Tutke Guide: 4.-6. Public examination; party; accreditation

4. Public examination as part of the doctoral degree in theatre art / dance art

1. The doors to the space reserved for the public examination are opened for public five minutes before the time published in the invitation.
2. Those concerned arrive at the public examination 15 minutes (academic quarter) after the time published in the invitation, in the following order: the defender, the Custos, and the opponent(s). The audience stands until the Custos, the opponent(s) and the defender have taken their seats. 
3. Possible academic insignia (such as doctor's hats) are carried in one’s hand and placed on the table for the public examination. 
4. When all present have taken their seats, the Custos, still standing, opens the public examination by saying: As the Custos appointed by the Research Council of the Theatre Academy, I declare this public examination of --- --- [title] N.N. [whole name] open.
5. The Custos then presents the opponents with their titles and explains to the public the course of the public examination as stated in 6 – 13 below.
6. The defender begins the introductory lecture with the following words: Honoured Custos, Honoured Opponents, Dear Assembly.  The defender remains standing while delivering the introductory lecture. 
7. The defender ends the introductory lecture with the following words: Honoured Opponents, I now call upon you to present your critical comments on my doctoral research.
8. The opponents rise to make their general statements. The defender and the opponents then take their seats. 
9. The examination of the doctoral research follows.
10. When the opponents have no more remarks, they rise to make their appraisal, and based on the examination completed and the discussion conducted, announce whether they will propose to the Research Council of the Theatre Academy that the doctoral research be accepted or rejected. The defender remains standing while the opponents speak. 
11. The defender thanks the opponents, still standing, after which he or she turns to the audience and says: If anyone present wishes to make any comments concerning my doctoral research, please ask the Custos for the floor.
12. The Custos presides over the discussion, gives the speakers the floor, and oversees the discussion. 
13. The Custos declares the public examination closed by saying The public examination has ended.

5. Party in honour of the opponents

It is customary to organize a party in honour of the opponents after the public examination. Theatre Academy has no special traditions, nor does it expect that other academic traditions are observed, so the defender can give a party that highlights his or her personality. However, it is expected, that the Defender invites at the least the opponents and the Custos (possibly the external examiners and supervisors as well) for dinner after the public examination.

More information about organizing the party can be found in the internet. If the defender wants to comply with academic traditions, there is more information on the website of the University of Eastern Finland.

6. Accreditation of the doctorate

The opponents submit their final written statements on the doctoral research within one month of the public examination. In the statement they take the course of the public examination into account and evaluate the doctoral research in its entirety. They cannot critically refer to a point that they have not presented during the public examination. The recommended length of the statement is 2 – 5 pages. If necessary, the opponents deliver an appendix with minor factual and formal mistakes to the defender in advance before the public examination takes place, in order not to need to discuss them during the public examination. 

The defender is entitled to submit a written counterstatement on the opponents’ statements to the Research Council. [HW: tässä kohtaa vastaväittäjän ohjeessa on että väittelijällä on oikeus esittää vastine, jos lausunto on kielteinen]

The Custos will also write an account on the course of the public examination to be submitted to the Research Council. 

The Research Council decides on the accreditation of the doctorate, based on the statements and the possible counterstatement. The Custos’s account concerning the public examination will also be sent for the attention of the Research Council. Rejecting the doctoral research during the public examination phase is in principle possible, but rare.

Once the Research Council has accredited the doctorate, the defender fills in the form for ordering a diploma, encloses a transcript of his or her studies, and delivers the application to the Study Counsellor at the Services for Study and Research. Twice a year, in May and in December, the Theatre Academy celebrates all its graduating students with a celebration party, publiikki, which the graduated doctors are warmly invited to attend.

After graduation, you are welcome to join Uniarts Helsinki’s Alumni Network.