PROTOCOL FOR THE PRELIMINARY DEFENCE (DSLLCS SLCS)
1. The preliminary defence is arranged as part of the degree conferment procedure, not more than six months prior to the deadline for the submission of the doctoral thesis.
2. The preliminary defence can go ahead only if attended by at least five academics with a PhD degree, at least three of whom form the defence board. At least one third of the members of this committee are not instructors of the doctoral section. The chairperson of the preliminary defence is preferably a full professor or professor emeritus/emerita of the doctoral section; in duly justified cases, the position of the chair can be filled by a senior lecturer with a habilitation degree. The chairperson and members of the defence board pertaining to the preliminary defence are appointed by the doctoral section.
3. The dissertation submitted for preliminary defence – before it is sent to the reviewers – is sent by the secretary of the doctoral section to the University and National Library for plagiarism screening (crosscheck@lib.unideb.hu). When the library has prepared the document containing the result of screening within three business days, the secretary of the doctoral section forwards it to the PhD candidate. The result of the plagiarism check of the dissertation submitted for the preliminary defence is complemented with a declaration prepared by the doctoral student and the dissertation supervisor. The declaration consists of explanatory notes, prepared by the student, referring to each of the student’s publications used or referenced in the dissertation, while the dissertation supervisor declares that the dissertation was written in accordance with the work plan previously drawn up, in compliance with the norms of academic ethics.
4. The result of the screening as well as the supervisor’s and student’s declarations are sent by the secretary of the doctoral section to the opponents designated for the preliminary defence (together with an original copy of the dissertation, without the screening highlights for better legibility). In their written evaluation the opponents are expected to state that, on the basis of available data, the dissertation meets the requirements of publication ethics. If the text of the dissertation is modified or expanded significantly from the version submitted to the preliminary defence, the plagiarism check has to be repeated before the public defence. The form for the candidate’s and the supervisors declarations regarding the results of the screening may be downloaded from Forms and documents in English | Bölcsészettudományi Doktori Tanács
5. The designated opponents have seven weeks to prepare their evaluation; on the other hand, they are not expected to send their written evaluations until just a few days before the defence, for the candidate is not expected to prepare a written response. The two additional members and the chair of the defence committee are not expected to prepare a written evaluation, although the candidate’s work is greatly helped by such evaluations; if they do decide to produce written evaluations, it is enough if they bring these along to the defence.
6. The decision about date for the preliminary defence, as well as about the chairperson and appointed opponents, is made by the subprogramme; the subprogramme also creates the invitation for the event. The secretary of the doctoral section sends this invitation out to members of the doctoral section, and advertises this event on the doctoral section’s website.
7. In the doctoral section, all preliminary defences are public. Access to the dissertation is provided by the secretary of the doctoral section.
8. The preliminary defence is organised by the subprogramme. Travel costs incurred (as well as, in justified cases, accommodation costs) are also reimbursed by the subprogramme. An honorarium may be paid to the chair and the defence board, depending on the financial situation of the subprogramme.
9. A written record of the preliminary defence is to be drawn up, as well an attendance register. The form for the written record of the preliminary debate may be downloaded from this link: Forms and documents in English | Bölcsészettudományi Doktori Tanács
10. The opponents’ evaluations - written previously –, as well as the comments made at the defence are enclosed with the record of the preliminary defence. The subprogrammes forward the record and the attendance register to the secretary of the doctoral section, who, after archiving the original copies, will forward all the documents (including the ones related to the text screening) to the secretary of the Faculty Doctoral Council and members of the Doctoral Council.