Upon concluding their research and successfully submitting their dissertation, doctoral candidates are admitted to the public defence of their work before approval for graduation with the title of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). This involves each candidate giving a presentation of their research work and main contributions to the field followed by a discussion with the examination committee. This examination committee comprises a number of international experts in the relevant fields of research of the different presenting candidates. Once each doctoral candidate has finished their presentation and discussion with the examination committee, the examination committee then convenes in private to discuss and evaluate each doctoral candidate before announcing their final evaluation.

The doctoral defence sittings are public and may be attended by all and the invitations are published prior to each sitting on the university’s newsfeed. The programmes of each doctoral defence over the past number of years are available for download below.