Overview

Successfully defending your dissertation - also called the Final Oral Examination - is a requirement for the Ph.D. (UT Graduate Catalog). Before your defense, you should talk with your supervisor to clarify expectations, including how the meeting will be structured. We also recommend reviewing the Graduate School's Final Oral guidelines early in the process.

During the defense, students typically give a brief (10-15 minute) overview of the dissertation - summarizing key hypotheses, methods, and findings. Visuals or handouts are optional. Keep your presentation concise; the majority of the meeting is dedicated to questions and discussion with your committee. 

Working with your Supervisor

Throughout the dissertation process, your dissertation supervisor will be your main point of contact. Together, you'll decide when you are ready to schedule your defense. Your supervisor's feedback helps ensure your work is in strong shape before it goes to the rest of your committee. 

Review your Program of Work

Your Program of Work must be reviewed and approved as part of the defense requirements. At the start of the semester you're defending, be sure to review your official Program of Work (via the Graduate Degree Planner), and notify the EDP Graduate Coordinator if you see any issues. 

Scheduling your Defense

Once you and your supervisor have set a date, you will:

• Submit your Dissertation to your Committee for review

• Schedule a room through EDP

Submitting your Dissertation: Your committee needs time to review your work before your defense. You must provide your committee a copy of your dissertation at least one month before your defense. Some faculty will not sign off without adequate review time. Be sure to:

• Ask whether each member prefers a hard copy or electronic version

• Encourage members to share any major concerns early

Booking a Room: You will book a room for your defense through the EDP Department. Note these scheduling requirements:

• Final Orals must be held on campus and during regular business hours

• They cannot be scheduled after noon on Fridays without prior Department Chair approval.

• At least 4 committee members, including your supervisor, must be present

• In-person attendance is not required, but if you are defending in person, you and your supervisor must be in the same room

• If any member cannot attend (in person or remotely), list them on Page 2 of the Final Oral Request Form. 

Request for Final Oral Form (RFO)

The RFO is the Graduate School's official notice of your defense and must be submitted at least 2 weeks before your planned defense date. Start early (at least 3 weeks before your defense) to allow time for gathering signatures. Make sure to send your dissertation to your committee before submitting the form. The completed form must be emailed to the Graduate School, at GradStudentSVCS@austin.utexas.edu 

There are two ways to collect signatures for your RFO:

• Electronically (recommended): instructions below

• Hard copy: Download the form, collect physical signatures, and email the completed form to the Graduate School. If needed, your supervisor may sign on behalf of an absent member (with written approval from the member).

After your RFO is processed, you'll receive a Report of Dissertation Committee (RODC) form from the Graduate School. This form is used to report your defense results and will need to be signed by all committee members after your exam.

What to Expect at the Defense

Dissertation defense meetings generally go well! Some revisions of the document are almost always requested. Be sure to leave enough time after the defense to complete any edits and upload the final document before the semester graduation deadline. 

Possible outcomes include:

• Pass - Congratulations!

• Reconsideration - Significant revisions needed; the committee agrees to review again without a second defense

• Not Pass - Revisions required; a second defense must be scheduled

• Fail - At least one committee member determines the dissertation is not acceptable, and rewriting is not permitted

After the Defense: Submitting the RODC and Dissertation 

Once your defense is complete:

• All committee members must sign the Report of Dissertation Committee Form (RODC). No proxies are permitted, and all signatures must be on the same form.

• The GSC Chair must sign the completed form.

• Hold on to the signed RODC until you apply to graduate.

In the semester you're graduating: 

• Apply to graduate online

• Upload your final, revised dissertation through the Graduate School's portal

• Email your RODC form and any other required documents to the Graduate School: gradstudentsvcs@austin.utexas.edu

Important: Missing the final submission deadline means you'll need to re-enroll in dissertation hours the following semester - and you may be billed for previous semesters if you received a waiver.

CP and SCCP students: if you have completed your defense and will enroll in Internship hours in subsequent semesters, contact the EDP Graduate Coordinator to request the Graduate School waive the dissertation enrollment requirement.