PhD Regulations

Section 5 The doctoral examination

Section 5-1 Trial lecture

After the doctoral thesis has been submitted for evaluation, the PhD candidate must give a lecture, cf. sections 4-6 to 4-9. The trial lecture is an independent part of the PhD examination and must be held on an assigned topic. The purpose of the lecture is to test the candidate's ability to acquire knowledge beyond the topic of the doctoral thesis and to convey this knowledge in a lecture situation.

The title of the trial lecture must be announced to the PhD candidate ten working days prior to the lecture. The topic of the lecture must not be directly related to the topic of the doctoral thesis.

The trial lecture will be held in connection with the public defence and the evaluation committee will assign the topic of the trial lecture and evaluate it. The trial lecture must be held in the language in which the doctoral thesis is written, unless a different language is approved by BI Norwegian Business School.

The decision as to whether the trial lecture is approved or not is taken by BI Norwegian Business School. If the trial lecture is not approved, the reasons for this must be stated.

The trial lecture must be approved before the public defence can take place.

Section 5-2 Public defence of the doctoral thesis (disputation)

The public defence of the doctoral thesis must take place after the approval of the trial lecture, and normally no later than two months after the institution has found the thesis worthy of a public defence.

The time and place for the public defence must be announced at least ten working days before it is to be held.

The evaluation committee that originally evaluated the doctoral thesis will also evaluate the public defence. The public defence must be held in the language in which he thesis is written, unless the institution, on the recommendation of the evaluation committee, approves a different language.

There will normally be two opponents. The two opponents must be members of the evaluation committee and are appointed by BI Norwegian Business School. The public defence is chaired by the Dean of the doctoral programme or a substitute. The chair of the public defence will give a brief account of the procedures relating to the submission and evaluation of the doctoral thesis and the trial lecture. Then the PhD candidate will explain the purpose and findings of the doctoral research project. The first opponent begins the questioning of PhD candidate and the second opponent concludes the questioning.

BI Norwegian Business School may, if it so wishes, determine a different distribution of tasks between the opposing speakers and between the doctoral candidate and the first opposing speaker. After both opposing speakers have concluded their questioning, the members of the audience will have the opportunity to comment ex auditorio. One of the opposing speakers concludes the questioning and the chair of the defence concludes the public defence proceedings. BI Norwegian Business School may, if it so wishes, determine a different distribution of tasks.

The evaluation committee submits a report to BI Norwegian Business School where the committee explains how it has assessed the public defence of the thesis. The report must conclude whether the defence was approved or not approved. If it is recommended that the defence should not be approved, the report must provide an explanation for this.

Section 5-3 Approval of the doctoral examination

BI Norwegian Business School takes a decision regarding approval of the doctoral examination on the basis of the report from the evaluation committee.

If BI Norwegian Business School does not approve the trial lecture, a new trial lecture must be held. The new trial lecture must be held on a new topic and no later than six months after the first attempt. A new trial lecture may only be held once. To the extent possible the lecture should be evaluated by the same committee that evaluated the first lecture, unless determined otherwise by BI Norwegian Business School.

If BI Norwegian Business School does not approve the public defence, the PhD candidate may defend the doctoral thesis once more only. A new defence may be held after six months and must be evaluated to the extent possible by the same committee that evaluated the original defence.

Section 5-4 Conferral of the degree and diploma

On the basis of a statement by BI Norwegian Business School that the required coursework, doctoral thesis and doctoral examination have been approved, the Doctor of Philosophy degree will be conferred on the candidate.

The diploma is issued by BI Norwegian Business School and provides information on the academic training in which the candidate has participated. BI Norwegian Business School determines what other information is to be included in the diploma.

Section 5-5 Attachments to the diploma (Diploma Supplement)

BI Norwegian Business School will issue an attachment to the doctoral diploma in accordance with the applicable guidelines for the Diploma Supplement.