Dissertation Evaluation and Defense Procedure

Effective Date and Applicability

Effective from: The beginning of the 2nd Semester, of the 2025-2026 academic year (March 12, 2026).

This procedure applies to all doctoral students who submit their dissertations from the first day of the 2nd Semester, of the 2025-2026 academic year, onward.

1. Submission of the Dissertation

The student shall submit the doctoral dissertation and accompanying forms to the School of Graduate Studies.

2. Appointment of the Evaluation Committee

• The Chair of the Departmental Committee shall recommend at least three internal and three external potential reviewers deemed suitable by the department to evaluate the dissertation.
   
• The School of Graduate Studies shall appoint an Evaluation Committee comprised of at least three members, including:
  • The supervisor(s).

  • Two additional reviewers, of whom at least one must be external (not affiliated with Bar-Ilan University).

     

3. Submission to Reviewers

The dissertation shall be sent to the reviewers together with an official evaluation form.

At this stage, the identity of the reviewers shall remain confidential and will not be disclosed to the student, the supervisor, or the department.

4. Evaluation Process

Each reviewer shall submit a detailed written report to the School of Graduate Studies. Timelines for Evaluation:

• Monograph dissertation: Within two months from reception.
   
• Article-based dissertation: Within one month from reception.

After receiving all evaluations, the Subcommittee of the School of Graduate Studies will review them and determine one of the following outcomes:

1. Minor corrections
2. Major corrections
3. Approval without corrections

The evaluations will then be forwarded to the student and the supervisor for execution of the required corrections.
 The student shall submit to the School of Graduate Studies the following:

• A detailed letter outlining the corrections made.
   
• Supervisor’s confirmation form.
   
• A copy of the revised dissertation.
•  

5. Authorization for the Defense Meeting

• Minor corrections: Once the revised dissertation and accompanying documentation have been received, the School of Graduate Studies will issue the authorization to hold the defense meeting.

• Major corrections: The following materials shall be forwarded to the relevant reviewer:
   

  • The revision letter

  • the revised dissertation

  • the examiner’s original evaluation.
     

The School of Graduate Studies will issue the authorization upon reception of the reviewer's report.

6. Organization and Coordination of the Defense

The department or faculty shall coordinate the defense meeting, either in person or online, as soon as possible and no later than one month after receiving authorization.

The department shall invite the reviewers, supervisor(s) and the student, and will be in charge of all 
logistical arrangements.

7. Chair of the Defense Committee

The Chair of the Departmental Committee shall appoint the Chair of the Defense Committee.

If the Departmental Chair also serves as the supervisor, the Deputy Chair shall make the appointment.

Requirements for the Chair:

• Must be one of the reviewers 

• not the supervisor.

Responsibilities of the chair:

• Lead and manage the meeting.

• Summarize the discussion, remarks and questions.

• Draft and record the committee’s decisions.

   

8. Conduct of the Defense Meeting

• Attendance: All members of the Evaluation Committee, the supervisor(s) and the student.
   
• Procedure:

  1. The student presents the dissertation and answers questions.

  2. A closed discussion among the reviewers follows.

  3. The Chair prepares an official summary report, including:

     • the discussion proceedings

     • comments and questions

     • committee decision

The summary report shall be signed by all committee members.

If no further corrections are required: 
The signed summary shall be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies within one week, including the Chair’s approval.

If additional corrections are required:

• The summary shall also be sent to the student and the supervisor within one week.

• Within one week from reception, the student must submit to the department:

  • The revised dissertation

  • A letter detailing the corrections

  • The supervisor’s confirmation of revision completion
     

The Chair of the Departmental Committee (or deputy) shall verify the corrections.

The department’s office shall forward the Chair’s confirmation, the committee summary, and all
related documents to the School of Graduate Studies.
 

9. Final Approval and Award of Degree

To receive final approval, the following materials must be submitted to the School of Graduate Studies within one week:

• The summary of the Evaluation Committee’s decision.
   
• If applicable, the student’s and supervisor’s joint response letter following any additional corrections.

Departments with an Accompanying Advisory Committee

In departments where an Advisory Committee accompanies the student throughout the doctoral studies and also serves as the Reviewing Committee (including the defense meeting), the existing procedure will remain in effect. Attached is the Advisory Committee procedure.