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The research output of the Wageningen University PhD Programme will be a thesis (dissertation). The thesis must have been approved by the supervisor before it may be submitted for acceptance to the Academic Board of Wageningen University.
The thesis may be an academic treatise on a certain topic, or a collection of separate articles which may or may not have been published previously and which all relate to a certain topic. In general, a thesis is written by one person, but in exceptional cases, it may be written by two or three persons, providing it is clear who is specifically responsible for which part(s). The thesis may be written in any language approved by the supervisor and the Academic Board. If the thesis is written in a language other than Dutch, the title and summary must be translated into Dutch. The Academic Board appoints an Examining Committee consisting of the supervisor(s) and at least three professors or members of the academic staff of Wageningen University, another Dutch University, or an academic institution. The Examining Committee judges whether the thesis demonstrates that the candidate is capable of independent scientific research and may therefore be allowed to defend the thesis in public. An appointment for public defence is made with the Vice Chancellor.
The public ceremony is considered to be the crowning moment for all PhD candidates and takes place in the University's auditorium in the presence of the Examining Committee. It involves the candidate defending the thesis and propositions in response to questions asked by the Examining Committee during a period of 45 minutes.
| The procedure must be conducted in Dutch, unless the Vice Chancellor has given prior permission for another language to be used. In most cases, this implies permitting international students to defend their thesis in English. The Examining Committee, acting on behalf of the Academic Board, decides by a majority of votes whether or not to award the doctorate. If the candidate has displayed exceptional ability to do independent scientific research, the Academic Board may award the doctorate 'cum laude' (with distinction). At the end of the public defence the candidate is presented a degree certificate, in Dutch, signed by the Vice Chancellor or his / her representative and by the supervisor(s). If the doctorate has been awarded 'cum laude' this will be stated on the certificate. The candidate is also given an English translation of the degree certificate. |
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More information on the formal procedures: Doctorate Conferral Regulations of Wageningen University.
More information about the research and educational programmes may be obtained from web-sites of the Graduate Schools.