Doctoral session
In de hall (Woudestein Senate Hall, Hoboken lecture room 7) the candidate waits behind the lectern for the arrival of the doctoral committee. After the arrival of the doctoral committee, also accompanied by the pedel, the chairman of the doctoral committee opens the meeting and invites the candidate to give an introductory talk. After this the candidate is questioned by the committee for a period of 45 minutes. The order of questioning is: external committee members, internal committee members, promoters and copromoters.
It is usual when defending a thesis to use the following address when answering the questions:
- "hooggeachte promotor" (in reply to a question from the promoter).
- "hooggeleerde opponent" (in reply to a question from a professor of the committee).
- "zeer geleerde opponent" (in reply to a question by a doctor, who is not a professor).
- "very learned opponent" (in reply to a question of a non-Dutch speaking member of the committee).
Exactly 45 minutes after the questioning has commenced the pedel enters the hall and calls "Hora Est". The person who is speaking must stop. The chairman will then adjourn the meeting and the committee will retire to deliberate.
Once the committee has returned to the hall the chairman reopens the meeting and gives the promoter the opportunity to hand over the doctorate certificate to the candidate and address a personal word to the candidate after which the chairman closes the meeting.
The committee, accompanied by the pedel, leaves the hall first. They are followed by the candidate with partner and accompanying persons, who are led to the reception room. The doctoral committee congratulates the candidate and entourage first and the others present are then given the opportunity to offers their congratulations.
