The defence: procedure and preparation.
It all culminates in a discussion about your work. If you know what the committee is looking for and what questions are typically asked, you’ll approach it differently.
The defence usually consists of a presentation on your own work, followed by a discussion with the examination board. The assessment focuses on your understanding, your ability to contextualise your work, and your ability to justify your own decisions. The procedure, duration and weighting are governed by the doctoral regulations.
The procedure
The details may vary, but the general format is common:
Structuring the presentation
A sound structure: the problem in two minutes, the research gap, the research question, the methodology with the key decisions, the results, the contribution, the limitations, and follow-up questions.
Resist the temptation to cover everything. The committee has read your thesis. What they want to hear is the line of argument, not a summary of every chapter.
Prepare two or three backup slides for any anticipated follow-up questions, such as on the choice of methodology or a striking result. This conveys confidence and saves time on explanations.
What the committee looks for
You must be able to explain your methodological decisions, including the alternatives you ruled out. This is precisely what is most frequently asked about.
Those who acknowledge their own limitations come across as confident. Those who defend them come across as uncertain.
The contribution to the academic debate and the follow-up questions belong at the end of the presentation, not in the discussion.
Acknowledging a valid objection is better than any defence. It shows that you have a firm grasp of the subject matter.
How to prepare
Anticipate the questions you yourself dislike the most. Identify the weaknesses in your work and formulate an honest, concise answer for each one. By anticipating a weakness, you take the sting out of it.
Practise your presentation out loud in front of an audience who are allowed to ask questions. The difference between reading from a script and speaking off the cuff is greater than you might think, and time passes differently when it really counts.
Clarify the practical details: duration, technical requirements, whether it’s open to the public, dress code, and who is permitted to attend. This may sound trivial, but it will put your mind at ease considerably on the day itself.
Frequently asked questions.
How long does a defence last?+
Depending on the regulations, it usually lasts one to two hours, including the presentation and discussion.
Is the defence open to the public?+
Often yes; in Austria, it is explicitly referred to as a ‘Defensio’. Details can be found in the relevant regulations.
Is it possible to fail?+
It is possible, but rare. Admission to the defence requires positive assessments.
How do I prepare for questions?+
By identifying the weaknesses in your thesis yourself and preparing a brief, honest answer for each one.
How much time is there between submission and the defence?+
That depends on the reviews and the schedule of sessions; it’s often several months. You should factor this time into your plan.
What is the difference between this and the oral examination?+
The defence is about defending your own thesis, whilst the oral examination additionally assesses your specialist knowledge. The relevant details are set out in the doctoral regulations.
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