Trial lecture
The person who chairs the trial lecture (normally the Head of Department, committee administrator or chair of the defence) will extend a welcome to the trial lecture, introduce the candidate, and lead any questions and subsequent discussion. The adjudication committee will be present in order to determine whether you have passed the trial lecture.
The trial lecture will take 45 minutes – no more, and not much less. The purpose of the trial lecture is for the candidate to demonstrate her/his ability to convey research-based knowledge to a target group of advanced students of the subject (who have completed at least one year of studies). The assessment of the trial lecture will focus on both the academic content and the candidate's ability to convey knowledge.
The trial lecture must be passed before the public defence may take place (see Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor §18.1).
Disputation
The disputation shall normally not exceed a period of three and a half hours.
Course of the disputation. The times indicated in parentheses are for guidance only:
- The procession enters the auditorium: The doctoral candidate walks first, followed by the first opponent, the second opponent, the third member of the committee and the person presiding at the disputation (For their placement, see below).
- The person presiding gives a brief introduction
- The doctoral candidate presents his or her dissertation and gives an account of the purpose and results of the scientific investigation (approx. 20 min.).
- The first ordinary opponent presents his or her opposition (this usually takes the course of a discussion between the opponent and the doctoral candidate (approx. 60 min.))
- The procession leaves the auditorium
- Interval (approx. 15-30 min.)
- The procession enters the auditorium
- The second ordinary opponent presents his or her opposition (this usually takes the course of a discussion between the opponent and the doctoral candidate (approx. 60 min.))
- Any opponents ex. auditorio present their opposition (max. 10 min. each)
The candidate must pass both the trial lecture and the public defence before the degree and diploma can be conferred.
Particular information relating to Gamle festsal
Gathering in the Meeting Room adjacent to Gamle festsal 15-20 min. before the commencement of the disputation. After the procession has entered the room, the first four members of the assembly proceed to the chairs that have been appropriately placed, with the doctoral candidate to the far right. The person presiding at the disputation goes up to the lectern. The members of the audience sit down. The person presiding gives an introduction. The person presiding goes down to his or her seat below the lectern. The doctoral candidate goes up to the lectern from the other side. The opponents take their place at the lectern directly opposite in turn.
Particular information relating to Auditoriums in the Georg Sverdrup Building
Gathering in the staff canteen on the first floor 15-20 min. before the commencement of the disputation. After the procession has entered the auditorium, the first four members of the assembly proceed to the chairs that have been appropriately placed, with the doctoral candidate in the middle. The person presiding at the disputation goes up behind the writing desk. The members of the audience sit down. The person presiding gives an introduction. The person presiding sits down. The doctoral candidate goes to the lectern to the right of the person presiding. The opponents take their place at the lectern to the left in turn.
Particular information relating to Auditoriums in the Helga Eng Building
Gathering outside the auditorium 15-20 min. before the commencement of the disputation. After the procession has entered the auditorium, the first four members of the assembly take their seats in the middle of the first row, with the doctoral candidate in the middle. The person presiding at the disputation goes up behind the fixed lectern in the middle of the podium. The members of the audience sit down. The person presiding gives an introduction. The person presiding sits down. The doctoral candidate goes to the fixed lectern. The opponents take their place at the lectern to the left of the audience in turn.
Social celebration
The Faculty pays for lunch, before or after the disputation, for the doctoral candidate, the person presiding at the disputation, the committee and the supervisor, if there is a wish for this.
If the doctoral candidate so wishes, he or she may invite guests to a doctoral dinner. This has been a common custom in a number of communities in the Faculty, but on this point it is entirely up to the doctoral candidate. If the doctoral candidate belongs to a community in which it is felt appropriate to have a social celebration of this kind, it is the doctoral candidate
Administrator
The administrator's tasks before and during the public defence
who is responsible for the invitations.