Dean's Directive No. 6/2025 ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** Title: Details concerning the defense of the dissertation topic To implement: - Date of effect: 1. October 2025 *========================================================================================= * Details concerning the defense of the dissertation topic *========================================================================================= ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article 1: Introductory provisions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.This directive establishes the details for conducting the defence of the dissertation to doctoral study programmes offered by the Faculty of Humanities, Charles University (here to as “the Faculty” and “the University”). 2.This directive applies to all doctoral candidates admitted to their studies at the Facul academic year 2025/2026 onward. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article 2: Defense of the dissertation topic ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.The defence of the dissertation topic (hereinafter referred to as “defence”) constitutes concerning the candidate’s current preparation of the dissertation, including its method preliminary research findings. The purpose of the defence is to verify the theoretical f methodology of the dissertation at the midpoint of the standard duration of doctoral stu defence, the doctoral candidate presents and substantiates the work completed over the f of their dissertation project and establishes a concrete plan for subsequent research an writing to complete the study within the standard timeframe, or at most within the stand plus one additional year. 2.The defence assesses whether the candidate has a firmly established and well?considered framework, whether the methodology corresponds to the research questions and objectives dissertation, whether the candidate is conversant with core theories and concepts of the is knowledgeable about the historical and current context of relevant academic debates a can link theory with methodology and justify the choice of methods with regard to their limitations, and is able to critically reflect upon their research project. The defence evaluates the candidate’s knowledge of specialised terminology, ability to work with sou responsiveness to opposition questions, and argumentative performance within the framewo discussion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article 3: Rules for appointment of the committee ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.The defence takes place before an examination committee composed of three members. The n committee members present at the defence must be no fewer than two. 2.The committee is appointed by the Dean on the proposal of the doctoral programme’s guara 3.The role of chairperson of the committee is incompatible with the role of supervisor or the doctoral candidate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article 4: Timeline and conduct of the defense ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.The defence is scheduled in the individual study plan in the summer semester of the cand year of study. If the defence is not completed in the second year, a corrective attempt later than in the summer semester of the third year. 2.The doctoral candidate shall submit, through the Faculty’s Doctoral Studies Department, draft of their dissertation at least one month before the defence. The draft must includ structure and content of the dissertation; the theoretical framework; the selected metho the current research status. Detailed requirements concerning the format of the submitte specified for each doctoral programme’s syllabus. 3.The candidate may undergo the defence at most twice; that is, one re?attempt is allowed, place no later than the summer semester of the third year. 4.A protocol of the defence must be drafted and signed by the chairperson of the committee one additional committee member. 5.The protocol of the defence shall record primarily its procedure and result; in cases of assessment (“fail”), the justification shall also be recorded. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article 5: Deadline for completion of the defense ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The doctoral candidate is required to complete the defence no later than the end of the su the third year of study. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Article 6: Final provisions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.This directive shall enter into force on the date of signature. 2.This directive shall enter into force on 1 October 2025. Prague, 1 October 2025 doc. Věra Sokolová, M.A., Ph.D. Dean