The dissertation will initially be send for academic assessment of whether or not the dissertation can be accepted for assessment with the purpose of acquiring the higher doctoral degree.
The Dean will appoint an assessment committee, which will be approved by The Academic Council. The assessment committee consists of 2-3 members. The appointment of the assessment committee must take place no later than three months after submission of the dissertation.
When a committee has been suggested, the author will be informed about its members. Subsequently, the author has two weeks to raise objections to the committee. Within this period, the dissertation can still be withdrawn from assessment.
After final appointment of the assessment committee, the author can still withdraw the dissertation from assessment within 8 days. After the expiry of this period and until the receipt of the assessment committee's final recommendation, the dissertation may only in special circumstances be withdrawn from assessment, if the institution allows this.
The final recommendation from the assessment committee must be completed no later than 8 months from the final appointment of the assessment committee.
If the dissertation is accepted for defence, the author is obliged to make sure that the dissertation is available for public review at the relevant department four weeks ahead of the defence.
The defence is public and normally chaired by the Head of Department. The defence will be conducted in Danish, Norwegian, or Swedish, unless another appointment has been made with the institution.
Two members of the assessment committee will be appointed to act as official opponents. Under special circumstances, opponents can be appointed from outside the assessment committee.
The author has the right to open the defence with a presentation of the dissertation and the research results presented therein. The presentation must last no longer than half an hour. Afterwards, the two official opponents each have 1 ½ hour to their disposal.
Shortly after the defence, the assessment committee will submit a recommendation stating whether the defence has been conducted satisfactorily. The Academic Council decides whether the higher doctoral degree can be awarded, and the author will be informed of the decision. If one or more of the opponents finds that the defence was insufficient, the author has 14 days to comment on the assessment committee’s recommendation.
The Dean ensures that a copy of the higher doctoral dissertation is sent to The Royal Library in Aarhus and to the main library of the institution in accordance with the rules regarding this.
The above is in accordance with the Ministerial order on higher doctoral degrees.