Request for thesis defense

Once your thesis is completed, you must request approval to defend it. The first step in obtaining this authorization is to submit a defense request through the Virtual Student Secretariat (SVA), along with the required documentation.

The application is submitted electronically via the SVA, so no electronic signature is needed. Your supervisor(s) will receive an email to review your application, and the authorized profile will be able to do so through their Virtual Secretariat.

Procedure from application submission to authorization of the doctoral thesis defense

Before starting the application through the Virtual Secretariat, make sure that:

  • You have a signed Supervision Agreement (CDS).
  • You meet the minimum required period for thesis submission.
  • You have completed all required complementary training.
  • You are currently enrolled in your PhD program and have paid the tuition fees.
  • You are not on a temporary leave of absence.
  • You have no pending financial obligations.
  • You have not previously requested a thesis defense.

If you do not meet any of the above requirements, you will not be able to submit the defense request.

You will be able to submit the defense request, but you will receive a warning if:

  • You have no pending financial obligations, but your training activities have not been evaluated.

Additionally, you must ensure that:

  • Your Research and Training Plan (PIF) is up to date and approved.
  • All your training activities have been evaluated.
  • The language of the thesis matches the language approved in the PIF.
    • If the thesis was not written in Galician or Spanish, it must include a summary of at least 3,000 words in Galician.
  • The title of the thesis matches the one approved in the PIF.
    • If not, you must complete a new PIF through the SVA before submitting the thesis defense request.
  • You were assigned a single line of research, directly related to the topic of your thesis.

1. Accessing the Application

The application must be completed through your SVA account by following this path: Consult Doctoral File RD 99/2011 > Access the Defense Application.

  • You can begin the process before the submission deadline, as the application allows you to save your progress and continue later once you have gathered all the required documentation.

2. Recommendations Before Submitting the Application

  1. Prepare a complete PDF version of your thesis following the format established by the USC. Refer to the Thesis Copy Checklist for guidance.
  2. It is mandatory to provide a valid email address, as all notifications regarding the status of your application will be sent there.
  3. In the application summary, do not exceed 100 words. The system only accepts plain text. Do not paste formatted text. This summary will be published in our nEDIUS newsletter.

3. Submitting Your Application:

Once all required documentation has been uploaded, return to the application and click the "Enviar ao perfil autorizado" button. From that moment on, you will no longer be able to make any changes to your application. If any corrections are needed, the PhD program office will contact you directly.

1. Report by the Authorized Profile and Thesis Supervisor

2. External Evaluation Process of the Doctoral Thesis

  • Thesis evaluation reports must be completed by at least two external experts in the field, not affiliated with the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC).
  • The selection of experts and management of the evaluation reports will be carried out by the Academic Committee of the Doctoral Program (CAPD), after consulting the thesis supervisors and in accordance with the procedures established by each program.
  • External evaluators may suggest improvements or corrections to the thesis.
  • The doctoral candidate must review the comments received from the external evaluators and the CAPD (if applicable), and submit a report including:
    • A report, which includes:
      • A description of the changes made to the thesis.
      • Justifications for not implementing any of the suggested modifications, if applicable.
    • A revised PDF version of the thesis incorporating the changes.
  • External evaluators may also be part of the examination committee, if permitted by the rules of the doctoral program.

3. CAPD report

The CAPD has a maximum of 5 months from the date the thesis is submitted to issue a report, which may be:

  1. Favorable:
    • The thesis, associated documentation, and the proposed examination committee are forwarded to EDIUS.
  2. Conditional:
    • If corrections are required, the doctoral candidate will be given a deadline (maximum 3 months) to submit the necessary revisions or explanations.
    • If revisions are submitted within the deadline, the CAPD has 1 month to issue a final report (favorable or unfavorable).
    • If the revisions are not submitted, the report will automatically be considered unfavorable.
      The overall procedure, including revisions, must not exceed the 5-month deadline under any circumstances.
  3. Unfavorable:
    • This must be duly justified and will be submitted to the EDIUS Executive Committee. In such cases, the thesis will not be made available for public display.

4. Review by EDIUS

Once the favorable report from the CAPD is received:

  • EDIUS will review the complete file.
  • If any errors are found, the doctoral program will be contacted to correct them.
  • If everything is in order, the public display period will begin:
    • 10 working days during the academic year (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays). The public display will be announced on Xescampus and the EDIUS website.

5. Public display

During the public display period, any doctoral student may request access to the thesis via the electronic office, by providing proof of enrollment in a doctoral program.

6. Final authorization for defense

After the public display period ends:

  • EDIUS will assess the full file, the CAPD report, and any allegations or feedback received.
  • EDIUS may request additional information from the thesis supervisor, the doctoral student, the CAPD, or external experts.
  • If the request for defense is denied, the EDIUS Board will issue a reasoned resolution outlining the deficiencies to be addressed.

7. Appointment of the Examination Committee

If the thesis defense is authorized:

  • The official appointment of the examination committee will be made.
  • The doctoral candidate and relevant parties will be formally notified.

8. Payment of examination fees

9. Notification of the defense date

The defense must take place within a maximum of 3 months from the day following the authorization by EDIUS. To ensure proper announcement of the defense as required by current regulations, the defense date must be communicated at least 7 calendar days in advance.

10. Defense of the doctoral thesis