Dissertation review procedure

The dissertation review and defence procedure is designed to ensure that the doctoral thesis demonstrates the candidate’s capacity for independent scientific research and complies with both formal and substantive requirements. The process includes a pre-evaluation (pre-opponency), revision phase, final evaluation by independent referees and a public defence.

Deadlines and general rules

  • The doctoral (draft)dissertation (complete manuscript intended for pre-evaluation) must be submitted no later than the end of the eighth active semester.
  • Candidates have up to three years following the Complex Examination to submit the final dissertation manuscript (revised based on the pre-evaluation). Failure to submit within this period will lead to termination of the student status.
  • If the public defence takes place after the official training period (8 active semesters), a defence fee of EUR 1500 is payable.
  • The formal requirements for the dissertation are available on the doctoral school website (link to the formal requirements and downloadable forms). 

Pre-evaluation (Stage I — “pre-opponency” / submission for absolutorium)

Pre-evaluation is the first formal evaluation stage and is required in the Business Administration programme in order to obtain the absolutorium.

Submission procedure for pre-evaluation:

  • Provide one electronic copy (PDF or Word) — this copy will be used for Turnitin (plagiarism-detection) screening.
  • Provide two printed copies bound in a soft (paper/plastic) cover for the preliminary reviewers.
  • Mandatory attachments to the submission:
    • Originality statement (attesting that the dissertation is the candidate’s own work).
    • SUPERVISOR STATEMENT — the supervisor completes this form and recommends at least seven (7) potential referees. The supervisor’s declaration must accompany the dissertation submission.

Reviewer appointment and timetable:

  • After submission of the draft dissertation and the supervisor’s recommendation, the list of recommended referees and the submission are placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the Doctoral Council. The Council meets monthly or every two months. The Council discusses the supervisor’s recommendations and officially appoints all persons involved in the review process (preliminary reviewers, final referees, defence committee members).
  • Because Council meetings are not pre-scheduled in a fixed weekly pattern, the candidate must wait for the next Council meeting for formal appointment; the dissertation will be sent to reviewers only after those appointments have been made. It is therefore important to take the Council schedule into account when planning submission.

Review period and possible outcomes:

  • The two appointed pre-reviewers evaluate the submission in parallel and are normally given two months to deliver their written evaluations.
  • The reviewers may render one of three decisions:
    1. Accept as is — no changes required.
    2. Conditional acceptance — revision required.
    3. Reject — major revision required.

Revision and final submission (Stage II — final opponency)

  • If revisions are required after the pre-evaluation, the candidate must address the reviewers’ comments and submit a revised manuscript.
  • For the final review the candidate must submit one electronic copy and three printed copies of the dissertation and one electronic and 15 printed copies of the Thesis Summary (A5 size, booklet format). For the final submission hardcover binding (black hard cover) is required for the printed copies (dissertation). A new originality statement must accompany the final submission.
  • Two new and independent final reviewers (opponents) are appointed for the final round; these reviewers are not the same individuals who performed the pre-evaluation. The final reviewers are typically allocated two months to evaluate the revised manuscript.

Final reviewers’ possible decisions:

  1. Accept — the manuscript is accepted and the candidate may proceed to scheduling the public defence.
  2. Reject (major revision) — if the final reviewers reject the submission, the candidate must undertake major revision. Re-submission following a final rejection is possible, but the earliest re-submission date is normally two years after the rejection.

Public defence

If both final reviewers issue positive evaluations, the Doctoral School schedules the public defence. The defence committee and opponents have already been appointed by the Doctoral Council during the earlier stage(s).

  • The final version of the dissertation is made publicly available in the University Repository prior to the defence; the candidate’s thesis and its Thesis Summary are published in accordance with the doctoral regulations.
  • The public defence is open to the broader academic community. Members of the public may submit questions in writing prior to the defence and can also ask questions orally during the session.

Finally, The University Doctoral Council decides whether the candidate is to be awarded the doctoral degree.

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