertation Committee until all revisions have been reviewed, the other committee members may choose to sign at the defense. The committee should agree upon the length of time allowed for submission of the revised dissertation; this must be communicated clearly to the student.

The completed Report of Dissertation Committee should be returned to the Graduate School only after the final revisions to the dissertation have been approved and the GSC designee has signed.

If the dissertation and/or defense are not acceptable to all members of the committee, the decision will change to either "re-defend" or "fail" as discussed below:

“Re-defend” indicates that the committee is not satisfied with the dissertation or with the oral examination, but believes that rewriting may make it acceptable. In this case, the fully signed Report of Dissertation Committee should be returned to the Graduate School by the Supervisor, with each member of the committee indicating their decision. Another scheduled defense will be required and a new report will be generated.

Report on Doctoral Dissertation forms

Committee members should submit their individual Report on Doctoral Dissertation forms indicating their dissatisfaction.

“Fail” indicates that at least one member of the committee has decided that the dissertation is unsatisfactory and may not be rewritten. The fully signed Report of Dissertation Committee should be returned to the Graduate School by the supervisor, with each member of the committee indicating their decision.

Committee members should also submit their individual Report on Doctoral Dissertation forms indicating their dissatisfaction. This decision normally results in the termination of a doctoral student’s program.

Documentation

Document a dissertation defense as follows:

The supervisor should bring the Report of Dissertation Committee to the defense.

The scheduling information on the Report must be correct; if the time or location changes, the Graduate School must be informed.

All committee members sign the Report of Dissertation Committee, even if the member was not present at the defense.

Scanned or electronic signatures will be accepted as long as they are legible and dark enough to be imaged. Typed names as a signature are not allowed. Electronic and digitally authorized signatures may be accepted in any font format so long as they include the insignia or logo of the e-signature software used showing authorization.

Once all members have signed the report the Graduate Studies Committee chair or designee should provide the final signature.

The final signature indicates that all coursework and other departmental requirements have been completed. All signatures should be on a single page.

The Report of Dissertation Committee should be submitted to the Graduate School by the student.

The report should be submitted along with the student's final paperwork.

Defense and Dissertation Overview

Once a student’s box is checked, the BPH student should set up a one-on-one “Defense Packet Meeting” with the BPH Associate Director to review the Defense and Dissertation Process, which includes reviewing all required materials, logistics, timing, FAS/Harvard Griffin GSAS Form of the Dissertation, sample forms, and to answer student questions related to these processes.

Defense Committee Chair: One member of the student’s DAC, often the DAC chair, is required to chair the oral defense. This required holdover from the DAC serves the purpose of providing insight to the examiners regarding the path the student has taken in completing the dissertation research. Their primary role is to assess committee satisfaction with the written dissertation, administer the exam, arbitrate any problems that may arise, and make final recommendations for completion of necessary corrections and additions to the dissertation. No other DAC members can serve on the defense committee .
At least one member must be a BPH faculty member, often from the same academic department.
One member of the examination committee must be from outside of Harvard University.
The fourth member may be from either BPH or another Harvard-affiliated program.
Co-authors and collaborators cannot be members of the Defense committee

DEFENSE TIMING AND FORMAT

Students should notify the BPH Program as far in advance as possible with the details of the exam.
The student is required to notify the BPH office no later than 3 weeks in advance of the defense with the final dissertation title.
At least two weeks before the date of exam, defense members should be sent copies of the dissertation for review. A copy of the dissertation should also be sent to the BPH program.
If any defense committee member foresees problems with the exam, they should contact the chair of the defense committee in advance of the meeting. If major problems are found with the written document, the Committee can decide to postpone the oral defense until satisfactory changes are made. While rare in our program, these occasions can involve the insufficient or improper use of statistical methods, grossly overstated conclusions, insufficient background or discussion, or evidence of plagiarism.
More details about the timing and format are provided in the “Defense Packet Meeting” held with each student.

STIPEND GUIDELINES

If a student successfully defends the dissertation before the 15th of the month, the stipend will be terminated at the end of that month. If the student successfully defends on or after the 15th, the next month’s stipend will be the final month the student is paid, at the discretion of their advisor.

Students are encouraged to speak to their advisors directly about how they should be paid as they complete their graduate work. If an advisor wishes to pay the student for one additional month, beyond what has been explained above, the advisor must notify the department’s financial administrator. For administrative reasons, a stipend cannot be issued to a student after their graduation/degree conferral date.

ORAL DEFENSE PROCEDURES

Part 1: Public Seminar As part of the exam, the PhD candidate will present a public seminar followed by a private oral examination. The public presentation lasts no longer than 1 hour, which includes time for the advisor’s introduction, the student’s oral presentation and acknowledgements, and time for audience questions and answers. The Defense Committee is required to attend the public seminar; however, it is customary for members of the defense committee to hold their questions until the private oral exam.

Part 2: Private Oral Examination A private oral examination follows the public seminar. Initially, the student will be asked to leave the room for several minutes, along with the dissertation advisor if the dissertation advisor has decided to remain for the private exam. During this time, the committee will discuss the merits of the dissertation, any issues with the dissertation, and areas they may want to focus on during the oral exam. The student (and advisor if present) is then asked back into the room for the exam.

Each member of the defense committee will direct questions to the candidate based on their review of the dissertation and presentation of the seminar. The Defense Chair will moderate the discussion between the panel and the student. The closed defense takes up to two hours and involves detailed technical questions as well as broader questions on the conclusions, impact, and limitations of the research. Dissertation advisors may be present, but they must not participate in the exam (e.g., answer questions posed by the committee).

At the end of the examination, the student (and advisor if present) is once again asked to step out of the room for several minutes. The Committee will discuss any revisions needed for the thesis and whether these revisions need to be reviewed and by whom. Once the committee determines the outcomes, the student will be asked back into the room and the Committee provides the student with any [minor] changes needed to the dissertation. While it is extremely rare for the student to fail at this stage, the committee will provide recommendations to the student on their research, communication skills, and development as a scientist, as well as delineating the required changes to the dissertation.

PREPARING FOR THE DEFENSE/WRITING THE DISSERTATION

Students preparing to write and defend their dissertation must review University requirements as outlined in “ Dissertations ” with guidelines published at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

Students are also welcome to visit the BPH Student Lounge (Building 2, Room 113) to look at copies of previous BPH bound dissertations.

Writing the Dissertation Each student must write a comprehensive PhD dissertation on their research topic and the original results of their research. There are a variety of ways a dissertation can be composed, but the core elements described below must be included. The dissertation must show original treatment of the subject, contain a scholarly review of the pertinent literature, provide evidence of independent research of publishable quality, and be clearly, logically, and carefully written. In addition to a compendium of the student’s research, including detailed methods and results, the dissertation must contain a thoughtful discussion of the conclusions, impact, and limitations of the research. The completed work should be critically reviewed by the dissertation advisor before being submitted to the Dissertation Defense Committee.

In some cases, the student has done all of the work in the dissertation; more often portions of the dissertation result from collaborative research. In all dissertations containing collaborative results, the dissertation should indicate concisely who contributed to the work and how. For example, a chapter containing multi-authored, published work must include a complete reference of the publication and a brief description of the candidate’s and the colleagues’ contributions. For work that is not published but which resulted from multiple researchers, the contributors must be named and respective attributions made clear. This policy allows stylistic flexibility; depending on the amount of collaborative work in the dissertation and the status of publication(s), the attributions can be, preferably, on or accompanying the cover page for each chapter or within an extended acknowledgements section at the end of each chapter. It is recommended that if figures or figure panels are included that are the work of others that the figure panels be clearly identified and the work properly attributed. It is permissible for more than one student to include work from the same collaboration or publication as long as the required attributions are clear, justified, and complete.

Individual chapters can be that of published articles as long as there are also comprehensive Introduction and Conclusion chapters written by the student. While the text can be the same, use of journal reprints as a chapter is not permissible. A word document of the published article must be used, and the pages in the dissertation must be consecutively numbered. Furthermore, the figures and accompanying figure legends must be integrated into the main body of each chapter, preferably following the first mention of the given figure, not clustered at the end of the chapter. Any dissertation that varies significantly from the Graduate School or FAS guidelines, or is not neat and readable, is subject to required stylistic revision before acceptance by the University. (For further information, please visit https://gsas.harvard.edu/academics/dissertations ).

DEFENSE FORMS AND PAPERWORK

Dissertation Acceptance Certificate Before the examination, the BPH Program Office will provide the Defense Committee Chair with a copy of the official Dissertation Acceptance Certificate. This certificate must be signed by all readers of the dissertation at the end of the examination and returned to the BPH Program Office. This certificate will be scanned and sent to the student so it can be inserted as page one of the dissertation prior to the online submission. The student must submit the one original, official copy to the Registrar’s in Cambridge by the appropriate deadline.

If extensive corrections are to be made, the BPH Program Office will hold the certificate until the Defense Committee Chair, and/or assigned reviewer(s) provide a written notification to the BPH Program to confirm that the corrected work has been reviewed and approved.

Dissertation Defense Exam Report The Dissertation Defense Exam Report is completed by the members of the Dissertation Defense Committee to provide a record of any comments or recommendations they may have. The report must be signed by all members immediately after the private exam. The completed report must be submitted to the BPH Program Office at the same time as the Dissertation Acceptance Certificate.

Sample Dissertation Title Page Please click here to see a sample BPH Dissertation Title Page. Again, please refer to the Dissertation website for guidelines about how to format your dissertation.

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Graduate College

Doctoral dissertation defense, registration requirements heading link copy link, registration requirements.

Students must be registered from the term in which the Preliminary Examination is taken through the term of a successful defense of the dissertation, excluding summers, unless the Preliminary Examination or defense occur in a Summer term. If the defense will occur on or before the last day of registration for the term (first ten days in Fall and Spring Semesters, first five days in the eight-week Summer session) and the student was registered the previous term (e.g. Summer term for a Fall defense), registration is not required. A defense after the last day of registration for the term requires registration that term.

If the student has a fellowship, assistantship and/or tuition waiver for the term, the student must be registered for the required hours or resign the award or assistantship. If the student is on a student visa, consult with the Office of International Services. Students should also consult with their program to determine if the program requires registration.

Students may petition for zero (0) hours once the preliminary exam is passed, assuming all requirements are completed except for the dissertation.

Registration for terms after the term of a successful defense is not required if official graduation does not occur the term of the defense, unless the student is the recipient of a fellowship, assistantship and/or tuition and service-fee waiver, or is on a student visa.

Note for Student Visa Holders: Current SEVIS (federal immigration) regulations do not allow an international student on a student visa to register for more than zero (0) hours in a subsequent term, if the student was registered for zero (0) hours previously, unless the student is admitted into a different program. This precludes accepting an assistantship or tuition waiver for future terms after a zero-hour registration occurs. The rationale for the regulation is that zero-hour registration is allowed for students on a visa only if all requirements other than the thesis or master’s project are completed, and registration for more than zero hours indicates that they did not originally qualify, and, are thus out of status. Unfortunately, flexibility to take a course for intellectual development or to register for hours to qualify for an assistantship or tuition waiver after zero hour registration does not exist currently.

Dissertation Advisor Heading link Copy link

Dissertation advisor.

All candidates for the Ph.D. degree must have an advisor who is a full member of the UIC graduate faculty. The advisor is considered the primary reader of the dissertation.

Defense Heading link Copy link

The defense must be open to the academic community of the University and be publicly announced one week prior to its occurrence.

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Committee composition.

The dissertation committee is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate College on the recommendation of the student’s department or program. The defense committee consists of at least five persons, of whom one must be from outside their program. The chair of the committee must be a full member of the UIC graduate faculty. At least two members of the committee must be tenured faculty at UIC; at least one must be from outside the degree-granting program, which may include graduate faculty from other UIC departments or colleges. The outside member can also be from outside the University in which case the member must demonstrate equivalent academic standards; the member’s curriculum vitae must accompany the Committee Recommendation form.

A Committee Recommendation Form must be submitted to the Graduate College at least three (3) weeks prior to the dissertation defense. The staff in the Graduate College reviews the Committee Recommendation form and, if the recommended committee meets Graduate College guidelines, approval is given by the Dean. The academic status of the student is checked to ensure that s/he is in good academic standing. A letter is then prepared by the Graduate College to each member of the committee asking him or her to serve on the committee. The letter is sent to the graduate program for distribution to each committee member.

The Examination Report form is sent to the graduate program support person after the committee is approved by the Graduate College Dean. It should be filed in the student’s folder so it is available when the examination is held and all committee members may sign. This form cannot be duplicated and changes cannot be made without prior approval of the Graduate College.

Changes to the student name as submitted, thesis title, or committee may be requested before the exam occurs using the Request Change of Student Name on Thesis, Thesis Title, or Committee Member(s) Form .

Graduate College Faculty Listings

Grading Heading link Copy link

The committee vote is “pass” or “fail”. A candidate cannot be passed if more than one vote of “fail” is reported. After the candidate’s defense, the Examination Report form signed by all members of the committee must be submitted to the Graduate College immediately. Once the examination report is returned to the Graduate College, the results are posted to the student’s record in the Graduate College. If the vote is “pass”, that degree requirement is now satisfied and the student may take the next step toward graduation. If the vote is “fail”, the committee may recommend that the Dean permit a second defense. This second examination must be initiated by submission of a new Committee Recommendation form, even if there is no change in membership. A third defense will not be permitted.

A committee may recommend “pass – with specified conditions”. If this does occur, the conditions must be specified on the Examination Report Form along with the name of a committee member who will monitor the fulfillment of any such conditions. This named person must then report to the Graduate College in a memo when conditions have been satisfied.

Exams & Defense Forms Heading link Copy link

Exams & Defense Forms

Defending Your Dissertation: A Guide

A woman in front of a bookshelf speaking to a laptop

Written by Luke Wink-Moran | Photo by insta_photos

Dissertation defenses are daunting, and no wonder; it’s not a “dissertation discussion,” or a “dissertation dialogue.” The name alone implies that the dissertation you’ve spent the last x number of years working on is subject to attack. And if you don’t feel trepidation for semantic reasons, you might be nervous because you don’t know what to expect. Our imaginations are great at making The Unknown scarier than reality. The good news is that you’ll find in this newsletter article experts who can shed light on what dissertations defenses are really like, and what you can do to prepare for them.

The first thing you should know is that your defense has already begun. It started the minute you began working on your dissertation— maybe even in some of the classes you took beforehand that helped you formulate your ideas. This, according to Dr. Celeste Atkins, is why it’s so important to identify a good mentor early in graduate school.

“To me,” noted Dr. Atkins, who wrote her dissertation on how sociology faculty from traditionally marginalized backgrounds teach about privilege and inequality, “the most important part of the doctoral journey was finding an advisor who understood and supported what I wanted from my education and who was willing to challenge me and push me, while not delaying me. I would encourage future PhDs to really take the time to get to know the faculty before choosing an advisor and to make sure that the members of their committee work well together.”

Your advisor will be the one who helps you refine arguments and strengthen your work so that by the time it reaches your dissertation committee, it’s ready. Next comes the writing process, which many students have said was the hardest part of their PhD. I’ve included this section on the writing process because this is where you’ll create all the material you’ll present during your defense, so it’s important to navigate it successfully. The writing process is intellectually grueling, it eats time and energy, and it’s where many students find themselves paddling frantically to avoid languishing in the “All-But-Dissertation” doldrums. The writing process is also likely to encroach on other parts of your life. For instance, Dr. Cynthia Trejo wrote her dissertation on college preparation for Latin American students while caring for a twelve-year-old, two adult children, and her aging parents—in the middle of a pandemic. When I asked Dr. Trejo how she did this, she replied:

“I don’t take the privilege of education for granted. My son knew I got up at 4:00 a.m. every morning, even on weekends, even on holidays; and it’s a blessing that he’s seen that work ethic and that dedication and the end result.”

Importantly, Dr. Trejo also exercised regularly and joined several online writing groups at UArizona. She mobilized her support network— her partner, parents, and even friends from high school to help care for her son.

The challenges you face during the writing process can vary by discipline. Jessika Iwanski is an MD/PhD student who in 2022 defended her dissertation on genetic mutations in sarcomeric proteins that lead to severe, neonatal dilated cardiomyopathy. She described her writing experience as “an intricate process of balancing many things at once with a deadline (defense day) that seems to be creeping up faster and faster— finishing up experiments, drafting the dissertation, preparing your presentation, filling out all the necessary documents for your defense and also, for MD/PhD students, beginning to reintegrate into the clinical world (reviewing your clinical knowledge and skill sets)!”

But no matter what your unique challenges are, writing a dissertation can take a toll on your mental health. Almost every student I spoke with said they saw a therapist and found their sessions enormously helpful. They also looked to the people in their lives for support. Dr. Betsy Labiner, who wrote her dissertation on Interiority, Truth, and Violence in Early Modern Drama, recommended, “Keep your loved ones close! This is so hard – the dissertation lends itself to isolation, especially in the final stages. Plus, a huge number of your family and friends simply won’t understand what you’re going through. But they love you and want to help and are great for getting you out of your head and into a space where you can enjoy life even when you feel like your dissertation is a flaming heap of trash.”

While you might sometimes feel like your dissertation is a flaming heap of trash, remember: a) no it’s not, you brilliant scholar, and b) the best dissertations aren’t necessarily perfect dissertations. According to Dr. Trejo, “The best dissertation is a done dissertation.” So don’t get hung up on perfecting every detail of your work. Think of your dissertation as a long-form assignment that you need to finish in order to move onto the next stage of your career. Many students continue revising after graduation and submit their work for publication or other professional objectives.

When you do finish writing your dissertation, it’s time to schedule your defense and invite friends and family to the part of the exam that’s open to the public. When that moment comes, how do you prepare to present your work and field questions about it?

“I reread my dissertation in full in one sitting,” said Dr. Labiner. “During all my time writing it, I’d never read more than one complete chapter at a time! It was a huge confidence boost to read my work in full and realize that I had produced a compelling, engaging, original argument.”

There are many other ways to prepare: create presentation slides and practice presenting them to friends or alone; think of questions you might be asked and answer them; think about what you want to wear or where you might want to sit (if you’re presenting on Zoom) that might give you a confidence boost. Iwanksi practiced presenting with her mentor and reviewed current papers to anticipate what questions her committee might ask. If you want to really get in the zone, you can emulate Dr. Labiner and do a full dress rehearsal on Zoom the day before your defense.

But no matter what you do, you’ll still be nervous:

“I had a sense of the logistics, the timing, and so on, but I didn’t really have clear expectations outside of the structure. It was a sort of nebulous three hours in which I expected to be nauseatingly terrified,” recalled Dr. Labiner.

“I expected it to be terrifying, with lots of difficult questions and constructive criticism/comments given,” agreed Iwanski.

“I expected it to be very scary,” said Dr. Trejo.

“I expected it to be like I was on trial, and I’d have to defend myself and prove I deserved a PhD,” said Dr Atkins.

And, eventually, inexorably, it will be time to present.

“It was actually very enjoyable” said Iwanski. “It was more of a celebration of years of work put into this project—not only by me but by my mentor, colleagues, lab members and collaborators! I felt very supported by all my committee members and, rather than it being a rapid fire of questions, it was more of a scientific discussion amongst colleagues who are passionate about heart disease and muscle biology.”

“I was anxious right when I logged on to the Zoom call for it,” said Dr. Labiner, “but I was blown away by the number of family and friends that showed up to support me. I had invited a lot of people who I didn’t at all think would come, but every single person I invited was there! Having about 40 guests – many of them joining from different states and several from different countries! – made me feel so loved and celebrated that my nerves were steadied very quickly. It also helped me go into ‘teaching mode’ about my work, so it felt like getting to lead a seminar on my most favorite literature.”

“In reality, my dissertation defense was similar to presenting at an academic conference,” said Dr. Atkins. “I went over my research in a practiced and organized way, and I fielded questions from the audience.

“It was a celebration and an important benchmark for me,” said Dr. Trejo. “It was a pretty happy day. Like the punctuation at the end of your sentence: this sentence is done; this journey is done. You can start the next sentence.”

If you want to learn more about dissertations in your own discipline, don’t hesitate to reach out to graduates from your program and ask them about their experiences. If you’d like to avail yourself of some of the resources that helped students in this article while they wrote and defended their dissertations, check out these links:

The Graduate Writing Lab

https://thinktank.arizona.edu/writing-center/graduate-writing-lab

The Writing Skills Improvement Program

https://wsip.arizona.edu

Campus Health Counseling and Psych Services

https://caps.arizona.edu

https://www.scribbr.com/

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Preparing for your phd thesis defence.

As you start thinking about the end stages of your PhD, it’s important to understand the processes and timelines related to the thesis defence so that your degree completion is not delayed. Even if your thesis defence seems far away, there are several planning considerations you can consider early on to help the end stages of your PhD go smoothly.

On this page you will find videos, tools, and information about what the PhD thesis defence is , timelines for the PhD thesis defence , and tips for a successful PhD thesis defence .

All PhD students should also ensure that they read the PhD thesis examination regulations and review the thesis preparation guidelines prior to their oral defence. If your thesis defence will be conducted remotely, you should also review the process for a remote thesis defence .

What is the PhD defence?

Understanding the purpose, processes and possible outcomes of the thesis defence can help you feel more prepared for the defence itself. In this video, you’ll learn about what the defence is, who’s there, what happens, and the deliberation and range of possible outcomes.

Transcript - Demystifying the thesis defence at University of Waterloo (PDF)

You may wish to learn more about some of the topics discussed in this video. Here are some helpful links to learn more:

Examination committee members (including the external examiner): Visit the PhD thesis examination regulations section on the PhD thesis examining committee for more information about the committee members, including information about the external examiner and conflicts of interest.

Closed thesis defences and non-disclosure agreements: Visit the PhD thesis examination regulations section on guidelines for thesis examination without public disclosure for more information about closed thesis examinations.
Thesis defence decisions and outcomes: Visit the PhD thesis examination regulations section on decisions for additional information about decisions and outcomes.
Thesis submission: Visit the thesis submission webpage for information about the thesis submission process, including approvals that must be obtained before submitting your thesis.
UWSpace: Visit the Library’s UWSpace webpage for information about what UWSpace is and how to submit, or deposit, your thesis to UWSpace.

Timeline to defence

Early planning considerations.

Well before your defence date, there are several considerations to think about that can help make the end stages of your degree go smoothly and ensure your defence date and degree completion are not delayed:

Being aware of formatting requirements will save you time on revisions later on – the last thing you want to be doing before submitting your thesis to UWSpace is updating page numbers or your table of contents! Consider using the Microsoft Word or LaTeX thesis template produced by Information Systems & Technology.
The Dissertation Boost Camp can help you develop effective writing practices and strategies for completing your thesis, while the three-part Rock Your Thesis workshop series will provide practical guidance for planning, writing, revising, and submitting your thesis project. You can also book an individual appointment to do backwards planning with an advisor. They can help you utilize the planning tools most effectively, while providing hands-on guidance and feedback.
If you are using third-party content, including your own previously published work in your thesis, or seeking intellectual property protection (for yourself or another involved party), there may be implications for your thesis or defence. Learn more about copyright for your thesis , and email [email protected] for help with copyright questions related to your thesis.
Depending on your departmental or discipline’s norms, you may require approval from your entire committee, or just your supervisor. Ensure you talk with your supervisor and/or committee early on to confirm processes and timelines, so you’re not surprised later.
Depending on your departmental or discipline’s norms, your supervisor may select an external examiner themselves, or they may seek your input. Talk to your supervisor early on about this process, as in some faculties the external examiner may need to be vetted and approved as early as the term before you wish to defend. Remember that there are conflict of interest guidelines around the appointment of the external examiner , and the PhD candidate should not be in communication with the external examiner prior to the defence.
A PhD thesis must be on display for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the defence date. To accommodate, you may need to submit your thesis as early as 6-8 weeks prior to your defence. Review your faculty specific backwards planning tool for the thesis submission deadline in your faculty and learn more about the display period in the PhD thesis examination regulations.
After your successful thesis defence, you will likely have some required revisions to your thesis. It’s important to understand revision timelines , especially if you’re hoping to become “degree complete” before a tuition refund or convocation deadline. Find tuition refund and convocation deadlines in the important dates calendar .
Following your thesis defence, there are several steps to be taken before your final, approved thesis is accepted in UWSpace. Ensure that you’re aware of these thesis submission steps and timelines in advance.

Backwards planning tools

Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs, in collaboration with the Faculties, have prepared faculty specific backwards planning tools to help PhD candidates map out the timelines related to their thesis defence and degree completion.

Select your faculty below to download a PDF copy of the backwards planning tool. We encourage you to discuss your ideal timelines with your supervisor(s) and your department graduate program co-ordinator.

Faculty of Health backwards planning tool (PDF)
Faculty of Arts backwards planning tool (PDF)
Faculty of Engineering backwards planning tool (PDF)
Faculty of Environment backwards planning tool (PDF)
Faculty of Mathematics backwards planning tool (PDF)
Faculty of Science backwards planning tool (PDF)

Tips for success

The PhD thesis defence is the culmination of years of hard work! The tips outlined in this video, compiled from recent PhD graduates and experienced thesis defence chairs, cover tips for preparing for your defence, day-of logistics, and defending successfully.

Transcript - Your Thesis Defence: Tips for Success (PDF)

Will your PhD thesis defence be held remotely? We’ve compiled additional tips for success specifically related to the remote defence.

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How to prepare an excellent thesis defense

What is a thesis defense?

How long is a thesis defense, what happens at a thesis defense, your presentation, questions from the committee, 6 tips to help you prepare for your thesis defense, 1. anticipate questions and prepare for them, 2. dress for success, 3. ask for help, as needed, 4. have a backup plan, 5. prepare for the possibility that you might not know an answer, 6. de-stress before, during, and after, frequently asked questions about preparing an excellent thesis defense, related articles.

If you're about to complete, or have ever completed a graduate degree, you have most likely come across the term "thesis defense." In many countries, to finish a graduate degree, you have to write a thesis .

A thesis is a large paper, or multi-chapter work, based on a topic relating to your field of study.

Once you hand in your thesis, you will be assigned a date to defend your work. Your thesis defense meeting usually consists of you and a committee of two or more professors working in your program. It may also include other people, like professionals from other colleges or those who are working in your field.

During your thesis defense, you will be asked questions about your work. The main purpose of your thesis defense is for the committee to make sure that you actually understand your field and focus area.

The questions are usually open-ended and require the student to think critically about their work. By the time of your thesis defense, your paper has already been evaluated. The questions asked are not designed so that you actually have to aggressively "defend" your work; often, your thesis defense is more of a formality required so that you can get your degree.

Check with your department about requirements and timing.
Re-read your thesis.
Anticipate questions and prepare for them.
Create a back-up plan to deal with technology hiccups.
Plan de-stressing activities both before, and after, your defense.

How long your oral thesis defense is depends largely on the institution and requirements of your degree. It is best to consult your department or institution about this. In general, a thesis defense may take only 20 minutes, but it may also take two hours or more. The length also depends on how much time is allocated to the presentation and questioning part.

Tip: Check with your department or institution as soon as possible to determine the approved length for a thesis defense.

First of all, be aware that a thesis defense varies from country to country. This is just a general overview, but a thesis defense can take many different formats. Some are closed, others are public defenses. Some take place with two committee members, some with more examiners.

The same goes for the length of your thesis defense, as mentioned above. The most important first step for you is to clarify with your department what the structure of your thesis defense will look like. In general, your thesis defense will include:

your presentation of around 20-30 minutes
questions from the committee
questions from the audience (if the defense is public and the department allows it)

You might have to give a presentation, often with Powerpoint, Google slides, or Keynote slides. Make sure to prepare an appropriate amount of slides. A general rule is to use about 10 slides for a 20-minute presentation.

But that also depends on your specific topic and the way you present. The good news is that there will be plenty of time ahead of your thesis defense to prepare your slides and practice your presentation alone and in front of friends or family.

Tip: Practice delivering your thesis presentation in front of family, friends, or colleagues.

You can prepare your slides by using information from your thesis' first chapter (the overview of your thesis) as a framework or outline. Substantive information in your thesis should correspond with your slides.

Make sure your slides are of good quality— both in terms of the integrity of the information and the appearance. If you need more help with how to prepare your presentation slides, both the ASQ Higher Education Brief and James Hayton have good guidelines on the topic.

The committee will ask questions about your work after you finish your presentation. The questions will most likely be about the core content of your thesis, such as what you learned from the study you conducted. They may also ask you to summarize certain findings and to discuss how your work will contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

Tip: Read your entire thesis in preparation of the questions, so you have a refreshed perspective on your work.

While you are preparing, you can create a list of possible questions and try to answer them. You can foresee many of the questions you will get by simply spending some time rereading your thesis.

Here are a few tips on how to prepare for your thesis defense:

You can absolutely prepare for most of the questions you will be asked. Read through your thesis and while you're reading it, create a list of possible questions. In addition, since you will know who will be on the committee, look at the academic expertise of the committee members. In what areas would they most likely be focused?

If possible, sit at other thesis defenses with these committee members to get a feel for how they ask and what they ask. As a graduate student, you should generally be adept at anticipating test questions, so use this advantage to gather as much information as possible before your thesis defense meeting.

Your thesis defense is a formal event, often the entire department or university is invited to participate. It signals a critical rite of passage for graduate students and faculty who have supported them throughout a long and challenging process.

While most universities don't have specific rules on how to dress for that event, do regard it with dignity and respect. This one might be a no-brainer, but know that you should dress as if you were on a job interview or delivering a paper at a conference.

It might help you deal with your stress before your thesis defense to entrust someone with the smaller but important responsibilities of your defense well ahead of schedule. This trusted person could be responsible for:

preparing the room of the day of defense
setting up equipment for the presentation
preparing and distributing handouts

Technology is unpredictable. Life is too. There are no guarantees that your Powerpoint presentation will work at all or look the way it is supposed to on the big screen. We've all been there. Make sure to have a plan B for these situations. Handouts can help when technology fails, and an additional clean shirt can save the day if you have a spill.

One of the scariest aspects of the defense is the possibility of being asked a question you can't answer. While you can prepare for some questions, you can never know exactly what the committee will ask.

There will always be gaps in your knowledge. But your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. You are not expected to know everything.

James Hayton writes on his blog that examiners will sometimes even ask questions they don't know the answer to, out of curiosity, or because they want to see how you think. While it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, but you would need to do [...] in order to find out.” This shows that you have the ability to think as an academic.

You will be nervous. But your examiners will expect you to be nervous. Being well prepared can help minimize your stress, but do know that your examiners have seen this many times before and are willing to help, by repeating questions, for example. Dora Farkas at finishyourthesis.com notes that it’s a myth that thesis committees are out to get you.

Two common symptoms of being nervous are talking really fast and nervous laughs. Try to slow yourself down and take a deep breath. Remember what feels like hours to you are just a few seconds in real life.

Try meditational breathing right before your defense.
Get plenty of exercise and sleep in the weeks prior to your defense.
Have your clothes or other items you need ready to go the night before.
During your defense, allow yourself to process each question before answering.
Go to dinner with friends and family, or to a fun activity like mini-golf, after your defense.

Allow yourself to process each question, respond to it, and stop talking once you have responded. While a smile can often help dissolve a difficult situation, remember that nervous laughs can be irritating for your audience.

We all make mistakes and your thesis defense will not be perfect. However, careful preparation, mindfulness, and confidence can help you feel less stressful both before, and during, your defense.

Finally, consider planning something fun that you can look forward to after your defense.

It is completely normal to be nervous. Being well prepared can help minimize your stress, but do know that your examiners have seen this many times before and are willing to help, by repeating questions for example if needed. Slow yourself down, and take a deep breath.

Your thesis defense is not about being perfect and knowing everything, it's about how you deal with challenging situations. James Hayton writes on his blog that it is ok sometimes to just say "I don't know", but he advises to try something like "I don't know, but I would think [...] because of x and y, you would need to do [...] in order to find out".

Your Powerpoint presentation can get stuck or not look the way it is supposed to do on the big screen. It can happen and your supervisors know it. In general, handouts can always save the day when technology fails.

Dress for success.
Ask for help setting up.
Have a backup plan (in case technology fails you).
Deal with your nerves.

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Ph.D. Defense Procedures

The Committee on Graduate Studies of the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences approved new requirements and procedures for the final examination, or Ph.D. defense, effective Fall 2023. Please review these requirements and best practices which should be used at all future CCAS Ph.D. final examinations.

1. Construction of the Final Examination Committee

The director of the dissertation research committee and the student should consult to choose the members of the final examination committee. The director of graduate studies in the program in which the student is enrolled may also be consulted in the selection process.

Each final examination committee must include at least five voting members who fulfill the following criteria:

The dissertation research committee —A director and at least two committee members who have advised the student during the dissertation research process. (The director can be drawn from outside the program faculty in which the student is enrolled. If the director is from outside the program faculty, then the committee must also have a co-director from inside the unit. At least one other member of the student’s dissertation research committee should have regular, full-time status in the University. Other members of the GW faculty and external scholars can serve as members of the student’s dissertation research committee, if deemed appropriate by the program’s faculty.)
An examiner (or examiners) —At least one examiner who has not played a direct role in the dissertation research process and is asked to read the dissertation only after all the members of the student’s dissertation research committee have approved the dissertation for defense. (If the student’s dissertation research committee comprises only three scholars, then at least two examiners are required for the final examination.)
An external scholar —At least one member of the final examination committee must be drawn from outside the program faculty in which the student is enrolled. The external scholar may serve either as a member of the dissertation research committee or as an examiner. (Final examination committees could also include external scholars in each of these roles.)
An examination chair —The examination must be chaired by a member of the program faculty in which the student is enrolled. The chair cannot be drawn from the dissertation research committee or examiners. It is recommended that the program’s director of graduate studies, if not an examiner or a member of the dissertation research committee, serve as chair. The chair takes no part in the examination itself, except, if asked, to pose an introductory question or elicit an opening summary from the student.

2. Pre-examination preparation

When all the members of the dissertation research committee agree that the dissertation is ready to be defended, the final examination may be scheduled. Whenever possible the final examination should be held in person, but hybrid or virtual final examinations are permitted, when necessary, provided that the student consents to such arrangements.

The version of the dissertation that is to be defended must be approved by all members of the dissertation research committee and circulated to all final examination committee members at least four weeks prior to the examination. Final examinations should be announced to the program faculty at the time the dissertation is circulated to examination committee members, and anyone who wishes to attend should be allowed to do so, assuming space is available.

3. Final Examination procedures

The examination chair assembles members of the final examination committee. While the student and any observers wait outside the room, the chair discusses examination procedures with committee members. Issues that are discussed should include the number of rounds of questioning, the order of questioning, and the time allocated for questioning. Typical practices include two rounds of questioning, with the examiner or examiners questioning the student first, followed by the other members of the examination committee, for 10-15 minutes per round. (The amount of time allocated to each examiner and committee member may vary, depending on the number involved in the final examination.)

Opening the examination—The student, the dissertation director/co-director, and the examination chair assemble at head of table for the following introduction:

Examination Chair: This is a final examination for the degree of doctor of philosophy. I call on the director of the candidate’s research to present the candidate.

Dissertation Director/Co-Director: It is my/our pleasure to present [student name], who has completed all the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy in the field of [program name]. [Student name] and their/her/his dissertation are before the committee for examination.

The student, the dissertation director/co-director, and the examination chair take their places, and the examination begins. Typically, the student provides a brief (10-minute) summary of the research question, methodology, and main findings. This presentation may be omitted if the student has already made a presentation on the dissertation in the department.

When the questioning is completed, the student and any observers leave the room. The dissertation director (and co-director, if any) is called upon to make a case for the merits of the dissertation and the student’s performance at the final examination.

Each examiner and member of the dissertation research committee offers an evaluation of the dissertation and examination.

The final examination committee must decide (1) whether the student has passed or failed the examination, and (2) if the student has passed, what revisions to the dissertation, if any, are required. The decision to pass the dissertation and defense is reached by a majority vote of the final examination committee, excluding the examination chair.

If revisions are required, the final examination committee must decide which members wish to see and approve the revised dissertation as well as the deadline by which revisions must be submitted. Ordinarily, only the director/co-director of the dissertation research committee reviews the revisions, but other research and examination committee members may be involved if they wish. Regardless, the director/co-director should be given clear instructions to convey to the student regarding the nature and timing of expected revisions.

Once these matters have been decided, the student and any observers are invited back into the room. The student assembles with the dissertation director/co-director and the examination chair at the head of table, and the chair announces the results of the examination to all present.

The dissertation director/co-director reports the results of the examination to the program’s director of graduate studies, who then completes the requisite paperwork and submits this paperwork to the Columbian College.

13 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Dissertation Defense

How well do you know your project? Years of experiments, analysis of results, and tons of literature study, leads you to how well you know your research study. And, PhD dissertation defense is a finale to your PhD years. Often, researchers question how to excel at their thesis defense and spend countless hours on it. Days, weeks, months, and probably years of practice to complete your doctorate, needs to surpass the dissertation defense hurdle.

In this article, we will discuss details of how to excel at PhD dissertation defense and list down some interesting tips to prepare for your thesis defense.

Table of Contents

What Is Dissertation Defense?

Dissertation defense or Thesis defense is an opportunity to defend your research study amidst the academic professionals who will evaluate of your academic work. While a thesis defense can sometimes be like a cross-examination session, but in reality you need not fear the thesis defense process and be well prepared.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesHaytonPhDacademy

What are the expectations of committee members.

Choosing the dissertation committee is one of the most important decision for a research student. However, putting your dissertation committee becomes easier once you understand the expectations of committee members.

The basic function of your dissertation committee is to guide you through the process of proposing, writing, and revising your dissertation. Moreover, the committee members serve as mentors, giving constructive feedback on your writing and research, also guiding your revision efforts.

The dissertation committee is usually formed once the academic coursework is completed. Furthermore, by the time you begin your dissertation research, you get acquainted to the faculty members who will serve on your dissertation committee. Ultimately, who serves on your dissertation committee depends upon you.

Some universities allow an outside expert (a former professor or academic mentor) to serve on your committee. It is advisable to choose a faculty member who knows you and your research work.

How to Choose a Dissertation Committee Member?

Avoid popular and eminent faculty member
Choose the one you know very well and can approach whenever you need them
A faculty member whom you can learn from is apt.
Members of the committee can be your future mentors, co-authors, and research collaborators. Choose them keeping your future in mind.

How to Prepare for Dissertation Defense?

1. Start Your Preparations Early

Thesis defense is not a 3 or 6 months’ exercise. Don’t wait until you have completed all your research objectives. Start your preparation well in advance, and make sure you know all the intricacies of your thesis and reasons to all the research experiments you conducted.

2. Attend Presentations by Other Candidates

Look out for open dissertation presentations at your university. In fact, you can attend open dissertation presentations at other universities too. Firstly, this will help you realize how thesis defense is not a scary process. Secondly, you will get the tricks and hacks on how other researchers are defending their thesis. Finally, you will understand why dissertation defense is necessary for the university, as well as the scientific community.

3. Take Enough Time to Prepare the Slides

Dissertation defense process harder than submitting your thesis well before the deadline. Ideally, you could start preparing the slides after finalizing your thesis. Spend more time in preparing the slides. Make sure you got the right data on the slides and rephrase your inferences, to create a logical flow to your presentation.

4. Structure the Presentation

Do not be haphazard in designing your presentation. Take time to create a good structured presentation. Furthermore, create high-quality slides which impresses the committee members. Make slides that hold your audience’s attention. Keep the presentation thorough and accurate, and use smart art to create better slides.

5. Practice Breathing Techniques

Watch a few TED talk videos and you will notice that speakers and orators are very fluent at their speech. In fact, you will not notice them taking a breath or falling short of breath. The only reason behind such effortless oratory skill is practice — practice in breathing technique.

Moreover, every speaker knows how to control their breath. Long and steady breaths are crucial. Pay attention to your breathing and slow it down. All you need I some practice prior to this moment.

6. Create an Impactful Introduction

The audience expects a lot from you. So your opening statement should enthrall the audience. Furthermore, your thesis should create an impact on the members; they should be thrilled by your thesis and the way you expose it.

The introduction answers most important questions, and most important of all “Is this presentation worth the time?” Therefore, it is important to make a good first impression , because the first few minutes sets the tone for your entire presentation.

7. Maintain Your Own List of Questions

While preparing for the presentation, make a note of all the questions that you ask yourself. Try to approach all the questions from a reader’s point of view. You could pretend like you do not know the topic and think of questions that could help you know the topic much better.

The list of questions will prepare you for the questions the members may pose while trying to understand your research. Attending other candidates’ open discussion will also help you assume the dissertation defense questions.

8. Practice Speech and Body Language

After successfully preparing your slides and practicing, you could start focusing on how you look while presenting your thesis. This exercise is not for your appearance but to know your body language and relax if need be.

Pay attention to your body language. Stand with your back straight, but relax your shoulders. The correct posture will give you the feel of self-confidence. So, observe yourself in the mirror and pay attention to movements you make.

9. Give Mock Presentation

Giving a trial defense in advance is a good practice. The most important factor for the mock defense is its similarity to your real defense, so that you get the experience that prepares for the actual defense.

10. Learn How to Handle Mistakes

Everyone makes mistakes. However, it is important to carry on. Do not let the mistakes affect your thesis defense. Take a deep breath and move on to the next point.

11. Do Not Run Through the Presentation

If you are nervous, you would want to end the presentation as soon as possible. However, this situation will give rise to anxiety and you will speak too fast, skipping the essential details. Eventually, creating a fiasco of your dissertation defense .

12. Get Plenty of Rest

Out of the dissertation defense preparation points, this one is extremely important. Obviously, sleeping a day before your big event is hard, but you have to focus and go to bed early, with the clear intentions of getting the rest you deserve.

13. Visualize Yourself Defending Your Thesis

This simple exercise creates an immense impact on your self-confidence. All you have to do is visualize yourself giving a successful presentation each evening before going to sleep. Everyday till the day of your thesis defense, see yourself standing in front of the audience and going from one point to another.

This exercise takes a lot of commitment and persistence, but the results in the end are worth it. Visualization makes you see yourself doing the scary thing of defending your thesis.

If you have taken all these points into consideration, you are ready for your big day. You have worked relentlessly for your PhD degree , and you will definitely give your best in this final step.

Have you completed your thesis defense? How did you prepare for it and how was your experience throughout your dissertation defense ? Do write to us or comment below.

The tips are very useful.I will recomend it to our students.

Excellent. As a therapist trying to help a parent of a candidate, I am very impressed and thankful your concise, clear, action-oriented article. Thank you.

Thanks for your sharing. It is so good. I can learn a lot from your ideas. Hope that in my dissertation defense next time I can pass

The tips are effective. Will definitely apply them in my dissertation.

My dissertation defense is coming up in less than two weeks from now, I find this tips quite instructive, I’ll definitely apply them. Thank you so much.

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Hints for PhD Defenses

At Columbia, PhD defenses are generally not public, although CS usually allows a student audience. Defenses consist of four parts: first, the candidate introduces themselves, then presents a summary of their work, interrupted and followed by questions from the committee. Finally, the committee meets in private to discuss the presentation and dissertation.

While most of the committee will have read most of your thesis, you cannot assume that everyone has read every chapter.

The committee needs to be able to assess impact and depth. Usually, the committee has some idea of this before the defense, but whatever the student can say to make this assessment easier, perhaps just through emphasis, is likely to make the defense go much more smoothly.

Generally, the whole defense will not take more than two hours, but should take considerably less time. Part of the challenge of a defense is to convince the committee that you can summarize the important points of your work in a very limited time.

What is the problem you are studying?
Why is it important ?
What results have you achieved?
Some committee members will want to know if the works has been published and where and how it was received. For example, if you have written software, indicate where it is being used, either for follow-on work or in some production or test environment.
Have a list of your thesis-related publications as a slide. Indicate any awards that a paper may have received. For most people, it's easier to list some honor than "brag" about it in person.
If you have presented your work in a conference or at job talks, be sure to anticipate and address the most common questions asked there.
The committee should be handed a copy of your slides.
Be prepared to briefly summarize your background (undergraduate degree, how long at the university, etc.)
No more than 30 slides, plus "back up" slides with additional material in case of questions. The most effective way of making your committee members mad is to come unprepared with a stack of 80 slides and then madly skip through them.
Number your slides, particularly if one of your committee members is linked in via speakerphone. Consider using some kind of remote presentation software.
List your contributions early.
When presenting your contributions, be sure to use "I" and not "we" so that the committee will know what aspects of the work where yours, and which were group projects.
Keep discussions of related work very brief, but be prepared to answer questions of the "how does this differ from so-and-so's work" succinctly.
You will not be asked to prove results again.
Be prepared to back up any comparative statement with facts, in particular statements like "works better", "faster", "scalable" or "optimal". If you are presenting a protocol, how do you know that it works correctly?
If you have multiple parts in your dissertation, consult with the committee ahead of time as to whether it makes sense to omit some of them for the presentation.

Hints for Dissertations

It is better to focus deeply on a single area then to work on several topics, each of which is pursued to a moderate depth.
Systems work must be coupled with implementation and some kind of numerical comparitive analysis to demonstrate the improvements from existing or alternate approaches.
Your thesis needs a one page executive summary that a layperson should be able to understand. Test: give it to a relative of yours that does not have an engineering degree...

Miscellaneous Hints

You are likely only to defend a PhD thesis only once; your defense is a special occasion, so consider dressing appropriately, at least business casual, but a suit is not inappropriate.
It is customary to provide refreshments for the audience, such as coffee, bagels, cookies and fruit, depending on the time of day.

The Role of PhD Committee Members

Committee members (should) read the draft thesis (and provide feedback). Obviously, students appreciate an in-depth reading, but it is common for committee members to focus on chapters closest to their expertise. Reading depths varies - some provide line edits, others just suggest larger issues that should be addressed ("Your related work section in Chapter 10 is a bit sparse and ends in 2005."). While this is probably not the place to suggest "do another year of research", filling in gaps is ok and I'd rather postpone a defense by a month if needed. Before the committee gets the thesis, I've done a first or sometimes second reading, but the whole point of the committee is to keep the advisor honest (and complement his or her knowledge or taste).
Committee members attend the PhD defense, usually in person. Typically, this lasts about 90 minutes. Take notes on any editorial improvements (e.g., "make clear that the throughput graph is measured in gallons/minute"). Vote on the outcome and sign the form.
If the student is given a set of changes to implement, the advisor asks students to detail on how they implemented the changes, similar to how an author may respond to reviewer comments for a journal. The committee informally signs off, or not, on these changes. There is no need to re-read the thesis.

Checklist for Dissertation

Spell check;
Check for missing chapter or figure references;
Section, Chapter, Figure are capitalized;
All references converted from [1][2][3] to [1,2,3];
Consistent capitalization in captions;
Verify expansion of all abbreviations at first instance;
Avoid "tremendous", "huge" and other similar adjectives;
End to end -> end-to-end;
Check references for capitalization of abbreviations and missing data such as page numbers.

(Contributions by Ed Coffman, Jonathan Rosenberg and Sal Stolfo.)

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Thesis and Dissertation

Forming Your Committee

Students should not schedule the proposal defense prior to their committee being finalized and their appointment form being approved by the Graduate School.

It is necessary to have the form approved in advance of the proposal defense, as there are instances in which committee members are not approved (for example, if someone is listed as the Graduate Faculty Representative who the Graduate School does not deem qualified to serve in this capacity).

The Graduate School's requirements for everything from committee formation to graduation clearance can be found under the Current Students tab on the Graduate School website.

Composition of the Doctoral Committee: Roles and Responsibilities

The Graduate School requires that doctoral committees consist of no less than four members. These four members must be regular members of the Graduate Faculty or must be granted an exception by the Dean of the Graduate School. All committees must include a chair and a Graduate Faculty Representative. Assistant Professors are usually not approved to serve as chair unless they have served as a committee member first. Exceptions are granted on a case-by-case basis.

Graduate Faculty Representative

The primary role of the Graduate Faculty Representative is to ensure that the student is treated fairly and that Graduate School policies are upheld. Expertise in the student's area of research is not a requirement. The Graduate Faculty Representative's responsibilities are explained in greater detail here . Assistant Professors are not eligible to serve as Graduate Faculty Representative.

The requirement to include an outside member on all dissertation committees is not uncommon among institutions of higher education and is in keeping with best practices in doctoral support.

Committee Members

Committee members are often chosen to provide topic or methodological expertise. Even without contributing their expertise, committee members may be chosen based on faculty with whom the student has a good professional relationship or who could offer a helpful outside perspective. Committee members are generally not as involved as the committee chair in the everyday progression of the dissertation. Typically, they read the dissertation only in its final form before the defense, although they should be available for consultation throughout the process and may be more closely involved in sections or chapters in which they have particular expertise.

The committee members and Graduate Faculty Representative will:

Approve of the subject matter and methodology of the thesis or dissertation research
Review and comment on drafts of the thesis or dissertation prior to submission to The Graduate School
Verify, to the best of their ability, the quality of the data collection and evidence, data analysis, and logical reasoning or interpretation in light of the proposal aims
Evaluate whether the student’s thesis or dissertation fulfills the requirements of the degree

Tips for preparing your PhD defense [EASY dissertation defense]

Embarking on the final hurdle of your doctoral journey, the PhD dissertation defense, can feel daunting.

This significant event involves presenting and justifying years of research to a committee of field experts, showcasing your comprehension, originality, and critical thinking skills.

With various expectations from committee members, it’s crucial to know what makes a compelling thesis and how to adeptly defend your arguments. Preparation is key; from choosing well-suited examiners to meticulously preparing for potential questions, every step counts.

This article provides easy-to-follow tips for this process, from how to approach revisions to the actual defense duration, ensuring a smoother dissertation defense.

Top tips for your PhD defence process

Understand Expectations : Understand what your examiners are looking for in your thesis. They expect it to be relevant to the field, have a clear title, a comprehensive abstract, engage with relevant literature, answer clear research questions, provide a consistent argument, and make a significant contribution to knowledge. They also value the ability to show connections between different parts of the thesis and a confident, positive attitude during the defense.
Choose the Right Examiners : Make strategic decisions when selecting your examiners. They should be experts in your field, open-minded about cross-discipline work, cited in your work, have a constructive approach, align with your methodology, and respect critical viewpoints. Consider your supervisor’s advice, as they can help identify suitable examiners.
Thorough Preparation : Understand your institute’s specific defense requirements and practice rigorously. Break down your thesis into sections, time your presentation, focus on key points, and prepare for potential questions. Consider setting up a mock defense to familiarize yourself with the process.
Master Your Content : Understand your work inside out. Rather than cramming as much information as possible, focus on thoroughly comprehending your research. If faced with an unexpected question during the defense, take a moment to formulate an organized response.
Manage Your Time : Be aware that dissertation defenses usually last between one to three hours, so ensure your presentation fits within this timeframe. Remember, the defense is an opportunity to showcase your hard work. Be confident and composed throughout the process.

What Is Dissertation Defense?

A PhD defense, also known as a viva , is a critical process that marks the completion of a doctoral degree. It varies from one institution to another and between different countries.

It could be a private examination by a panel of experts in the field or a public defense before an audience.

In this defense, you present and justify the research you have conducted over many years.

You’ll engage in a rigorous academic conversation about the different aspects of your research, answer questions, and explain your findings and their implications.

The defense is a chance for the panel to test your comprehension of your chosen subject area, your work’s originality, and its contribution to the field. It also tests your ability to think critically, to articulate your thoughts, and how effectively you can defend your arguments under pressure.

The essence of a PhD defense is not only to assess the validity of the thesis but also to assess the candidate’s proficiency in their subject.

What Are the Expectations of PhD Defence Examiners? Understand your dissertation committee.

Meeting the expectations of committee members in the context of a dissertation is essential for the successful completion of the research.

They will have read your thesis and will be looking for any mistakes or areas that they are unsure about to ask you during your PhD defence.

Here are what PhD defence examiners are looking for in your thesis and may have questions at your oral defence:

Item	Description
Relevance to Field	The thesis must be clearly relevant to the specific academic field.
Clear Title	The thesis should have a clear, descriptive, and concise title.
Clear Abstract	The abstract should provide a good overview of the research and its findings.
Relevant Literature Review	The thesis should engage with the existing academic literature relevant to the research topic.
Research Questions	Research questions should be clear, relevant, and answered in the course of the research.
Consistent Argument	The thesis should contain a clear and consistent argument throughout.
Conceptual Conclusions	The conclusions should not only summarize the research findings but also relate back to the literature review and conceptual issues raised.
Contribution to Knowledge	The thesis should make a significant contribution to the field of knowledge.
Ability to think interconnectedly	The ability to show connections between different parts of the thesis is important, as it demonstrates a higher level of thinking.
Pleasurable Text	The text should be enjoyable to read, well-written, and explicit in terms of ideas and concepts.
Positive Attitude	The candidate should demonstrate confidence, enjoyment, and a positive attitude during the Viva (oral examination), symbolized by smiling with the examiners, not at them.
Display of interconnectedness	The thesis should clearly show how various parts are interconnected, ultimately achieving synergy.

A dissertation committee typically consists of external experts (in a similar field) who will engage in robust discussion about your PhD and submitted thesis.

As committee members, their primary role is to actively engage with the dissertation research, offering constructive feedback and suggestions as well as deciding if you have satisfied the requirements of the university to be awarded a PhD

Here’s my video about the common questions you’ll likely encounter during your defence and how you can answer them:

How to Choose your PhD examiners and committee members

Choosing your PhD examiners requires strategic thinking and insightful conversations with your supervisor. It’s a very important decision and can make your PhD defence much smoother.

During my PhD, I chose examiners that I had cited and based my work on their preliminary investigations.

But there are more things to think about before you write down their names!

Here’s a table checklist for choosing your PhD examiners.

CHECKLIST	NOTES
Expert in relevant field	Your examiners should be well-acquainted with your research topic and be able to provide relevant and informed feedback.
Interdisciplinary knowledge	If your thesis spans multiple disciplines, it would be helpful to have examiners who understand all the fields involved.
Open-minded about cross-discipline work	Ensure your examiner is open-minded about works integrating different disciplines, as each field has unique ways of presenting findings.
Cited in your work	Consider examiners who you have cited in your work, as they are familiar with the type of work you’re doing.
Constructive Approach	Avoid examiners known for overly harsh or destructive feedback, you want someone who can critically analyze your work but also provide constructive comments.
Alignment with your methodology	The examiner should understand and ideally endorse the methodology you used. This ensures that they can productively critique your work’s design and execution.
Respect for critical viewpoints	If you’ve critiqued a particular scholar’s work in your thesis, ensure the scholar is professional enough to respect different viewpoints if considering them as an examiner.
Supervisor’s advice	Pay heed to your supervisor’s advice as they have experience in identifying suitable and appropriate examiners.

First, compile a list of potential examiners who you believe would be appropriate for reviewing your thesis. Discuss your choices with your supervisor, explaining why you consider them suitable.

If your thesis spans multiple disciplines, consider choosing examiners from each discipline; it ensures intricate knowledge of each field is utilized.

However, ensure these examiners are open-minded about cross-discipline work, as disciplines tend to have unique ways of presenting their findings.

Listen to your supervisor’s advice.

They have experience in these matters and know who would be best qualified to examine your work.

Even if a scholar is high-profile or an editor of a favored journal, they might not be suitable due to methodological differences or varying research approaches.

Choosing the right examiner is crucial, as an ill-suited examiner could result in undesired outcomes. The goal is to establish a thoughtful academic conversation about your work.

How to Prepare for Dissertation Defense?

To prepare for your dissertation defense, start by understanding the specific requirements of your institute, as the process can vary across countries.

This could include:

a presentation,
a conversation with examiners,
or a combination of both.

Once you know what to expect, practice vigorously. This should not be your first time discussing your work with others – engage in academic conversation, seek feedback and address challenging questions prior to the defense.

Breakdown your thesis into sections and time yourself on each section to manage length. Focus on the key points and avoid irrelevant details.

Creating a mock defense will be helpful in managing time and getting familiar with the process.

Prepare for potential questions. It’s not about cramming as much information as possible, but about understanding your work inside out. Start by preparing answers to common defense questions. In case of an unexpected question, don’t rush to answer. Take a moment, write down key points, and formulate an organized response.

Remember that the defense is an opportunity to showcase years of hard work.

Be confident, and don’t forget to breathe!

How Long Do Dissertation Defenses Usually Last?

The length of a dissertation defense can vary depending on factors such as the specific requirements of the institution and the complexity of the research being presented.

On average, a dissertation defense usually lasts between one to three hours.

During this time, the candidate will present their research and findings to a panel of experts, often including faculty members and fellow researchers.

The defense typically begins with an introduction by the candidate, followed by a detailed presentation of the research methodology, results, and conclusions.

Panel members then have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in a discussion with the candidate.

It is not unusual for defenses to be quite intense and challenging, as the panel seeks to assess the depth of the candidate’s knowledge and understanding of their research. In some cases, the candidate may be asked to leave the room while the panel deliberates before ultimately reaching a decision on the acceptance or rejection of the dissertation.

Wrapping up

As the culmination of the doctoral journey, the PhD defense demands meticulous preparation and understanding of its unique rigors.

This entails knowing the expectations of your dissertation committee, choosing the right examiners who offer constructive feedback, and putting considerable time into preparing for your oral defense.

The defense process isn’t a mere formality; it’s a critical examination of the candidate’s comprehension, originality, and critical thinking skills.

It provides an opportunity to exhibit your research and its contribution to your field, defend your arguments, and validate your years of labor.

Thus, selecting well-qualified examiners, anticipating potential questions, and honing your presentation skills are vital for a successful defense.

Students must be registered for their PhD program and finalize their dissertation prior to the defense, which can last anywhere from one to three hours, depending on the institution and the complexity of the research.

Any corrections or major revisions suggested by the dissertation committee members must be completed and submitted weeks prior to the conferral date.

A PhD defense isn’t just a rite of passage for doctoral candidates—it’s the final, decisive step on the journey to earning a doctorate.

It requires the full commitment of the candidate, their dissertation advisor, the committee chair, and all members involved, ensuring that the graduate studies department’s requirements are met, and that the student is admitted to the next phase of their academic or professional journey.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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Final Doctoral Exam

Doctoral Exam Guide

Final oral defence, workday student support.

Graduate students can find "how to" guides and support information on our Workday support page .

Purpose of the Final Oral Defence

To ensure that the candidate is able to present and defend the dissertation and its underlying assumptions, methodology, results, and conclusions in a manner consistent with the doctoral degree being sought;
To communicate the results of the work to the campus community.

Structure of the Final Oral Defence

The detailed Final Oral Defence procedures are outlined in the Exam Instructions . A copy of these instructions is provided to the examining committee approximately one week before the Oral Defence.

The basic structure of the Oral Defence is:

Candidate makes a public presentation of the dissertation (maximum 30 minutes)
Examining committee members question the candidate
Members of the audience are invited to ask questions of the candidate
Examining committee holds an in-camera discussion where it decides on the overall recommendation it will make to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (see Evaluation Protocol below)
Chair conveys the recommendations of the examining committee to the candidate

Candidates are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes early to get comfortable and set-up in the exam room. Exams start promptly at the official start time. The doors to the exam room are closed at the start of the exam and no one may enter the exam room, either physical or virtual, once the Final Oral Defence has begun. The Oral Defence usually takes two to two and a half hours.

Audiovisual Equipment

The examination rooms in the Graduate Student Centre come equipped with a projector and screen (room 200) or a large monitor and auxiliary screen (room 203), a white board, and a podium. Most candidates prefer to bring their own laptops to the examination; it is possible to use the wall mounted PC in either room, in which case candidates should either have their presentations available on cloud storage or bring a thumb drive.

The displays in rooms 200 and 203 are equipped with VGA and HDMI inputs. Candidates using laptops without these outputs must bring the appropriate adaptors.

Candidates planning to use Zoom to enable remote attendance should indicate their preference when making the exam booking.

Language Requirement

Candidates for the Final Doctoral Examination must have fulfilled all course and/or language requirements of the degree program. It is the responsibility of the candidate's graduate program to ensure these requirements have been met, and that the candidate's oral language proficiency is adequate for full communication between the examination committee and the candidate.

The Final Doctoral Examination is a public event at UBC and as such will be conducted in English. The candidate's oral proficiency in the language of the examination must be adequate for full communication between the examination committee and the candidate. For theses in language programs, some questions can be posed or answered in the language concerned, provided the examination committee can follow proceedings (by translation if necessary) in this other language.

Remote Attendance at in-person Exams

For information regarding Virtual Defences held entirely on Zoom, see Schedulng the Oral Defence, and the Virtual Exam Protocol .

Managing remote attendees can pose both technological challenges and challenges for candidates in managing divided attention. For these reasons, Hybrid Defences with more than one remote attendee should be discussed with the doctoral exams team in advance. We will work with candidates and supervisors to make sure these defences run smoothly .

Normally, examiners required for quorum at an in-person defence should be physically present in the room. The external examiner or a third member of the supervisory committee may attend the defence remotely.

Doctoral exams team use a Meeting OWL to support videoconferencing with Zoom. Candidates who wish to have remote attendees should indicate this on their Booking Request. The OWL can be used in either room.

For exams in other suitable rooms on campus, the research supervisor should verify that appropriate equipment is available in the room. Devices such as an OWL, or other mobile AV device may be used.

Should any technological issues arise during the course of the exam, the exam may be paused for a reasonable amount of time to resolve them. Only those examining committee members who have been present for the full duration of the exam can cast a vote in the proceedings. If members required for quorum lose connection and it cannot be restored, the exam will need to be rescheduled.

Please also note that the examination chair has the right to discontinue a remote connection if it is interfering with the proper conduct of the examination.

Attendance of the External Examiner

The external examiner's participation in a candidate's Final Oral Defence offers the opportunity for a valuable dialogue about the dissertation and the research it presents. Therefore, the participation of the external examiner in the Final Oral Defence is encouraged, but it is not required.

Inviting the external examiner to participate in the Final Oral Defence is at the discretion of the research supervisor; Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will not extend such an invitation. For information about inviting the external examiner, please see Scheduling the Oral Defence .

Recording the Examination

See Recording the Examination .

Evaluation Protocol for the Oral Defence

The examining committee is asked to make an overall recommendation after evaluating two aspects of the candidate's performance:

The Oral Defence : The committee should evaluate the candidate’s performance while presenting the synopsis, responding to questions, and defending the work. The committee must decide whether or not the performance met the standard of excellence expected of a doctoral candidate at UBC.
The Dissertation: The committee should evaluate the overall merit of the dissertation, considering scholarship, scope and impact of the contribution made, and the quality of writing. They are asked to take into consideration the external examiner’s report, the assessments of the other examining committee members, and candidate's responses to questions during the Oral Defence. The committee will decide what revisions, if any, will be required before the dissertation can be considered fully acceptable.

Evaluation options available to the examining committee are:

No revision or only minor revisions are required. The committee charges the research supervisor to verify that the required changes have been made.
Substantive revisions are required. The committee chooses two or more of its members, including the research supervisor, to verify that the required changes have been made.
The dissertation is unsatisfactory. Major rewriting and rethinking are required.
The dissertation is unacceptable; it is fundamentally flawed and therefore beyond revision.

The examining committee is then asked to select one of the following overall recommendations:

Pass. Pending final submission of the dissertation to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the University should award the doctoral degree to this candidate.
Re-examination required. The candidate should be allowed a second attempt to pass the Final Doctoral Examination. (No more than one subsequent attempt is permitted.)
Fail. The University should not grant the doctoral degree to this candidate.

In any category where the committee's judgment is unanimous, or nearly so (in that at most one examiner dissents), the chair will express it using the check-boxes on the chair's Report form. Dissenting opinions will be noted in the text of the Chair’s Report. In any category where two or more examiners disagree with the majority view, the chair will select a box labelled “No Decision” and provide a written description of the differing views in the text of the report. If this occurs, the chair will inform Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies as soon as possible (typically within one business day of the examination). The Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will review the Chair's Report and promptly determine an appropriate course of action, in consultation with the examination chair and the examining committee.

The examination chair is responsible for completing the Chair's Report form and submitting it to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies within one week of the Oral Defence.

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Section 10: PhD Dissertation Defense: Final Oral Examination Overview, Committee, and Process

10.1 composition of the final oral examination committee & process.

The dissertation committee will consist of at least three graduate faculty members, including at least one core BME departmental faculty member, and will be chaired by the research advisor, who must have level-P graduate faculty status in BME. Soon after passing candidacy, students should obtain official approval of a dissertation committee by emailing a brief request, addressed to the BMEGSC, to the Graduate Studies Coordinator at [email protected] . For most students, this simply will be the candidacy committee minus one member. These three BMEGSC-approved dissertation committee members plus one assigned Graduate School Representative comprise the final oral examination committee. Petitions to add external, non-voting members must be completed via gradforms.osu.edu. Students should be sure to work closely with members of their dissertation committee.

It is the student's responsibility, with the approval of the research advisor, to contact all examiners on the dissertation committee and schedule the final oral examination (also called the dissertation defense). Typically the student provides committee members with a dissertation draft when doing this. Students also must take a copy of their dissertation draft to the Graduate School for a required formatting review. When the date and time for the dissertation defense are arranged, students may schedule a room for a 2-hour block of time in BMEC or elsewhere on campus if it is more convenient for the committee.

The final oral examination committee will examine the student on the research project and dissertation in accordance with regulations in Section 7 of the GSH and must comply with the deadlines published by the Graduate School at the beginning of each term. The examination should not exceed two hours. Only examination committee members may be present during a BME PhD examination; however, students and faculty may attend presentations given before the exam begins. Students are welcome to advertise their presentations.

The graduate faculty representative is assigned by the Graduate School after the student files the Application for Final Oral Examination. This form is to be submitted by the student to the Graduate School via gradforms.osu.edu and approved by the advisor at least two full weeks before the date of the oral examination. Failure to meet this deadline will result in the rescheduling of the exam. The location (or indication of teleconferencing) and 2-hour time block must be listed. (Note that a copy of the dissertation must be sent to the assigned graduate faculty representative at least one full week before the defense, if not longer.) This application generates a link to the Final Oral Examination Report form, which is sent to the osu.edu email addresses of the final oral examination committee. The committee’s decision is recorded by each committee member via gradforms.osu.edu.

The student is considered to have completed the final oral examination successfully only when the decision of the final oral examination committee is unanimously affirmative. A student must be registered for at least three graduate credit hours during the term in which the final oral exam is held. Guidelines for teleconferencing the doctoral defense in the event that a committee member may need to participate off-site can be found in Appendix B of the GSH . If petitioning to include an extra or non-OSU committee member , students must get approval from the BMEGSC and then file a peititon via gradforms.osu.edu . For policies governing the Final Oral Examination rules see Section 7.9 of the GSH .

10.2 Dissertation Guidelines

The dissertation should be an original research project that makes a new contribution to the field. Proposals and protocols should be approved by the student’s advisor(s) prior to beginning research. The dissertation must be completed in accordance with Graduate School policies set forth in Section 7.8 of the GSH and must comply with the deadlines published in the Graduate School graduation calendar . Students may reach out to their lab mates, peers from BMEGSA and/or student mentors for advice on completing the dissertation. For dissertation formatting and submission procedures , see the Dissertations and Theses section of the Graduate School website .

Students are encouraged to read the Graduate School Newsletter for leads on Graduate School and Writing Center workshops on dissertation writing or to schedule a review at the Graduate School ( Graduation Services area) to learn about formatting and electronic document submission. Visit the Graduate School website for detailed information on the required format.

If a student fails to submit the final copy of the dissertation document to the Graduate School within five years of being admitted to candidacy, their candidacy is cancelled. In such a case, with the approval of the advisor and the Graduate Studies Committee, the student may request to take a supplemental candidacy examination. If the student passes this supplemental candidacy examination, the student is readmitted to candidacy and must then complete a dissertation within two years. Students who do not complete the requirements above within the timeframe may be dismissed from the program.

Final Oral Examination Planning: Sample Timeline

Results for the Defense (Final Oral Examination) and Dissertation must be reported by the Dissertation Committee by Graduate School deadlines. Exam dates should be chosen to meet the deadlines.

Application to Graduate : Department Deadline - first day of the intended semester; Graduate School deadline - 3 rd Friday of the semester of graduation
Application for Final Oral Exam : File 3-4 weeks ahead of time to ensure meeting Graduate School deadline of at least 2 full weeks before the actual defense
Dissertation Formatting check at Graduate School : as early as possible, aligned with the Application for Final Oral Examination
Send copy of dissertation to Graduate Faculty Representative as soon as one is assigned, no less than one full week before the defense

After the Defense:

Make sure your Dissertation Committee completes the Exam Report on gradforms.osu.edu by posted deadline
Revise and submit approved Dissertation by posted deadline via Ohiolink
Make sure your Dissertation Committee completes the Dissertation Approval on gradforms.osu.edu by posted deadline

10.3 Required Seminar Presentation & Publication Submissions

PhD students are expected to present an open seminar on their dissertation as part of the BME student seminar series. To avoid delays in graduation, this should be done at least one or two semesters before graduation is anticipated. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the seminar faculty coordinator to get scheduled before all spaces are filled. In the event that there is a conflict, students may advertise the presentation portion of their dissertation defense to be counted as a seminar presentation, making sure to notify the BMEGSC via email to the graduate studies coordinator. As detailed in the curriculum requirements, PhD students also are expected to have submitted two manuscripts (at least one-first author) for publication and to have made one oral or poster presentation at a scientific meeting in order to graduate. This information is to be emailed to the graduate studies coordinator when applying to graduate.

10.4 Graduation for PhD Students

In order to graduate with a Doctoral (PhD) degree students must meet all requirements established by the department and the Graduate School. An Application to Graduate must be filed on gradforms.osu.edu no later than the first day of the term in which a student intends to graduate to allow time for a BME graduation audit and approval by the Advisor and Graduate Studies Committee Chair. Graduating students must be enrolled for at least 3 credit hours in the term of graduation. Visit the graduation checklist for PhD students in their final term of enrollment on the Graduate School website for more information. If requirements go unmet or exam or thesis deadlines are missed, students may be able to meet the Graduate School’s end-of-semester deadlines without having to register the following term. If the E-O-S deadlines are missed, it will be necessary to resubmit a new Application to Graduate the following term.

Degree Completion Reminders for PhD

Students & advisors may jointly petition the BMEGSC for waivers of program or committee requirements. These should be accompanied by a proposed or approved program of study whenever possible.
Petitions should be submitted in the form of a brief letter addressed to the BMEGSC and sent to [email protected] and will be considered at convened monthly BMEGSC meetings. Last-minute petitions may not be reviewed.
Changes to an approved Program or Committee must be reviewed by the BMEGSC at least one full semester before an Application to Graduate is filed.
Applications to Graduate will not be approved unless the student’s final BMEGSC-approved Program and Committees are on file in the Graduate Office and most other graduation requirements, as stated in the GSH and BMEH, are met.
Applications to Graduate should be submitted via gradforms.osu.edu in advance of the Graduate School deadline. No forms will be signed by the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee until a graduation audit has been completed by the BME graduate studies office.
Be sure to build in time for a Graduate School review of the formatting of your dissertation draft.
Be sure to build in time for any gradforms.osu.edu committee member petitions.
Review your advising report each semester and contact your faculty about missing/outstanding grades.
Publication and presentation lists should be emailed to the Graduate Studies Coordinator at [email protected] before the end of the semester in which you plan to graduate.

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Appendix B: Admission Prerequisites for Non-engineers

Appendix D: Department History & Background

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What questions to prepare for PhD defense?

I will soon defend my PhD in social science in Sweden. I want to ask what questions the evaluation committee will ask me during the defense? If they ask me some questions outside my thesis, what shall I do? Is it enough only know well my own research? What quality I need to successfully defend my PhD?

answering-questions

9 Have you not gone to other people's defenses before? Have you asked your advisor? – xLeitix Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 11:19
4 I don't recall ever hearing any restrictions on what I can ask in a thesis defense. Ordinarily, I ask about things in the thesis, prerequisites for things in the thesis, and things that the candidate happens to mention during the defense. I could, in principle, ask a completely off-topic question, to which the candidate might well reply "I have no idea"; presumably, such an answer wouldn't damage the outcome of the defense (unless the other 4 examiners agree with my craziness). – Andreas Blass Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 13:37
5 Whatever field you study and whatever type of presentation you give, always be prepared for questions asking you why you made certain decisions. It won't hurt preparing for them and it might actually improve your presentation if you hadn't thought about it before. – Mast Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 13:49
5 Obligatory XKCD: xkcd.com/1403 – Corey Ogburn Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 18:17
4 I was asked "who is Maud Menten?" (see 1910's at famouscanadianwomen.com/famous%20firsts/… ) Since I used the Michaelis-Menten equation in my work, it was borderline relevant. Luckily there is a plaque to her on the U of T campus, so I knew both the equation half of the answer and the trivia question half. That was the only question that examiner asked. Seriously, know your thesis well and ask your supervisor if you can expect anything unusual, and you'll be ok. They don't generally let you defend if they don't think you're ready. – Kate Gregory Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 18:32

4 Answers 4

Generally speaking, PhD defenses come in two flavors, and it is not possible to say a priori which one yours will fall into:

A real thesis "defense" focuses on the thesis, and all questions will relate to the scope of the research work. In this case, knowing your own work and its context well enough should be sufficient, but it is of course possible that somebody asks you why you used method A rather than B. In this case, saying that you don't know B may not fly as an answer. However, you should not get a completely disconnected question just to test your general subject area knowledge.
A "Rigorosum" ( dict.leo translated this for me to "doctoral viva", no idea if this is a well-known term) is a general final exam for a doctoral candidate. Typically, this will also include questions about the disseration, but anybody in the exam commission is free to ask about other topics in the field as well. Typically, the questions are getting "easier" (more high-level) the farther they are away from the topic of the dissertation. The claim here is that a fresh PhD should have both, depth and breadth in her/his knowledge.

There are a number of ways to figure out which class your defense will fall into:

Attend other defenses . Typically, PhD defenses are public, and it is highly recommended that any PhD candidate should visit a few before her/his own, to get to know the procedure and get a feel for what the defense talk is supposed to look like.
Ask your advisor . The advisor should obviously know what the requirements of the defense are, exactly.
Look it up in the programme description . Usually, the programme description will contain exam regulations for the defense, and this should describe the exam procedure and who is supposed to ask what kind of questions. This approach has two dangers: (1) you may misunderstand what the exam regulations are saying - as they are more legalese text, you may misunderstand the gist of it, and (2) the actual exam may happen differently than specified - there is no telling whether the exam regulation exactly captures the real spirit of the defense. Hence, you should really also talk to your advisor and/or attend other defenses as well.

9 Typically, there's a non-public part of the defense after the public part where the general public is asked to leave and the committee can grill the candidate in private. That's where the interesting/hard/potentially embarrassing questions are likely to come. This is harder to prepare for and benefits from asking your advisor and recent other students for guidance. – Bill Barth Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 13:24
4 @BillBarth Ok, I was not aware of that. In all universities that I was aware of, everything needs to be public to have traceability of decisions. – xLeitix Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 16:42
"Viva" (short for viva voce ) is the term used in the UK (and some other countries?), I'm not sure if use of this term corresponds to your two categories or not. At my UK university you are expected to answer questions generally on your field as well as your thesis. – MJeffryes Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 16:48
3 In addition to that, vivas in the UK are typically behind closed doors in their entirety - only two(ish) examiners and the candidate, with even the advisor being absent. – E.P. Commented Mar 30, 2015 at 22:28
good answer. i would like to add that the OP should look into their supervisor's reviews of the thesis. in some countries/unis these are provided beforehand. they contain the main criticism and these will come up also in the defense. the defense talk itself should already address them. – henning no longer feeds AI Commented Jul 12, 2015 at 16:11

Some types of questions that often come up:

Questions about some detail of your work. The point of such questions is often not so much the correctness of this small part of your dissertation, but rather to get you to demonstrate your ability to explain what you've done. This also helps to balance out the presentation, which typically covered the whole thesis in much less detail. For example, in mathematics you might be asked to go over the proof of one of your theorems in detail. Since you've spent more time working on these details than any of the examiners, and assuming that the examiner hasn't spotted a substantial error, you should be in a good position to answer such a question. Don't panic and assume that you've made some huge mistake, but rather go through the material carefully and convince the examiner that you're correct.

What are the broader implications of your work? This is actually a hard question for most students to answer because they've been so focused on the details of their thesis that they may not have taken time to see how it fits into the broader picture of progress in their discipline. This will also be an important question when you eventually interview for faculty positions.

Can this method be applied to some other problem Y? You may be asked how the techniques used in your dissertation could be applied to a different problem. If the answer is that the technique doesn't extend in that direction, then you should be prepared to explain why not.

Questions about what exactly is new in your work. You should have been extremely careful in writing your dissertation to properly cite earlier work and distinguish your new contributions from that earlier work. If this isn't clear to the examiners, you may be asked to clarify.

I attended about a dozen PhD defenses and recently defended my own PhD. Based on my (very limited) experiences, questions can be roughly categorized into two types:

Knowledge : the first set of questions or statements are usually to test your knowledge on your topic, the related work and whatever you have written down in your thesis and/or papers. If you have done all the work, these are mostly fairly easy to answer and are your way to demonstrate the awesome work you have done. These questions are to clarify, justify and frame your work related to others, in order to get a solid understanding of your contribution. Examples:

Can you explain what you mean with #concept you introduce#?
Why did you categorize or describe #your concept# in this way?
I believe #your topic# relates to #other guys theory# in such a way, which introduces an interesting contradiction. Can you comment or elaborate on this?
What is the main limitation of your work, and how could you address it?

Reasoning : committee members may also ask provocative or even harsh questions to see how strong you believe in your work but also whether you can transcend your topic and reason on a higher level. These questions or statements can be directly related to your topic but can also be more general. These types of questions are usually given to see how well the candidate performs when put under pressure and when they are questioned about things beyond their thesis. These can be interpreted as "nasty" questions, but remember that you can turn the questions around to your advantage. Examples:

Why do you believe this is science? What is science?
You spend #x# years researching this? Why did you choose the topic and why should we and the community care about it?
I don't see the contribution in your work, can you explain?
Why do you think you deserve a PhD?
Why did you choose this specific application domain?

Again, this is based on my personal limited experience, but it applied to my PhD defense as well.

You do not have much influence on the questions from the committee. If your PhD studies were more or less normal and you got that far, everyone wants you to succeed. They will not ask anything incredible (if they are relatively normal as well).

As for the public questions, my experiences are :

the friends you gave questions to. You have to choose the ones who have good reflexes to jump up and down when time for public questions come. You also have to train the "what a surprising question look"

the odd colleague who decided to ask a question about something related to your field, but far enough for you to have no idea. You sweat a lot, visualize him hanging on a tree and hope for the best. Best is to answer whatever you know on the subject and everyone acts happy. If he persists then you ask him what is his view on the subject so that he sits down ashamed mumbling "I have no idea"

finally the 173 years old professor who absolutely wants you to discuss his article from 1952. You thank for the question and talk about the article from 2012 someone wrote on a related subject.

(events described above actually happened to me in the course of my 2 hours defence)

1 Even though I will not ever have to go though a PhD defense anymore, it would have been great to understand the downvotes. – WoJ Commented Jul 12, 2015 at 17:59

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University of Notre Dame

Department of Mathematics

College of Science

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PhD Defense: Bridget Schreiner - University of Notre Dame

Time: Thu Jun 27, 2024, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Location: Zoom

$Photo of: Bridget Schreiner$

Speaker: Bridget Schreiner University of Notre Dame Will give a PhD Defense entitled: Cross Effects and Stability Abstract: Defense Committee: Mark Behrens, Advisor Pavel Mnev Andy Putman Larry Taylor We consider a generalization of the cross effects of Eilenberg and Mac Lane to cat- egories suitable for studying homological and representation stability. Specifically, we consider functors C −→ T op∗ where C is N or F I, the category of finite sets and injec- tions. We construct a spectral sequence computing the homology of our cross effects from the homology of such functors, as well as a spectral sequence reconstructing the homology of the values of the functor from the homology of its cross effects. Finally, we consider these cross effects in the context of the mod 2 homology of the symmetric groups. Date: 06-27-2024 Time: 4:00 pm Location: Zoom Zoom URL: notredame.zoom.us/j/ 3082757627

Download Poster [PDF, 498k]

College of Arts & Sciences
Graduate Division
College of Liberal and Professional Studies

Gwen Hildebrandt passes PhD defense

Gwen Hildebrandt passed her PhD dissertation defense on June 24, 2024. Her dissertation is entitled "Distributional cues to syntactic structure: case studies in Korean” and she was advised by Charles Yang. Julie Anne Legate and Martin Salzmann served on her committee.

University of Houston

Jul 04, 2024

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog (Catalog goes into effect at the start of the Fall 2024 semester)

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog (Catalog goes into effect at the start of the Fall 2024 semester)
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College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics > Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences > Geology, PhD

The Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) will provide all its students with educational programs that encompass the fundamental principles of the geosciences and the body of knowledge associated with the application of these principles to the study of the Earth and planetary materials. PhD students will receive advanced, research-intensive instruction that concentrates upon the acquisition of new knowledge, innovative approaches to problem-solving, and the dissemination of research results. Students successfully completing the PhD program will be prepared for a career as a researcher, educator, or professional geoscientist.

For more information please see http://www.uh.edu/nsm/earth-atmospheric .

Admission Requirements

Applicant will have earned a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree
Scores from the General GRE examination taken in the last 5 years are optional (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing; advanced GRE is recommended but optional)
English language proficiency test scores, such as TOEFL or IELTS scores, must be provided by applicants who did not earn a prior degree from a US institution or a country where English is the medium of instruction (see list in the General Admission Policy ).

Visit http://www.uh.edu/graduate-school/international-students/ to learn more.

The admissions committee and the department chair will evaluate the credentials of each applicant for the Ph.D. program, considering a broad range of criteria, including:

Content of the undergraduate program and, if applicable, graduate programs and grades earned, particularly in the areas of Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
A cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better in the last 60 hours of course work.
Letters of recommendation from three (3) individuals (preferably faculty members), who are able to judge the candidate’s academic abilities and potential for scholarly research.
GRE scores, if submitted (see above).
English proficiency test scores, when applicable.
Scientific, professional, technical publications, and Master’s Thesis (if applicable).

In addition to these requirements, graduate admission may also be contingent upon a faculty advisor agreeing to supervise the applicant. Therefore, prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact faculty members in the applicant’s field of interest prior to the application deadline.

Prerequisite Courses

Candidates entering the Geology PhD program must demonstrate general proficiency in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Some graduate courses explicitly require prerequisite courses to be successful.

The department will determine what deficiencies -if any - are present, and the acceptable means of removing those deficiencies (e.g. course work within and/or outside the department, directed study, research papers). Waivers of requirements will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants with a few deficiencies can satisfy those requirements while also taking graduate courses at the University of Houston.

Degree Requirements

All doctoral students must have a minimum of one continuous academic year (two terms (Fall/Spring or Spring/Summer/Fall)) as a full‐time student which consists of 9.0 Credit Hours per term.
A student working on a dissertation must be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 3.0 Credit Hours of doctoral research each Fall and Spring term, and in a minimum of 3.0 Credit Hours of doctoral dissertation in their final term.
Up to 6.0 Credit Hours of courses taken outside the department, but relevant to the degree program, can apply to the degree with prior approval from the Geology Graduate Faculty Advisor.

Sequence and Timing

First year in program:

Appropriate course work
Removal of all deficiencies
Establishment of PhD Research Committee

Second year in program:

Candidacy exam
Presenting Research and Dissertation
Completion of all formal course work
Initiation of research

Third year in program:

Conduct the proposal research
Submit revise papers
Completion and defense dissertation

Course Requirements

Credit hours required for this degree: 54.0

a) PhD students entering with a MS degree

Formal EAS courses Credit Hours: 18.0
Letter-graded Doctoral Dissertation course Credit Hours: 6.0 - 12.0
The remaining hours may include Coursework, Doctoral Research, Seminars and Special Problems

b) PhD students entering with a Bachelor’s degree

Formal EAS elective courses Credit Hours: 15.0
EAS Core Category Course Selections Credit Hours: 9.0
Dissertation Credit Hours: 6.0 - 12.0

Core Category Course Requirements

9.0 Credit Hours comprised of 3.0 Credit Hours maximum from three of the four categories with no more than 3.0 Credit Hours in any category. Course substitutions may be allowed on an individual basis, with prior approval from the Geology Graduate Faculty Advisor.

Most of these courses are offered in Fall or Spring terms, in alternate years.

Category 1 (Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology/Geochemistry)

GEOL 6386 - Igneous Petrogenesis & Plate Tectonics Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6374 - Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6339 - Igneous Petrology Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6340 - Metamorphic Petrology Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6341 - Geochemistry Credit Hours: 3.0

Category 2 (Sedimentary Geology/Stratigraphy)

GEOL 6358 - Terrigenous Depositional Systm Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6363 - Carbonate Sedimentalogy Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6366 - Hydrogeology Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6376 - Adv Tect and Sedimentation Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6380 - Sequence Stratigraphy Credit Hours: 3.0

Category 3 (Structure/Tectonics)

GEOL 6349 - Geodynamics Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6350 - Advanced Structural Geology Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6378 - Basin Analysis for Petroleum Exploration Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6352 - Microtectonics Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6382 - Plate Tectonics Credit Hours: 3.0

Category 4 (Applied/Analytical)

GEOL 6325 - Remote Sensing Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6347 - Sandstone Petrography Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6372 - Petroleum Geochemistry Credit Hours: 3
GEOL 6381 - Petroleum Geology Credit Hours: 3.0
GEOL 6388 - Geospatial Analysis and Applications Credit Hours: 3

Academic Policies

University Academic Policies
Academic Policies: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Department/Program Academic Policies:

Scholastic Requirements

Students not in good standing cannot receive a graduate degree and can be declared ineligible for support with a graduate assistantship (IA, TA, RA/TE or RA).
Graduate students who receive grades of C+ or lower in 12 or more semester hours of course work attempted for graduate credit are ineligible for any advanced degree at this institution.
Semester hours of “U” grades in S/U-graded courses apply toward the above 12-hour total.

Research (Dissertation) Advisor/Research Committee

Ph.D. applicants are encouraged to formulate their dissertation committee promptly in order to ensure proper guidance throughout their research.

a minimum of four members to include three faculty members who have their primary appointment within EAS
one approved member external to the major department from industry or academia who is acceptable to the department and approved by the college.
A faculty member with a joint appointment in EAS is considered as an outside member unless he/she chairs the committee. In this case, an additional external member outside the major department is required.
After these minimum requirements for committee members are satisfied, additional committee members may be approved from industry or academia, but at least 50% of the committee must be tenured/tenure‐track faculty at the University of Houston.
Research faculty or instructional faculty may serve on dissertation committees, but not chair the committees. However, a research professor may serve as a co‐advisor with a tenured/ tenure‐track faculty.
Candidates must specify a dissertation committee and have the names on file in the NSM Office of Academic Affairs at least one term prior to their graduation.

To become a candidate for the doctoral degree a student must meet a set of requirements established by the EAS Department. For all EAS doctoral aspirants, there are two options available to attain candidacy. It is the responsibility of the dissertation advisor to notify the department academic advisor and applicable graduate advisor which path to candidacy the graduate student will undertake by the end of the term preceding the candidacy exam or paper submission (Candidacy Options 1 and 2, respectively. See below).

It will test the breadth of the candidate’s knowledge within their discipline.
At the discretion of the examining committee, a student who fails the general examination can be permitted to re‐take it; however, the exam cannot be taken more than twice by the applicant.
Re‐examination will take place within one (1) month of the initial examination.
The student must pass the candidacy examination before proceeding to the dissertation proposal.
All candidacy and proposal requirements must be completed by the end of the 4th term in the program.
Submission of a manuscript to an Institute for Scientific Information (ISI)‐indexed, peer‐reviewed journal by the 6th week of the fourth term in the program and approval of an oral and written Ph.D. proposal.
Research work for the manuscript must have been completed at UH. This timing implies that the student is full‐ time and supported as a Research Assistant (RA) or Teaching Assistant (TA).
In order to proceed along this pathway for the Ph.D., the dissertation advisor and research committee must agree that the candidate has produced a publishable manuscript capable of passing a rigorous external peer‐review for a scientific journal and has completed and successfully defended a research proposal.
Prior to the presentation of the dissertation proposal, the manuscript must be submitted to a peer‐reviewed journal.
The oral proposal of the dissertation must be presented before the end of the 4th semester.

Dissertation Proposal

The oral dissertation proposal will be given during the semester in which the candidacy exam has been successfully completed (Candidacy Option 1) or the manuscript has been submitted to an approved peer‐reviewed journal (i.e. before the end of the fourth semester) (Candidacy Option 2).

PhD proposals can take place Monday‐Friday, with starting times between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., during the Fall and Spring terms.
The proposal must be presented by the last day of the semester. Teaching Assistants must present by first Monday in November in the Fall term, or the first Monday in July in the Summer term.
Proposals cannot be presented during, vacations, weekends, or over spring break or inter‐term breaks.
Summer proposals can be scheduled pending approval of the entire committee.
A minimum of two hours should be allocated for the dissertation proposal presentation and questions.
Proposal presentations are preceded by the distribution of a research committee approved 5 to 10 page (10 page maximum for text) written description of the dissertation project.
A one-page abstract must be posted and distributed to all faculty members at least seven calendar days prior to presentation and a digital copy of the full proposal in the final form filed with the department academic advisor and committee members at that time.
The proposal abstract must contain the title, time, place of the proposal, link for a video conference and the names of the committee members.
The dissertation advisor and at least one other member of the committee must initial the abstract prior to posting, thus indicating that they approve of the presentation of the proposal.
The oral presentation, approximately 30 to 45 minutes long, will be followed by a period during which all present can ask questions of the student related to the suitability and feasibility of the project, as well as the student’s ability to perform the research.
All faculty present can participate in the deliberations.
Committee members vote on the success or failure of the student’s performance in the dissertation proposal.
Approval by a majority of those voting is needed to pass the proposal. Upon successful presentation of the dissertation proposal, the student will be granted PhD candidacy status.
Upon successful presentation of the proposal, a digital copy of the complete proposal with the dissertation advisor’s signature indicating approval of the proposal as originally presented or modified must be placed in the student’s permanent academic file.
The second presentation must take place within 90 calendar days of the initial presentation.

Dissertation Defense

A public oral defense of the completed dissertation research will be presented to the faculty-at-large and may be attended by any other interested parties.

The format of the dissertation must follow NSM guidelines.
Questions pertaining to specific requirements should be addressed to the appropriate advisor.
Students that have used option 1 will submit at least two manuscripts, based on the dissertation research, to a qualified journal. Students that used candidacy option 2 will have a manuscript accepted and another submitted to qualified journals.
This manuscript must have been judged publication‐ready by the dissertation advisor and at least one other faculty member on the dissertation committee prior to submission.
For the defense, an abstract, which lists the time and place of the defense, must be distributed to the EAS faculty and posted publicly at least seven calendar days prior to the scheduled date for the defense.
The dissertation advisor and at least one other committee member must initial the notice of defense, indicating approval of the defense.
An unbound copy of the final draft of the dissertation, including all illustrations, must be made available in the EAS department office at least seven calendar days prior to the defense date for inspection by the EAS faculty.
PhD defenses can be given Monday‐Friday during the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms with starting times between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Defenses cannot be given during vacations, reading days, weekends, or final examination periods (nor over spring break or inter‐term breaks).
Scheduling of defenses is done through the department academic advisor.
A positive vote by a majority of the dissertation committee is required for successful defense of the dissertation.
If the student does not complete and successfully defend the PhD dissertation within five years after passing the candidacy examination, retaking of the candidacy examination may be required.
Once approved by the committee, the dissertation must be submitted to the NSM Office of Academic Affairs no later than the deadline posted on the College website each term.

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Doctorate Procedure

Defense of the Thesis

Disputation / Defense Image Credit: Marion Kuka

If the dissertation is recommended for acceptance, the doctoral candidate will be requested to make an appointment with the doctoral committee members. The doctoral candidate organises the defense in consultation with the chairperson of the doctoral committee.

Information on the different formats of the disputation (pure presence, hybrid, pure video format) and the requirements to be fulfilled in each case can be obtained from the doctoral office. Disputations generally take place in public, but the doctoral candidate also has the option to exclude the public so that only the doctoral candidate and the doctoral committee may attend the disputation.

Please first clarify possible appointments with the two reviewers because the two reviewers must participate at the disputation in any case. Individual members of the doctoral committee can be exchanged if no date can be found with the appointed members. Please note that the date should also be coordinated with the alternate members, as the disputation will only be valid if the doctoral committee (consisting of four university lecturers and one postdoctoral academic employee) is complete. The alternate members should also keep the date free, so that they can stand in at short notice if one of the main members should spontaneously drop out. It is advisable for each doctoral candidate to contact each member of the doctoral committee in order to enquire whether they would be interested in a copy or an PDF of the thesis.

As soon as the date, time and format of the disputation are fixed, please send an e-mail to the doctoral office to book a suitable room.

The doctoral office sends out the official invitation for defense to the doctoral candidate and to all doctoral committee members approx. 14 days before the date of the disputation and also announces the disputation on the FU's website (so far as the disputation takes place open to the public). The doctoral candidate confirms the date bindingly to all doctoral committee members in advance.

The doctoral committee meets 15 minutes before the defense to jointly evaluate the dissertation and sets the written grade. The defense begins with a lecture of approx. 30 minutes, in which the doctoral candidate presents and discusses the results of his/her thesis in the context of the field as a whole. The doctoral candidate then defends the dissertation by responding to the doctoral committee members' criticism and questions. The discussion must take at least 30 minutes but no longer than 60 minutes. The use of additionally prepared slides during the defense (following the presentation) is not permitted. Only slides that have already been used in the presentation may be used. The recording of the disputation is expressly prohibited.

When determining the grade to be awarded, the outcome of the discussion is in principal more important than priority against the presentation. But the dissertation is also taken primarily in principal into account for determining the overall grade.

You can find an overview of current defenses here .

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) can be found here.

Read on for the next topic ' Publication of the Thesis '.

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Small Business News

Dod leaders brief congressional staff on industrial base and small business issues.

By Suzanne Zurn Office of Small Business Programs

In an unclassified briefing last week to 84 Congressional staffers, including House Armed Services Committee staff, Senate Small Business Committee staff, Legislative Directors, and Military Legislative Assistants, Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, PhD , Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy; and Mr. Farooq Mitha , Director of the DoD Office of Small Business Programs, provided an overview of the current threat environments facing the defense industrial base and small business industrial base, existing plans and programs to address these issues, and a vision for where the Department is going.

Key resources relevant to this briefing are available to the public at these links:

National Defense Industrial Strategy: https://www.businessdefense.gov/NDIS.html
DoD Small Business Strategy: https://media.defense.gov/2023/Jan/26/2003150429/-1/-1/0/SMALL-BUSINESS-STRATEGY.PDF

DoD Small Business News

Get even more small business news from defense.gov., osbp and nist partner for small businesses.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP), the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense on small business matters, and U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) signed a memorandum of agreement on May 02, 2021 to collaborate on strengthening the national security of the small business industrial base.

The new partnership links two DOD organizations with a common mission to assist small businesses and to achieve shared objectives:

Provide training and technical support to small-and-medium U.S. manufacturers engaged or planning to engage with the defense sector.
Promote and co-sponsor joint training events beneficial to national security, with an emphasis on cybersecurity for defense manufacturing.
Establish direct and consistent relationships at multiple organizational levels within both Parties to document and share complementary assistance best practices.
Develop clear objectives, benchmarks and goals to measure success, added value, and synergy of collaborations between NIST MEP and OUSD(A&S) OSBP.

The OSBP and NIST partnership enables more DOD collaboration and support of small and medium manufacturers (SMMs). They will Collaborate to support the ongoing development and security of the Defense and Industrial Base.

This partnership will combine OSBP’s expertise in leveraging small businesses to close capability gaps for our armed forces with the MEP National Network. The MEP operational base provides an opportunity for OUSD(A&S) OSBP to serve as a resource for the MEP Program of MEP Centers engages defense sector and defense-relevant manufacturing clients to promote and provide technologies, prototypes and products for National Security missions.

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing

PhD in Nursing program

For more than 25 years, our PhD program has graduated over 100 nurse scientists who have gone on to careers in nursing education, research and organizational leadership in the United States and abroad.

The goal of our PhD program is to engage students in an intensive rigorous manner that prepares them as nurse scholars to enter the workforce in a reasonable amount of time. The program assists students in identifying, clarifying and articulating their research topic and ideas early in the program. During the program, students are mentored as they focus on their ideas and research goals. Emphasis is placed on the health needs of vulnerable individuals and populations within the context of social justice.

This program is offered online with residency opportunities on campus in Pittsburgh, PA and as part of a study abroad experience at Duquesne's Rome and/or Dublin campus. We welcome students to our program from all areas of the country and the world.

Program Outcomes

The overall purpose of the PhD in Nursing program is to prepare graduates for a lifetime of intellectual inquiry, creative scholarship and research. Graduates of the program will be competent in research, scholarship and leadership within the profession of nursing. The graduate must possess and demonstrate specific competencies. These include the ability to:

Function as an independent researcher and conduct original research that builds upon prior research and expands the science of nursing.
Integrate theoretical frameworks and research findings from other disciplines to enhance the practice of professional nursing.
Produce scholarly work that contributes to the science and profession of nursing by communicating creative solutions to problems in nursing and health care.
Demonstrate leadership and collaborative strategies to reduce health care disparities on a local, national and international level.
Help improve the health of the community by generating new evidence for nursing practice that solves problems related to health care delivery.
Evaluate issues that affect health care and advocate for change in health care policies based on evidence and the principles of social justice.

Program Options and Coursework

The program begins in May with the start of the summer semester. We offer three-year and four-year curriculum options, as well as a DNP to PhD program, which permits nurses with a DNP degree to gain valuable skills that will enable them to function as independent researchers.

All options are offered online with residency requirements at our Pittsburgh, PA campus, as well as at Duquesne's Dublin, Ireland campus as part of one study abroad experience.

3-Year and 4-Year Coursework Options

The School of Nursing offers both a three-year and a four-year option for pursuing a PhD in Nursing program, allowing you to apply to the program that best fits with your goals and lifestyle. The three- and four-year options are identical but differ in intensity and duration.

The three-year option typically requires six-10 credits to be complete per semester, whereas the four-year option typically requires six credits per semester. If you are interested in applying to the three-year program, you must have a commitment to prioritizing your time in order to complete the program, unencumbered by expectations of an over-demanding life/work/job.

3-Year PhD Coursework - 56 credits

53 credits total if a 3-credit statistics course is transferred. (*Required on-campus visit **Study Abroad)

Year One: Summer - Foundations


GPNG 901	State of the Science and Discovery	3 credits
GPNG 921	Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy	3 credits
	Doctoral Week* - Required Residency 1 of 4 (Orientation)

Year One: Fall - Science, Truth and Knowledge

GPNG 927	Structure of Nursing Knowledge	3 credits
GPNG 922	Philosophy of Science and Theory	3 credits

Year One: Spring - Scientific Tools

GPNG 943	Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing I	4 credits
GPNG 940	Statistics II or a Cognate	3 credits
GPNG 908	Advanced Population Health	3 credits

Year Two: Summer, Global View

GPNG 944	Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing II**	3 credits
GPNG 903	Measurement Issues**	3 credits
	Seminar: Topic Defense* (Doctoral Week) - - Required Residency 2 of 4 (Writing Intensive)
	Study Abroad** - Required Residency 3 of 4

Year Two: Fall - Immersion and Articulation

GPNG 931	Applied Qualitative Practicum	3 credits
GPNG 915	Dissertation Research Seminar: 1st manuscript (literature or other)*	3 credits
	Cognate	3 credits
GPNG 918	Research and Theory in Health Behaviors	3 credits

Year Two: Spring - Developing Independence

GPNG 930	Applied Quantitative Practicum	3 credits
GPNG 915	Grant Writing and Dissertation Proposal Development	3 credits

Year Three: Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination

GPNG 915	Dissertation	3 credits
Cognate Selection

Year Three: Fall - Dissertation and Dissemination

GPNG 915

Dissertation

3 credits

Year Three: Spring - Dissertation and Dissemination

Final semester (depending on start): summer - dissertation and dissemination.

GPNG 915

Dissertation Final Defense* - Required Residency 4 of 4

3 credits

4-Year PhD Coursework - 56 credits

53 credits total if a 3-credit statistics course is transferred. (*Required on-campus visit **Study Abroad)


GPNG 901	State of the Science and Discovery	3 credits
	Doctoral Week* - Required Residency 1 of 4 (Orientation)

GPNG 943	Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing I	3 credits
GPNG 940	Statistics II	3 credits

Year Two: Summer - Global View

GPNG 931	Applied Qualitative Practicum	3 credits
GPNG 918	Research and Theory in Health Behavior	3 credits

Year Two: Spring - Immersion and Articulation

GPNG 930	Applied Quantitative Practicum	3 credits
GPNG 908	Advanced Population Health	3 credits

Year Three: Summer - Foundations

GPNG 921	Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy	3 credits
	Seminar: Topic Defense* (Doctoral Week)
	Cognate Selection

Year Three: Fall - Immersion and Articulation

GPNG 915

Dissertation Research Seminar: 1st manuscript (literature or other)*

3 credits

Year Three: Spring- Developing Independence

GPNG 915

Grant Writing and Dissertation Proposal Development

3 credits

Year Four: Summer - Dissertation and Dissemination

Year four: fall - dissertation and dissemination, year four: spring - dissertation and dissemination.

GPNG 935

Continuous Registration

0 credits

Final Semester (depending on start) - Dissertation and Dissemination

GPNG 935

Continuous Registration Dissertation Final Defense* - Required Residency 4 of 4

0 credits

DNP to PhD Option

Apply the knowledge and skills you learned in your DNP program to this DNP to PhD option which allows you to conduct research related to your DNP Project. The DNP to PhD program requires completion of 38 credits, which typically takes two-and-a-half years, including dissertation.

DNP to PhD Coursework - 38 credits

38 credits total. (*Required on-campus visit **Study Abroad)


GPNG 901	State of the Science and Discovery	3 credits
	Doctoral Week* - Required Residency 1 of 4 (Orientation)

GPNG 922

Philosophy of Science and Theory

3 credits

GPNG 903	Measurement Issues**	3 credits
GPNG 944	Methods of Scientific Inquiry in Nursing II
	Study Abroad** - Required Residency 3 of 4

GPNG 931

Applied Qualitative Practicum

3 credits

GPNG 930

Applied Quantitative Practicum

3 credits

Cognate Selection

GPNG 915	Dissertation	3 credits
	Dissertation Defense*

GPNG 915

Dissertation Defense* - Required Residency 4 of 4

3 credits

GPNG 915

Dissertation Defense* - Required Residency 4 of 4

3 credits

As part of the PhD curriculum, you will be required to make a proposal defense and a final defense.

Proposal Defense

The Proposal Defense is an oral defense of a written dissertation research proposal.

Final Defense

The Final Defense is an oral defense of the completed dissertation. Students make one public oral defense. The University sets a deadline date for the final defense. Prior to this deadline, students must have already:

Successfully defended their dissertation.
Made any corrections requested by their dissertation committee.
Submitted an approved electronic (ETD) version of their dissertation.

Students need to work with their committee chairs to schedule their final defense dates at least four to six weeks prior to the University deadline. You may reference the University Academic Calendar for the latest date to submit an approved thesis.

Areas of Interest

Duquesne was founded in 1878 to educate new immigrants to Pittsburgh, development of the mind, heart and spirit is foundational to a Duquesne education. These values embody and give life to the curriculum, classroom, and online and residency experiences, and they are especially visible in our relationships with each other. In the School of Nursing, faculty and staff work collaboratively with PhD students to develop and deepen nursing science. Much of our special focus and expertise in scholarship and research involve working with vulnerable populations, persons who experience health disparities, immigrants and refugees, and persons in the penal justice system. Our sustained commitment to transcultural understanding and social justice make Duquesne students, faculty and graduates citizens of the world.

PhD Concentrations

Each concentration is designed to complement your current professional practice and to personalize your approach to teaching and patient care.

Nursing Education and Faculty Role Concentration

Develop teaching competencies through active engagement in courses that focus on:

Designing innovative curricula and evaluating outcomes.
Applying learning theories in practice.
Assessing classroom and clinical learning.
Developing, implementing and evaluating classroom and simulation teaching plans.

The Nursing Education Concentration also meets the eligibility criteria for the NLN sponsored Certified Nurse Educator designation.

Please note that revisions to courses and coursework are ongoing.


GNED 507	Foundations in Education Theory for Professional Practice Disciplines	3 credits
GNED 522	Innovative Curriculum Design and Evaluation	3 credits
GNED 532	Emerging Trends and Innovations in the Teaching of Nursing	3 credits

Transcultural Nursing

Bridge the gap between culture and health care. Transcultural care emphasizes and embraces the emotional and spiritual connections that influence health care decisions. You will learn how to view patient preferences through a new lens that significantly impacts patient care outcomes. This advanced perspective can help you make a difference with vulnerable populations where you live and work, as well as around the world.

Please note that any tuition discounts that graduate students receive are not applicable to study abroad courses.

Students receiving any outside aide are responsible for ensuring that the aid will cover expenses related to study abroad courses.


GPNG 908	Advanced Population Health	3 credits
GPNG 917	Transcultural Care and Global Health Perspectives	3 credits
GPNG 921	Foundations of Social and Distributive Justice in Health Policy	3 credits

Forensic Nursing

It's one thing to collect evidence, it's another to know how to communicate what the evidence means. Learn how to do exactly that with the potential to become a trusted expert when evaluating crimes like sexual abuse, physical assault, and accidental or intentional death. From detail-oriented analysis to court depositions that lead to prosecutions, this concentration will prepare you for a role in the criminal justice system and to be eligible to sit for the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) certification exam.


GNFO 518	Criminal Law and the Courts	3 credits
GNFO 519	Advanced Forensic Nursing I: Theory and Practice	3 credits
GNFO 520	Advanced Forensic Nursing II: Program Development, Leadership & Policy	3 credits

PhD Required Residencies

Residency 1: doctoral week.

Every student admitted to the PhD program is required to come to the Pittsburgh, PA, campus for the first residency, usually held during the second or third week of May. This week includes an orientation to the PhD program and provides an opportunity for students to meet faculty and participate in live classes for the courses in which they are enrolled that summer.

Residency 2: Study Abroad

Students enrolled in GPNG 924 Methods of Scientific Inquiry II will take part of the course as a study abroad experience (approximately 10-14 days) in locations such as Dublin, Ireland.

Residency 3: Topic and Committee Approval

This residency provides an opportunity for the student to meet with their faculty mentor either at Duquesne University or another location, such as a conference setting, for intensive discussion and writing around dissertation topic development in preparation for approval.

Residency 4: Final Dissertation Defense

Students are required to come to campus for the final public defense of their dissertation.

IMAGES

Defense and Dissertation Overview
13 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Dissertation Defense
PhD defense at Tilburg University
The Dissertation Defense Guide
Guofeng Chen has passed his PhD Thesis Defense!
phd thesis defense committee

COMMENTS

Preparing for a PhD Defense
A chair is appointed for each PhD oral defense to monitor and promote fairness and rigor in the conduct of the defense. ... and the chair must all be physically present in the room for the defense, other committee members are allowed to participate in the defense remotely via Skype or other video conferencing technology so long as all committee ...
PhD Defence Process: A Comprehensive Guide for 2024
The PhD defence, also known as the viva voce or oral examination, is a pivotal moment in the life of a doctoral candidate. PhD defence is not merely a ritualistic ceremony; rather, it serves as a platform for scholars to present, defend, and elucidate the findings and implications of their research. The defence is the crucible where ideas are ...
Nomination and Appointment of the Defense Committee
The doctoral defense will be conducted by a final defense committee that is composed of exactly five members. Three of the members of the final defense committee (Dissertation Defense Moderator, Dissertation Advisor, and Third Examiner) must be inside examiners (holding a formal appointment or approved as a dissertation advisor in the doctoral ...
Doctoral Committee Responsibilities
Committee member's responsibilities include: In cooperation with the Chair, advising the candidate from the Prospectus stage through the final defense of the Dissertation. Provide subject matter expertise as requested by Chair or candidate. Reading drafts and providing meaningful feedback at each defense stage of the dissertation process.
PhD Dissertation Defense Slides Design: Start
This Guide was created to help Ph.D. students in engineering fields to design dissertation defense presentations. The Guide provides 1) tips on how to effectively communicate research, and 2) full presentation examples from Ph.D. graduates. The tips on designing effective slides are not restricted to dissertation defense presentations; they can ...
Evaluation Decisions for Doctoral Defense
"Pass" requires that both the defense and the document (dissertation or treatise) are acceptable. In some cases, the committee may require revisions, which will be checked by the entire committee or by the supervising professor only. This should be agreed upon at the time of the defense and communicated with the student.
Defense and Dissertation Overview
A defense committee must be approved by the BPH program and the student's advisor, ... Students are encouraged to speak to their advisors directly about how they should be paid as they complete their graduate work. If an advisor wishes to pay the student for one additional month, beyond what has been explained above, the advisor must notify ...
Doctoral Dissertation Defense
The dissertation committee is appointed by the Dean of the Graduate College on the recommendation of the student's department or program. The defense committee consists of at least five persons, of whom one must be from outside their program. The chair of the committee must be a full member of the UIC graduate faculty.
Defending Your Dissertation: A Guide
The first thing you should know is that your defense has already begun. It started the minute you began working on your dissertation— maybe even in some of the classes you took beforehand that helped you formulate your ideas. This, according to Dr. Celeste Atkins, is why it's so important to identify a good mentor early in graduate school.
Preparing for your PhD thesis defence
Examination committee members ... The PhD thesis defence is the culmination of years of hard work! The tips outlined in this video, compiled from recent PhD graduates and experienced thesis defence chairs, cover tips for preparing for your defence, day-of logistics, and defending successfully. ...
How to prepare an excellent thesis defense
First of all, be aware that a thesis defense varies from country to country. This is just a general overview, but a thesis defense can take many different formats. Some are closed, others are public defenses. Some take place with two committee members, some with more examiners. The same goes for the length of your thesis defense, as mentioned ...
Ph.D. Defense Procedures
Ph.D. Defense Procedures. The Committee on Graduate Studies of the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences approved new requirements and procedures for the final examination, or Ph.D. defense, effective Fall 2023. Please review these requirements and best practices which should be used at all future CCAS Ph.D. final examinations.
13 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Dissertation Defense
1. Start Your Preparations Early. Thesis defense is not a 3 or 6 months' exercise. Don't wait until you have completed all your research objectives. Start your preparation well in advance, and make sure you know all the intricacies of your thesis and reasons to all the research experiments you conducted. 2.
PDF A Guide for Graduate Students Preparing for a PhD Defense
ram of study, there are several things that must be done before a thesis defense can occur. Most importantly, you must meet w. h your advisory committee to ensure that everyone agrees that the wo. is ready to defend. You will need to decide on a date by which the defense should occur. You should also infor.
Hints for PhD defenses
Hints for PhD Defenses. At Columbia, PhD defenses are generally not public, although CS usually allows a student audience. Defenses consist of four parts: first, the candidate introduces themselves, then presents a summary of their work, interrupted and followed by questions from the committee. Finally, the committee meets in private to discuss ...
Forming Your Committee
The committee members and Graduate Faculty Representative will: Approve of the subject matter and methodology of the thesis or dissertation research. Review and comment on drafts of the thesis or dissertation prior to submission to The Graduate School. Verify, to the best of their ability, the quality of the data collection and evidence, data ...
Tips for preparing your PhD defense [EASY dissertation defense]
A PhD defense, also known as a viva, is a critical process that marks the completion of a doctoral degree. It varies from one institution to another and between different countries. ... How to Choose your PhD examiners and committee members. Choosing your PhD examiners requires strategic thinking and insightful conversations with your ...
Final Oral Defence
The detailed Final Oral Defence procedures are outlined in the Exam Instructions. A copy of these instructions is provided to the examining committee approximately one week before the Oral Defence. The basic structure of the Oral Defence is: Candidate makes a public presentation of the dissertation (maximum 30 minutes) Examining committee ...
PhD Dissertation and Defense Process
The PhD Dissertation Defense The culminating step toward obtaining a PhD is the final dissertation defense. This event consists of a seminar in which the PhD Candidate orally presents the findings of their dissertation in front of their PhD Dissertation Committee and a general audience, including individuals both from inside and outside Rutgers ...
How to ask a professor to be on your committee? : r/PhD
PhD Thesis Committee Invitation. "Hello Dr. …. I hope you're doing well! I am a PhD student in the School of …, working with Dr… in the field of … . My current project involves using … approaches to …, which can aid in … . My advisor has recommended that I reach out to you, and I would be honored if you would serve on my thesis ...
Section 10: PhD Dissertation Defense: Final Oral Examination Overview
Results for the Defense (Final Oral Examination) and Dissertation must be reported by the Dissertation Committee by Graduate School deadlines. Exam dates should be chosen to meet the deadlines. Application to Graduate: Department Deadline - first day of the intended semester; Graduate School deadline - 3 rd Friday of the semester of graduation
What questions to prepare for PhD defense?
23. Generally speaking, PhD defenses come in two flavors, and it is not possible to say a priori which one yours will fall into: A real thesis "defense" focuses on the thesis, and all questions will relate to the scope of the research work. In this case, knowing your own work and its context well enough should be sufficient, but it is of course ...
PhD Defense: Bridget Schreiner
Will give a PhD Defense entitled: Cross Effects and Stability Abstract: Defense Committee: Mark Behrens, Advisor Pavel Mnev Andy Putman Larry Taylor We consider a generalization of the cross effects of Eilenberg and Mac Lane to cat- egories suitable for studying homological and representation stability. Specifically, we consider functors C − ...
Gwen Hildebrandt passes PhD defense
Gwen Hildebrandt passed her PhD dissertation defense on June 24, 2024. Her dissertation is entitled "Distributional cues to syntactic structure: case studies in Korean" and she was advised by Charles Yang. Julie Anne Legate and Martin Salzmann served on her committee.
Program: Geology, PhD
The dissertation advisor and at least one other committee member must initial the notice of defense, indicating approval of the defense. An unbound copy of the final draft of the dissertation, including all illustrations, must be made available in the EAS department office at least seven calendar days prior to the defense date for inspection by ...
Defense of the Thesis • Graduate Center / Doctorate • Department of
The defense begins with a lecture of approx. 30 minutes, in which the doctoral candidate presents and discusses the results of his/her thesis in the context of the field as a whole. The doctoral candidate then defends the dissertation by responding to the doctoral committee members' criticism and questions. The discussion must take at least 30 ...
DoD Leaders Brief Congressional Staff on Industrial Base and Small
Arlington, VA - In an unclassified briefing last week to 84 Congressional staffers, including House Armed Services Committee staff, Senate Small Business Committee staff, Legislative Directors, and Military Legislative Assistants, Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, PhD, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy; and Mr. Farooq Mitha, Director of the DoD Office of Small Business Programs ...
Program: Bioinformatics, Ph.D.
The Bioinformatics graduate coordinator in conjunction with the Bioinformatics Steering Committee, must approve the committee constituency. The dissertation subject should be selected by the student and Doctoral Advisory Committee at least two years prior to the oral defense of the research.
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing
Defense. As part of the PhD curriculum, you will be required to make a proposal defense and a final defense. Proposal Defense. The Proposal Defense is an oral defense of a written dissertation research proposal. ... Students need to work with their committee chairs to schedule their final defense dates at least four to six weeks prior to the ...

PhD Defence Process: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

What is a PhD Defence?

How Long is a PhD Defence?

Success Factors in a PhD Defence

Failure in PhD Defence

PhD Defense or Defence?

Is PhD Defense a Formality?

Dressing for Success: PhD Defense Outfit

Upcoming Events

Recent Posts

PhD Dissertation Defense Slides Design: Start

Purpose of the Guide

Useful Links

Power Point Template and other Resources

Email me for questions and schedule an appointment

Top 7 tips for your defense presentation

2. Emphasize YOUR contribution

4. Tell a good story

5. Transition, transition, transition

Use transition sentences to connect slides

How important is your presentation, and cookies?

Evaluation Decisions for Doctoral Defense

Report on Doctoral Dissertation forms

Documentation

The supervisor should bring the Report of Dissertation Committee to the defense.

All committee members sign the Report of Dissertation Committee, even if the member was not present at the defense.

Once all members have signed the report the Graduate Studies Committee chair or designee should provide the final signature.

The Report of Dissertation Committee should be submitted to the Graduate School by the student.

Defense and Dissertation Overview

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Defending Your Dissertation: A Guide

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What is the PhD defence?

Timeline to defence

Backwards planning tools

Tips for success

How to prepare an excellent thesis defense

What is a thesis defense?

Ph.D. Defense Procedures

1. Construction of the Final Examination Committee

2. Pre-examination preparation

3. Final Examination procedures

13 Tips to Prepare for Your PhD Dissertation Defense

What Is Dissertation Defense?

Source: https://www.youtube.com/c/JamesHaytonPhDacademy

How to Choose a Dissertation Committee Member?

How to Prepare for Dissertation Defense?

1. Start Your Preparations Early

2. Attend Presentations by Other Candidates

3. Take Enough Time to Prepare the Slides

4. Structure the Presentation

5. Practice Breathing Techniques

6. Create an Impactful Introduction

7. Maintain Your Own List of Questions

8. Practice Speech and Body Language

9. Give Mock Presentation

10. Learn How to Handle Mistakes

11. Do Not Run Through the Presentation

12. Get Plenty of Rest

13. Visualize Yourself Defending Your Thesis

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Hints for PhD Defenses

Hints for Dissertations