Trial lecture and public defence

The main rule for public defences at the faculty is physical attendance. It is, however, possible to hold a hybrid (partially digital) defence if needed. Digital defences may, in special cases, be held after agreement with the faculty.

Trial lecture:

• 10:00: The presiding official (Dean, Vice-Dean of Research, Head of Department, or a person authorized by the Dean) will welcome attendees to the trial lecture and introduce the candidate. The adjudication committee will be present to assess whether the candidate has passed the trial lecture.
• 10:15- 11:00 Trial lecture on the assigned topic (45 minutes).

Lunch etc.:

• 11:00- 11:40: The committee is given the opportunity to discuss the trial lecture in a suitable room. The others who are invited for lunch, are waiting outside until the committee call upon them. A light lunch is served in the committee room. Invited are, in addition to the committee, the person presiding and supervisors.

Public defence:

• 12:00 - 12:10: The procession enters the auditorium in the following order: the person presiding at the defence leads the procession (wearing an academic gown during the actual public defence), followed by the opposing speakers (first opponent, second opponent, etc.), the chair of the assessment committee and finally the doctoral candidate. The person presiding at the defence provides an introduction. The candidate is presented, and the audience is informed that any ex auditorio opposing speakers who have questions they would like to discuss, must register their intent during the interval following the first round of opposition, and before the second opposing speaker commences. Every such contribution should be well prepared and precisely stated within a maximum of 10 minutes.

• The doctoral candidate's presentation:

By way of introduction, the doctoral candidate then presents his/her dissertation and gives an account of the purpose and the results of the scientific investigation (20 minutes).

• First opposition:
  The person presiding invites the first opposing speaker and the doctoral candidate to take the floor. The first opposing speaker presents his/her opposition, including comments on the candidate's presentation. Ordinary opposition/response (Max.1 hour).
• After the first opposition: 15-minutes break.

Questions ex auditorio must be notified to the person presiding during this break.

• Second opposition:

The second opposing speaker now presents his/her opposition. Following this second opposition, the last member(s) of the committee may present his/her comments and questions as well. Discussion between second opponent and the candidate (Max. 45 minutes).

• The Questions ex auditorio, if any.

The candidate must be given the opportunity to answer all oppositions.

• When the opposition has ended:

Before leaving the auditorium in front of the dissertation committee, the person presiding asks the audience not to leave the room. Now, the assessment committee convenes to discuss whether the work meets the criteria for approval. The assessment committee returns, and the chair of the committee either announces the decision or the need for additional time for further deliberation.

The committee’s conclusion, which the chair of the committee/administrator will announce, must be either:

The committee is satisfied with the candidate’s performance and will recommend that he/she is awarded the degree for PhD

The person presiding presents a floral tribute to the candidate. While the audience keeps seated, the person presiding concludes the defence. Any informal social gathering after the public defence is announced. Everyone is requested to stand up.

• PhD candidate gives the opportunity to say some words, to thank the committee, the PhD programme, the Department, the supervisors, and the other PhD candidates etc.

• Procession out of the auditorium:

The doctoral candidate has now "increased his/her standing" and the order of the procession leaving the auditorium is as follows: the person presiding at the defence walks in front of the procession out of the room, followed by the doctoral candidate, the first opposing speaker, the second opposing speaker and finally the last one member of the committee.

Dates for the PhD examination cannot be set before the thesis is found worthy of public defence.

Setting a date

Earliest date for trial lecture/public defence is 4 weeks after the recommendation has been approved. The 4 week rule is absolute and cannot be made shorter. If tentative dates for the PhD examination are discussed, dates must be at least 4 months ahead in time.

Please note that July is UiS's holiday month and recommendations will not be approved during July.

It is imperative that suggested dates should not have any bearing on a committee's evaluation. If a committee recommends a minor revision of a thesis, the committee should not feel pressurized to approve the thesis just because a date for the public defence has already been set, ref. § 7-6 of the Regulations for the degree of PhD.

The Faculty has the capacity to hold a limited number of defences each day. Defences can be held on all weekdays. Please note that many choose Fridays for the defence and that Fridays can be fully booked.

Trial lecture and public defence in connection with holidays

Trial lecture and public defence can take place at the earliest four weeks after the faculty has found the thesis worthy of defence.

The trial lecture takes place the day before or on the same day as the public defence. At the Faculty of Social Sciences the trial lecture and public defence usually take place on the same day.

Recommended times for ordinary public defence with physical presence and hybrid (partially digital) defence is at 10.00 am for the trial lecture and at 12:00 noon for the public defence. The trial lecture must take place before the public defence. Experience shows that it is necessary with a one hour break for the committee to have time to evaluate the trial lecture and have lunch.

For digital defences the recommended times for trial lecture and defence is 10.00 am and at 12:00 noon, respectively. The trial lecture must take place before the public defence. A mandatory teams-test should be held two to seven days prior to the defence.

Please note the following dates for trial lecture and public defence in connection with holidays.

Christmas

Last date for public defence before Christmas is 15 December. First possible date for trial lecture after New Year’s Eve is 20 January.

Summer

Administration of the PhD programme is closed from 1 July to 1 August. Last possible date for public defence before summer is 25 June. The committee's recommendation must be approved by 25 May. The first possible date for trial lecture after summer is 20 August. The committee's recommendation must be approved by 25 June. 

The trial lecture is held prior to the public defence and can take place at the earliest four weeks after the Faculty has found the thesis worthy of defence. The disputation is the public defence of the thesis. When the Doctoral Committee has approved a positive recommendation from the evaluation committee, you will be formally ready for the PhD examination. The PhD examination consists of a trial lecture and a public defence. A trial lecture on a set topic must be held before the public defence.

Trial lecture

When the Doctoral Committee has approved the thesis for public defence, you must deliver a trial lecture on a given topic set by the evaluation committee.

• You will be notified of the title of the lecture by email 10 working days prior to the trial lecture.
• The trial lecture is led by the chair of the defence and lasts 45 minutes.
• During the trial lecture you have to show that you are able to convey knowledge.
• The trial lecture should adress topics outside your PhD thesis, hence you are not supposed to refer to your own PhD-work during the trial lecture.

Public defence

Disputasen er det offentlige forsvaret av avhandlingen. Den varer mellom to og tre timer, ledes av disputasleder og gjennomføres slik:

The disputation is the public defence of the thesis. It lasts between two to three hours, is led by the chair of the defence, and is conducted as follows:

• The chair of the defence opens the public defence by giving a brief presentation of the candidate and committee, and gives a brief account of the submission and evaluation of the thesis and the trial lecture. 
• After the public defence is opened, the candidate must explain the purpose and results of the scientific investigation that has been carried out. The explanation can last up to 20 minutes and should be presented in a way that benefits students, persons without specialized knowledge, and the informed public. 
• The first opponent follows with up to 60 minutes, and the second opponent with up to 45 minutes.
• The candidate concludes the public defense with a brief thank you to the university and the committee, after which the chair of the defence concludes the disputation ceremony. 

The public defence must be held in premises belonging to the campus Ullandhaug.

Language

The trial lecture shall as a rule be delivered in the same language as the thesis, normally English. The trial lecture can be held in Norwegian if the candidate and committee members all master the Scandinavian languages and the committee itself makes a request regarding this matter.

The public defence of the thesis must be held in the same language as that of the thesis.

Hybrid defences are normally streamed. Streaming of hybrid defences means that the digital audience can watch the trial lecture and defence, but not participate actively with questions and ex auditorium during the defence. Any questions must be sent to the chair of defence by e-mail in advance of the defence.

Defences with physical attendance are not normally streamed. The candidate can apply for streaming of a physical defence. AV can facilitate streaming if the venue has the necessary equipment and there is available capacity. Streaming of physical defences entails that the digital audience can watch the trial lecture and defence, but not participate actively with questions and opposition ex auditorium.

The stream link is posted on the announcement web page. The candidate must register their wish for streaming to the faculty no later than 4 weeks before the defence date. The faculty forwards the request to AV, who are technically responsible for the streaming.

Defences are announced 14 days before the date of the defence. If a defence is digital this will be stated in the announcement and you can find a link to the Teams.

If a candidate has ordered live streaming of a defence with physical attendance, a link will be given in the announcement.

See upcoming defenses and trial lectures