Rules for obtaining a doctoral degree

Section 1.-(1) Academic councils award doctoral degrees pursuant to section 2(4)(4) of the Danish Universities Act (Universitetsloven).

Subsection (2) An honorary doctorate may be awarded by the rector upon the recommendation of an academic council.

Section 2.-(1) Deans may, within the framework of the PhD Regulations and these rules, lay down detailed rules concerning the practical procedures relating to the award of the higher doctoral degree.

Section 3.-(1) The following higher doctoral degrees may be awarded:  

Arts:

• Higher doctoral degree in philosophy – doctor philosophiae (dr.phil.)
• Higher doctoral degree in pedagogy – doctor paedagogiae (dr.paed.)
• Higher doctoral degree in theology – doctor theologiae (dr.theol.)
• Higher doctoral degree in anthropology – doctor scientiarum anthropologicarum (dr.scient.ant.)
• Higher doctoral degree in Business Communication (dr.ling.merc.) 

Health:

• Higher doctoral degree in Medical Science (dr.med.)
• Higher doctoral degree in Odontology (dr.odont.)

Aarhus BSS:

• Higher doctoral degree in Law (dr.jur.)
• Higher doctoral degree in Psychology (dr.psych.)
• Higher doctoral degree in Political Science (dr.scient.pol.)
• Higher doctoral degree in Economics (dr.oecon.)
• Higher doctoral degree in Business Administration (dr.merc.)

Natural Sciences:

• Higher doctoral degree in Natural Sciences (dr.scient.)

Technical Sciences:

• Higher doctoral degree in Technology (dr.techn.)
• Higher doctoral degree in Veterinary Science – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (dr.med.vet.)

Section 4.-(1) The rector awards diplomas to individuals who have been awarded a  higher doctoral degree or an honorary doctorate.

Section 5.-(1) In very exceptional circumstances, the dean may approve the waiver of the oral defence, cf. section 3(1) of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Section 6.-(1) Pursuant to section 4 of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees, the dean may permit persons without a degree in the relevant subject area to submit a higher doctoral thesis.

Subsection (2) The dean may decide not to assess a submitted thesis, cf. section 4(2) of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Section 7.-(1) The dean determines the language in which a higher doctoral thesis and its abstract may be written, in accordance with section 6 of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Subsection (2) The dean determines the language in which the recommendation may be drafted.

Section 8.-(1) The dean may, on the recommendation of the assessment committee, allow the author to make minor amendments to or additions to the thesis, cf. section 7 of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees

Section 9.-(1) The dean appoints the assessment committee and makes the final decision on its composition, in accordance with section 8 of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Section 10.-(1) The dean may authorise the withdrawal of a thesis from assessment, cf. the last sentence of section 9(2) of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Section 11.-(1) The dean may authorise the defence to be conducted in a language other than Danish, Norwegian or Swedish, cf. section 17(2) of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Section 12.-(1)  The Dean’s Office  announces the time and venue of the defence no later than four weeks in advance and specifyies where the thesis can be obtained, as well as the detailed rules governing the defence, including registration as an unofficial opponent, cf. section 17(3) of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Section 13.-(1) The dean solicits written comments and ensures that the higher doctoral candidate is given the opportunity to be heard, in accordance with section 20(2) of the Ministerial Order on Higher Doctoral Degrees.

Section 14.-(1) The dean ensures that the thesis is submitted to the Royal Library in accordance with the legal deposit requirement.

Section 15.-(1) The rules come into force on 7 May 2012.

Subsection (2) At the same time, the regulations of 25 March 2010 governing the award of doctoral degrees at Aarhus University are repealed.

Aarhus University, 7 May 2012.