Rules regarding PhD education

Section 1.-(1) The dean establishes and abolishes graduate schools which offer PhD programmes, cf. the Aarhus University by-laws, section 42(1).

Subsection (2) Each graduate school has a graduate school head who is appointed and dismissed by the dean, cf. section 42(2) of the by-laws.

Subsection (3) The head of the graduate school manages the graduate school, cf. section 42(3) of the by-laws, and has the tasks and responsibilities set out in section 42(3) of the by-laws.

Subsection (4)  The dean appoints a PhD committee, cf. section 43 of the by-laws, with the tasks and responsibilities that are set out in section 16b(2) of the University Act.

Section 2.-(1) Successful completion of a Master's degree programme is a prerequisite for admission to a PhD programme; cf. section 5(1) of the PhD Order.

Subsection (2) The dean is responsible for determining the criteria on which admission is based, cf. section 6(1) of the PhD Order, as well as the rules governing the admission of students who have not yet completed a Master's degree, cf. section 5(2) and (3) of the PhD Order.

Section 3.-(1) Within the framework of the PhD Order and the associated guidelines, the head of the PhD school lays down internal rules for the structure of the PhD programme, including:

1) The structure of the PhD programme, including where relevant as a part-time programme, cf. section 4 of the PhD Order.

2) The form and frequency of regular assessments of the progress of the individual PhD student, cf. section 10 of the PhD Order. For documentation purposes, assessments must be made in writing and must document which elements of the degree programme have been completed and which elements remain to be completed as well as any approved adjustments to the PhD plan of the student in question.

Section 4.-(1) For each PhD student, the head of the graduate school appoints a principal supervisor as well as any additional supervisors, cf. section 8(2) of the PhD Order.

Subsection (2) PhD supervisors have a duty to stay informed about relevant rules.

Subsection (3) The head of the graduate school lays down internal rules regarding supervision of PhD students, cf. section 8(6) of the PhD Order, including:

1) How supervisors are to be appointed.

2) Additional requirements for supervisors.

Section 5.-(1) The head of the graduate school lays down requirements regarding the choice of language in the dissertation and the abstract. However, the dissertation must contain or be accompanied by an abstract in Danish and English, cf. section 12(3) of the PhD Order.

Section 6.-(1) The head of the graduate school may lay down rules regarding notice of submission of the dissertation, including rules regarding extended notice periods in connection with holiday and exam periods.

Section 7.-(1) One copy of the final version of the dissertation must be submitted to the graduate school. The copy that is submitted is the property of the university. All other rights to the dissertation belong to the author. The head of the graduate school may lay down rules regarding the submission of additional copies.

Subsection (2) The head of the graduate school may lay down rules regarding any additional formal or procedural requirements in connection with the preparation and submission of the dissertation, including:

1) Any standard declarations or standard forms.

2) Storage of the dissertation.

Section 8.-(1) All members of the assessment committee participate in the dissertation defence.

Subsection (2) Under special circumstances, subject to agreement with the student or the author, the head of the graduate school may decide that a planned defence can be completed with participation of only two members of the assessment committee, cf. section 19(3) of the PhD Order.

Subsection (3) The head of the graduate school lays down additional rules regarding how the defence is to be held, cf. section 19(1) of the PhD Order.

Section 9.-(1) The PhD defence is announced on the university website and in other media where relevant.

Section 10.-(1) The rector may grant a dispensation from these rules under special circumstances.

Section 11.-(1) These rules come into force on 15 January 2014.

Subsection (2) At the same time, Aarhus University’s rules of 5 June 2010 regarding PhD programmes are repealed.