- Regulations for Doctoral Studies
- I. General provisions
- II. Doctoral Studies
- II.1. Learners in doctoral studies
- II.2. Supervision
- II.3. Filling a vacant student place
- II.4. Organisation of study
- II.4.1. General principles
- II.4.2. Period of study, suspension of doctoral studies and changes to the period of study of doctoral students matriculated to doctoral programmes opened from the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.4.3. Workload, academic leave and extending the period of study of doctoral students matriculated to doctoral curricula opened before the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.4.4. Individual plan
- II.5. Progress review
- II.5.1. Progress review schedule
- II.5.2. Progress review committee
- II.5.3. Documents required for progress review
- II.5.4. Progress review meeting
- II.5.5. Decisions of the progress review committee
- II.5.5.1. Decisions of the progress review committee regarding learners in doctoral studies in doctoral programmes opened from the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.5.5.2. Decisions of the progress review committee regarding learners in doctoral studies in doctoral curricula opened before the 2022/2023 academic year
- II.5.6. Repeat progress review and appealing a progress review decision
- II.6. Exmatriculation
- III. Applying for Doctoral Degree
- III.1. Completion of the doctoral programme
- III.2. Council awarding doctoral degrees
- III.3. Requirements for doctoral candidate
- III.4. Requirements for doctoral thesis
- III.4.1. General requirements for doctoral thesis
- III.4.2. Doctoral thesis as an integrated collection of research publications
- III.4.3. Doctoral thesis as a monograph
- III.4.4. Requirement for research publications and the introductory chapter
- III.4.5. Requirements for patents, patent applications and applied solutions
- III.4.6. Structure of the doctoral thesis
- III.5. Allowing a doctoral thesis to be defended
- III.6. Publication of the doctoral thesis
- III.7. Defence of the doctoral thesis
- III.8. Applying for doctoral degree and defence of the doctoral thesis under a joint supervision agreement
- III.9. Contesting and overruling the decisions of the council awarding doctoral degrees
- III.10. Preservation of the doctoral thesis
- IV. Implementing provisions
- Study Regulations
Regulations for Doctoral Studies and Study Regulations
III.7.2. Council’s decision
149. During a closed discussion (involving the members of the council as well as the opponent(s) and supervisor(s) who do not have the right to vote), the council discusses the doctoral candidate’s thesis, presentation and ability to defend the main statements of the doctoral thesis in the discussion. Taking into account the assessments of the opponent(s) to the doctoral thesis and the discussion, the council makes one of the following decisions in a public vote to be officially recorded:
149.1. the doctoral thesis was defended successfully (grade ‘defended’). The doctoral degree is awarded to the doctoral candidate;
149.2. the doctoral thesis was not defended successfully (grade ‘not defended’). The doctoral degree is not awarded to the doctoral candidate;
149.3. the decision is not made due to suspicion of plagiarism or other academic fraud. The doctoral thesis is sent to experts for assessment.
150. The council’s decision must state the reasons. If the council decides not to award a doctoral degree to the doctoral candidate, the substantive deficiencies found in the doctoral thesis and/or defence which did not allow to award the degree must be presented.
151. In the case specified in clause 149.3, the council asks for at least two expert assessments and letters of explanation from the doctoral candidate and supervisor(s). Then, within one month of the defence, the council makes one of the following decisions to be officially recorded:
151.1. the suspicion of plagiarism or other academic fraud was not confirmed, and
151.1.1. the doctoral thesis was defended successfully (grade ‘defended’). The doctoral degree is awarded to the doctoral candidate;
151.1.2. the doctoral thesis was not defended successfully (grade ‘not defended’). The doctoral degree is not awarded to the doctoral candidate;
151.2. the suspicion of plagiarism or other academic fraud was confirmed. The doctoral degree is not awarded to the doctoral candidate and the council makes a proposal to the vice rector for research to exmatriculate the doctoral student due to academic fraud on the grounds provided for in clause 87.12.1 of these regulations.
152. The minutes of the council’s meeting serve as the basis for the issuing of a diploma. In addition to the required standard formal elements, the minutes must contain the name of the doctoral candidate, the title of the doctoral thesis in Estonian and the language of the doctoral thesis or, if the doctoral thesis has been written in Estonian, the Estonian and English titles of the doctoral thesis, the names of the supervisor(s), opponent(s) and members of the council with decision-making powers attending the defence along with their research degrees, the name of the council chair, the voting results, and the decision on awarding the doctoral degree.
Receiving the diploma
Doctoral diplomas are handed over once a year at a festive event in the university assembly hall on 1 December. If you would like to get your diploma on 1 December this year, the defence should take place before 23 November, as appeals can be filed within one week after the defence. The diplomas for defences that take place after 23 November will be handed over on 1 December next year. The university sends invitations to all the doctors who defended their thesis during the year using the UT internal mail (in case of university employees) or the contact details specified in the CV (make sure that you give in your CV the contact details where you can definitely be reached).
If you cannot participate in the promotion on 1 December, you can get your diploma (usually after 1 December) from the Office of Academic Affairs at Jakobi 1 (entrance is in the courtyard of the main building) from Academic Affairs Specialist.
If before receiving your diploma you need to prove that you have defended the doctorate, you can obtain the respective certificate from the Office of Academic Affairs at Jakobi 1 (entrance is in the courtyard of the main building) from Academic Affairs Specialist (phone 737 5628).
Promotion
Note: the promoted must sign a certificate of receipt of the diploma before the event. For further information, see your invitation.
The promotion procedure:
- The academic secretary announces the name of the doctor and reads the text of the diploma.
- The doctor steps forward.
- The rector hands over the diploma and shakes the doctor’s hand.
- The doctor receives flowers.
Please note: Only the names of the doctors who have replied to the invitation and confirmed their attendance will be announced. Seats are reserved for doctors in the assembly hall.
Attire at promotion
- Men: white tie / dark suit / national costume; decorations
- Women: gown / two-piece suit (incl. trouser suit) / national costume; decorations
- Cleavage, uncovered shoulders and a knit jumper are inappropriate.
153. If the council decides not to award the doctoral degree to the doctoral candidate, the doctoral candidate has the right to apply for a repeat defence of the same doctoral thesis once within the time limit set by the council.
