Dissertation defence
As the doctoral thesis work nears completion, the manuscript should be discussed in the department to decide whether a public defence can be recommended. Now it is also time to organise a lot of practical details where many actors at the university are involved.
Each department has its own procedures for who carries out the various practical details. Some parts are the responsibility of the doctoral student.
Find a date for the dissertation defence
The defence must take place during the period 15 August - 15 June.
At Stockholm University, you can defend your doctoral thesis on weekdays and Saturdays, either in a morning session (starting no later than 10 am) or in an afternoon session (starting no earlier than 1 pm).
Since two defences should not take place at the same time within the faculty (for the Faculty of Science within the section), you must book your dissertation defence at the Student Services so that subject-related clashes can be avoided.
See available times for the dissertation defence in the Dissertation defence calendar
The date and time of the defence is decided by the Student Services.
Book date and time
Book a time for dissertation defence by emailing Student Services the following details to disputationer@su.se
- Name of the doctoral student
- Personal identification number
- E-mail address
- Faculty
- Subject of the doctoral programme
- Research subject
- Department
- Supervisor's name
- Supervisor's e-mail
- Desired date for the dissertation defence
- Desired time for the dissertation defence
- Room and address for the dissertation defence
Once the date and time are booked, a confirmation will be sent via email to you, your supervisor, the person who booked the time (if it was someone else at the department), and the administrator at the relevant faculty office. The processing time is no longer than five business days.
Publicize the dissertation defence (nailing)
Notifying the public of the dissertation defence, known as nailing, must take place no later than 3 weeks before the defence date. The nailing is done by registering the doctoral thesis and the dissertation defence in DiVA, SU's digital scientific archive. When the information has been checked, a nailing page is sent to the doctoral student as a PDF file. The nailing page must be included in the doctoral thesis manuscript that is sent for printing.
Some departments have arrangements in connection with the nailing. Please contact your department to find out if there is anything additional they would like you to do for your nailing day.
Important about the nailing period
The period 16 June - 14 August is not to be included in the nailing period; for example, if the dissertation defence takes place on 24 August, nailing must take place no later than 5 June. If the nailing day falls on a Saturday, public holiday, half working day or so-called bridge day, it is moved to the nearest preceding weekday.
Nailing day during the Christmas holidays
If the dissertation defence is booked for the beginning/middle of January, the nailing day might fall in a day between Chistmas and New Years, as there is no break between the autumn and spring semester. In such cases, it is particularly important to verify with the printing company that they can guarantee delivery on time and, most importantly, that the department is open so that delivery is possible. Out of consideration for the opponent and the examination committee members, you should hand out the printed thesis in good time before the Christmas holidays.
Questions about printing of the thesis, ISBN, cover page, nailing page and plea: avhandlingssupport.sub@su.se
Printing of the doctoral thesis
The University Library supports doctoral students in the process of finalising their doctoral thesis. Among other things, they help with a timeline for printing, provide support for the Word template, with the nailing in DiVA as well as provide support for uploading in the Production Tool.
30 days before the nailing day, the library will contact the doctoral student with information about the printing process. It is also possible to schedule a meeting with them.
See more information about the production and printing of the thesis: Print your dissertation