Steps of the Process

Student Tasks

Comments, Frequently Asked Questions

Research centre disputation (pre-defence, workshop debate, in-house debate)

A nearly complete dissertation is needed for the research centre disputation. The research centre disputation has to be organised at a date which allows for the comments and recommendations made thereat to be incorporated into the final dissertation.

There is no final deadline for the research centre disputation. However, to submit the dissertation, the research centre disputation has to be completed, pursuant to Section 61 of ELTE Organisational and Operational Regulation Vol. II. Annex No 6 Doctoral Regulations (hereinafter referred to as EDSZ) (available here)

The minutes of the research centre disputation has to be submitted among the documents for the initiation of the defence procedure, the form for the minutes can be requested from the Secretariat of the Doctoral Schools. Obtaining the pre-degree certificate (absolutorium) or having completed the publication requirements is not necessary for the research centre disputation to take place.

The pre-defence is organized by the supervisor. The pre-defence is announced by the Secretariat of the Doctoral Schools on the doctoral school’s website and the students' mailing lists.

Credit application form

At the end of the 8^th semester, the credit application form has to submitted which records the remaining credits required for the pre-degree certificate (absolutorium) and is signed by the topic supervisor and the head of programme (and if the student has, by the co-supervisor too).

Pre-degree certificate, also known as absolutorium (issued by the Student Affairs and Registrar's Office if the student has obtained the necessary 252 credits)

The pre-degree certificate is automatically issued in the 8^th semester, save for completing the requirements above, there is no need for any additional administrative steps (application, formal request etc.).

If you wish to obtain the pre-degree certificate before the 8^th semester, kindly inform the Student Affairs and Registrar’s Office.

If the student completed the legally require number of credits, the pre-degree certificate has to be issued. The pre-degree certificate is issued after the credits are certified, not at the end of the semester.

However the student status does not terminate when the pre-degree certificate is obtained, only at the end of the semester when it is obtained, by virtue of law. This means that until the last day of the semester when they obtained their pre-degree certificate, students are entitled to all privileges and are under the obligations entailed by the student status.

If the student does not obtain the absolutorium by the end of the 8th active semester, his/her student status is automatically terminated by law at the end of the semester.

Application for the defence procedure and dissertation submission

Necessary for the application:

pre-degree certificate completed research centre disputation, the required publications, theses, and further miscellaneous documents.

Further information and details of the application process can be found at: https://ppk.elte.hu/en/content/procedure-for-obtaining-a-doctoral-degree.t.32913

The dissertation has to be submitted within three years of the date of the comprehensive (complex) examination. This deadline may be extended by one year in case of circumstances meriting extraordinary equity. Such circumstances are e.g. childbirth, unexpected health problems. These circumstances are always examined on a case-by-case basis. Submitting the dissertation is done with the application to the defence procedure.

The exact deadline, which may have changed due to the COVID epidemic, can be found on the website of the Registrar's Office.

Before submission, the publication requirements (as well as other requirements) have to be completed. The detailed requirements can be found in the operational regulations of the doctoral schools and on the website of the Doctoral School of Education here.

Submitting the dissertation and starting the defence procedure is possible at any time before the three-year deadline. It must, however, be emphasised that the student status terminates at the end of the semester when the pre-degree certificate was obtained. Afterwards, you are not eligible to receive scholarship, if you are from a non-EEA country, you are no longer entitled to a student visa. You need to reapply for a visa valid until you obtain your degree, as well as to attend the defence. Your visa application is not automatically granted, it may be refused. Therefore, under the new programme, there is no ‘continuous student status’ up to the obtainment of the degree.

The defence procedure is free for students under the new programme.

Appointment of the Assessment Committee (by the Doctoral School)

Decision of the Doctoral Council of Education and Psychology to initiate the defence procedure and approve the Assessment Committee

Preparation of the reviews, forwarding them to the candidate

Reviewers have 60 days to submit their reviews.

Response to the reviews

The candidate responds in writing to the opponents' assessments and sends them to the Student Registrar's Office. The response has to be submitted within 30 days.

Organising the public debate, also known as viva voce (Student Affairs and Registrar's Office)

Public debate, also known as viva voce

Defending the dissertation in the public debate

The Doctoral Council of Education and Psychology’s decision on awarding the degree by secret ballot in a closed session

The University Doctoral Council’s decision on awarding the degree