Section 7. Thesis defence, conferring doctorate and awarding degree certificate

Article 3.30. Preparatory meeting of the Doctoral Examination Board and establishing the order of oppositions

In a meeting of the Doctoral Examination Board prior to the PhD defence ceremony, the chair of the Doctoral Examination Board determines the sequence and duration of the oppositions.

Article 3.31. PhD thesis defence

1. The defence of the PhD thesis will take place during the PhD defence ceremony in front of the Doctoral Examination Board.
2. The PhD defence ceremony is public.
3. The PhD defence ceremony is chaired by the chair of the Doctorate Board and follows the rules included in a protocol. The protocol is included to these regulations as Appendix VII.

Article 3.32. Doctoral Examination Board consideration

1. After the conclusion of the defence of the PhD thesis, the Doctoral Examination Board will assemble for a consideration in a closed meeting.
2. During the deliberation, the PhD supervisor can be asked for information about the course of the scientific research and about the (personal) qualities of the PhD candidate during the decision-making.
3. No report is made of the deliberations.

Article 3.33. Doctoral Examination Board decision-making process

1. After the deliberation, the Doctoral Examination Board decides on the basis of the opinion of the Manuscript Committee, the information provided by the PhD supervisor during the deliberation and after having heard and seen the way in which the PhD candidate has defended the dissertation, whether the doctorate can be awarded.
2. If the Cum Laude Committee has taken a positive decision, the Doctoral Examination Board will decide on the basis of the assessment of the Cum Laude Committee, the information provided by the PhD supervisor during the deliberation and after having heard and seen how the PhD candidate has defended the dissertation, whether the ‘cum laude’ distinction may be awarded.
3. The Doctoral Examination Board takes its decisions based on majority voting. If the vote results in a draw, the chair of the Doctoral Examination Board will break the tie.
4. Only the members of the Doctoral Examination Board who attended the defence of the dissertation have the right to vote, unless the chair of the Doctoral Examination Board has decided otherwise in advance.
5. The votes of the Doctoral Examination Board are registered in the public PhD register by the secretary of the Doctorate Board.

Article 3.34. Awarding a doctorate

1. After the vote, the Doctoral Examination Board awards the doctorate and, if applicable, the distinction.
2. The doctorate is awarded by the Doctoral Examination Board on behalf of the Doctorate Board.

Article 3.35. Signing the degree

1. To provide proof that the doctorate was awarded, the degree will be signed after the doctorate is awarded.
2. The chair of the Doctorate Board and the PhD (co-)supervisor sign the doctoral degree.
3. If the ‘cum laude’ distinction was awarded, the distinction will also be noted on the doctoral degree.

Article 3.36. Announcement of the decision

After the consideration, the chair of the Doctorate Board will reopen the PhD defence ceremony, and will announce the decision in relation to awarding the doctorate and, where applicable, the distinction.

Article 3.37. Presentation of the doctoral degree

If and after the doctorate has been conferred, the PhD supervisor, on the instructions of the chair of the Doctorate Board, awards the doctoral degree to the PhD candidate.