DOCTOR S DEGREE IN THEOLOGY DOCTOR S DEGREE IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES FACULTY REGULATIONS FOR THE DOCTORAL EXAMINATION WITH DISSERTATION

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1 KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies DOCTOR S DEGREE IN THEOLOGY DOCTOR S DEGREE IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES FACULTY REGULATIONS FOR THE DOCTORAL EXAMINATION WITH DISSERTATION Valid as of June 20, 2013 After discussion by the Doctoral Committee and the Faculty Board, approved by the Faculty Council on May 24, 2013, and by the Group Council on June 20,

2 Part I General Regulations 1. Predoctoral Programme A. Doctor s Degree in Theology Depending on academic degrees and research competence already attained, both international students and Belgian graduates of a Hogeschool programme of two cycles, who wish to start a doctorate in Theology, must, as a rule, first take a predoctoral test. The fifth year (Master of Arts in de gespecialiseerde studies in de godgeleerdheid en de godsdienstwetenschappen/master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion) is considered to be a predoctoral year, and the exams and the evaluation of the research paper to be a predoctoral test/examination. For international doctoral student candidates, who have completed a Master s degree, in an EEA-country, that has been approved by the Faculty Admissions Committee, the predoctoral phase lasts at most one year. For international doctoral student candidates who have completed their previous studies in a non-eea-country, the predoctoral phase lasts at most two years. Students, who obtained their Master s degree at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies of the KU Leuven, are immediately admitted to the predoctoral ( fifth ) year. Students without a Master s degree must first follow an initial Master s Programme ( fourth year) before they can register as predoctoral students. In the predoctoral period, the academic competence and the research maturity of the candidates are tested. During this period, students prepare themselves for doctoral research, and formulate, in this regard, a research project. At the end of the predoctoral phase, the Doctoral Committee, after consultation with the promoter and the research unit, decides whether a candidate is suited to begin the Doctoral Programme. After successful completion of the predoctoral programme, a certificate is awarded. B. Doctor s Degree in Religious Studies The candidates must meet the following conditions for admittance/admission: They must present project proposals concerning world religions and religious studies which (a) fit in with one of the specific research topics dealt with at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, (b) are accepted by a promoter and/or co-promoter belonging to the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, and (c) are accepted by the concerned Research Unit of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies. - They have obtained a Master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion (major religious studies), or a demonstrably equivalent preparatory academic education, that, with regard to both subject matter and research method, fits in with the proposed doctoral research. - They apply after having obtained a Master of Arts in de wereldgodsdiensten, de interreligieuze Dialoog en de religiestudie (WIDR), and are expected to have also obtained an additional master degree before being considered for admission. - They can present adequate study results and have obtained at least cum laude for the whole of the master programme(s) and a level of 75% for the Research Paper, and as a rule, their doctoral research project is financed by means of a project or mandate. The Faculty s Doctoral Committee will decide, after consultation with the promoter and the Research Unit, whether or not the candidate is suitable to be admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Religious Studies. 2

3 2. Doctoral Programme Article 1. Admission to the Doctoral Programme 1. As described in part II of these regulations, those who hold a Master of Arts in de gespecialiseerde studies in de godgeleerdheid en de godsdienstwetenschappen/master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion awarded by the Faculty may be admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Godgeleerdheid/Theology. The candidates, who meet the conditions for admission as described in the above item 1B, may be admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Religious Studies. Candidates are required to submit a detailed doctoral project on the form provided for this purpose and signed by the promoter to the Research Secretariat before the dates indicated on the faculty calendar of the year in which they wish to be admitted to the Doctoral Programme. During the first two weeks of June/September, the members of the tenured academic personnel of the Research Units will evaluate whether the proposed projects fit the research profile of the Research Unit. Particular attention should be paid to methodological skills, including the doctoral student s capacity to read the primary literature necessary for his/her research in its original language. The coordinator sends the Research Unit s findings to the Doctoral Committee. The Doctoral Committee considers these findings and decides whether the submitted doctoral projects meet the requirements. The Secretary of the Doctoral Committee stores a copy of the proposed project, signed by the Research Unit s coordinator, the promoter (and, if necessary, co-promoter) and the candidate, in the candidate s file. Moreover, the Committee assesses whether candidates for the Doctoral Programme in Theology meet the following two prerequisites: They have obtained the degree of Master of Arts in de gespecialiseerde studies in de godgeleerdheid en de godsdienstwetenschappen/master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion at least cum laude. They have attained a level of 75% for the Research Paper, or for a comparable project (see also art. 1.3), presented for the Master of Arts in de gespecialiseerde studies in de godgeleerdheid en de godsdienstwetenschappen/master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion. During the assessment of the application for admission, the total period of time the student needed to obtain the study points for the master programme(s) is also taken into account. The Committee also assesses whether candidates for the Doctoral Programme in Religious Studies meet all conditions for admission as described in the above item 1B. 2. Those who have obtained a second cycle diploma in Theology from another Belgian or a foreign university may also be admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Theology providing they meet the conditions for admission outlined in article 1. Applications are assessed by the Doctoral Committee, whose composition is constituted according to the regulations of the Faculty. The Committee evaluates the content of the various course components of the second-cycle degree that the applicants followed. Should it become evident that the said programme is not equivalent to that required for the Master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion offered by the Faculty, no direct admission to the Doctoral Programme in Theology will be granted. The Committee then passes the file on to the Faculty Admissions Committee. 3

4 3. Those who, as a result of the admissions procedure, have not been admitted to the Doctoral Programme, but who met one or both of the two prerequisites (cum laude and/or a level of 75% for the Research Paper) can, within a period of five working days after the announcement of the negative decision of the Doctoral Committee, initiate an appeal to the Faculty Board by notifying the Dean and the Dean s Secretariat in writing about the intention to appeal. First, the student will be heard by the Dean. Next, the appeal will be scheduled for review at the next meeting of the Faculty Board. Then, the student submits his/her motivated arguments for appeal in writing to the Research Secretariat at least three working days before the meeting of the Faculty Board. After having listened to the student concerned, the Faculty Board will make a final decision with regard to his/her admission to the Doctoral Programme. 4. Those who, as a result of the admissions procedure (including the procedure mentioned in 1.3) have not been admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Theology, but have nevertheless obtained the degree of Master of Arts in de gespecialiseerde studies in de godgeleerdheid en de godsdienstwetenschappen/master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion at the requisite level of at least cum laude, may submit a new application for admission to the Doctoral Programme in Theology no earlier than three years later provided he/she has published two articles in IT-journals or has published a research-based monograph, approved by a scholarly reading committee. Regarding publications in IT-journals, at least one said publication must be in an IT1 or IT2 journal; to determine a journal s level, one must consult the ranking provided by the Faculty (LITaRS). Article 2. Doctoral Programme Those who have been admitted to the Doctoral Programme are required, without exception, to register each year for this Programme organised by the Faculty. The requirements for this Programme are laid down in the rules for the Doctoral Programme included in part II of these Regulations. Article 3. Duration of the Doctoral Programme As a rule, students admitted to the Doctoral Programme are expected to submit their dissertation within four years. After four years, doctoral students have to apply, each year, to the Doctoral Committee for permission to re-register. They have to use the standard form, which must be filled in and signed by the student and his/her promoter, and they have to submit this signed form to the Research Secretariat before the date indicated on the faculty calendar. Article 4. Membership of a Research Unit 1. Students admitted to the Doctoral Programme become full members of the Research Unit that has accepted their research project (Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, Theological Ethics, History of Church and Theology, or Pastoral Theology). 2. As members of a Research Unit, candidates participate in the meetings to which they are invited. As set out further on in these Regulations, every candidate, during the course of the Programme, presents his/her own doctoral research to the Research Unit on at least two occasions. Article 5. Guidance of the Doctoral Research A. The People Involved 1. The doctoral candidate prepares a dissertation under the guidance of a promoter (and, if necessary, one or more co-promoter(s)). A tenured member of the academic personnel belonging to one of the Research Units of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies will act as promoter. All members of the tenured academic personnel of the KU Leuven with teaching responsibilities in the Faculty may also serve as promoter for dissertations in Theology and dissertations in Religious Studies. On the recommendation of the Research Unit, the Faculty Board can appoint as promoter of the dissertation a member of the tenured or extraordinary academic personnel of the KU Leuven without teaching responsibilities in the Faculty, as well as members of the academic or scientific personnel of other Belgian or foreign universities and university colleges with which the KU Leuven has an agreement. In these cases, a member of 4

5 the tenured academic personnel of the relevant Research Unit serves as co-promoter for the relevant doctoral research. In the event that a promoter has no tenure, the Research Unit guarantees continuity of the student s supervision from the beginning of the doctorate. At the request of the promoter or on the recommendation of the Research Unit, the Faculty Board can appoint someone belonging to one of the aforementioned categories as co-promoter. 2. The promoter plays a central role in the doctoral candidate s formation. The promoter is responsible for the material and intellectual climate in which the doctoral candidate develops his/her research. The promoter stimulates, supervises, and evaluates the student during the whole of the doctoral process, and his/her final evaluation of the doctorate carries a lot of weight (translated from Profiel van de goede promotor ; 3. For each doctorate, the Faculty appoints a Supervisory Committee. It consists of the promoter (and where appropriate, the co-promoter), and at least two other members, who as a rule belong to the Research Unit to which the doctoral student him/herself belongs. Research Units can decide that all members of the tenured academic personnel are part of the Supervisory Committee for every doctoral student. It belongs to the tasks of the Supervisory Committee to support the candidates in the preparation of their doctorate, to contribute to ensuring the quality thereof, and to help make it possible for the doctorate to be completed on time. 4. The ombudsperson who attends the meetings of the Doctoral Committee ex officio (including when it convenes as Admissions Committee) is the first point of contact, for both doctoral students and promoters, to discuss and to resolve problems in the relationship between promoter and student. B. Supervision Process 1. Doctoral candidates are required to discuss their research work with their promoter(s) (copromoter(s)) at least twice per semester. 2. During their first doctoral year, before the end of March, doctoral students present their doctoral project (as a rule based on the written doctoral proposal on the basis of which they were admitted to the Doctoral Programme) to the members of their Research Unit. The Research Secretariat will insert in SAP the short description (ten lines) of the doctoral project proposals approved by the Doctoral Admissions Committee. 3. Each year, before the date indicated on the faculty calendar, the doctoral students submit a progress report (on the standard form) signed by the student and the promoter to the Chair of the Doctoral Committee. The progress report of the first, the third, and subsequent years will be sent to the coordinator of the Research Unit for evaluation and approval. On the dates indicated on the faculty calendar, the members of the tenured academic personnel of the Research Unit, with the coordinator of the Research Unit as chair, discuss the progress of each doctoral student and report their recommendations to the Chair of the Doctoral Committee. Should the promoter, the relevant Research Unit, or the Doctoral Committee find that the research work has made insufficient progress, the Doctoral Committee, as constituted according to the Faculty Regulations, holds an evaluation of the relevant doctoral project. The Chair of the Committee invites the promoter(s) (and, if necessary, co-promoter(s)) and the members of the Supervisory Committee to take part in the discussion. The Doctoral Committee can decide not to renew the permission to register for the Doctoral Programme. If the student disagrees with the decision of the Doctoral Committee, he/she can appeal to the Faculty Board. After having listened to the student concerned, the Faculty Board will decide whether or not the student can register again for the Doctoral Programme. 5

6 The Doctoral Committee can also conclude that the progress report is missing. In that case, the doctoral candidate is given two weeks to remedy the situation. After two weeks the Chair of the Doctoral Committee verifies if the student concerned has rectified the situation. If this is not the case, permission to re-register cannot be given. 4. Two years after starting a doctorate, and before the application for the extension of a scholarship, an officially organized evaluation of the progress of the research must take place. This evaluation is undertaken by the members of the Supervisory Committee, with the coordinator of the Research Unit as chair. In order to organise this evaluation, the coordinators of the Research Units receive the progress reports at most one week after the submission date. As a rule, for the second year evaluation, the students must also submit a chapter of their doctoral dissertation for assessment by the Supervisory Committee. A meeting takes place between the doctoral students and their Supervisory Committees on the date indicated in the faculty calendar. During this meeting the doctoral students give a short explanation regarding their research and the members of the Supervisory Committee have the opportunity to ask the students questions about the chapters submitted and the general progress of their work. After having heard the students, the Committee members deliberate and come to one of the following evaluations: good, sufficient with certain recommendations, or inadequate. In the case of inadequate, the Doctoral Committee, as constituted by the Faculty Regulations, is to hold an interim evaluation of the relevant doctoral project. The Chair of the Doctoral Committee invites the promoter(s) (and, if necessary, co-promoter(s)) and the tenured academic personnel of the relevant Research Unit to take part in the discussion. The Doctoral Committee can decide not to renew the permission to register for the Doctoral Programme. As soon as the student has been informed about the negative decision of the Doctoral Committee, and if the student has good reasons to disagree with it, he/she has five working days to initiate an appeal to the Faculty Board and to notify the Dean and the Dean s Secretariat in writing about the intention to appeal. Next, the appeal will be scheduled for review at the next meeting of the Faculty Board. Then, the student submits his/her motivated arguments for appeal in writing to the Research Secretariat at least three working days before the meeting of the Faculty Board. After having listened to the student concerned, the Faculty Board will make a final decision regarding whether or not the student can register again for the Doctoral Programme. Article 6. Language and Form of the Dissertation 1. Candidates enrolled for the Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies write their dissertations in Dutch, English, French, or German. On the recommendation of the Research Unit, the Doctoral Committee can give permission for the dissertation to be written in another language (e.g. Italian or Spanish). 2. The length of the dissertation must be appropriate to the topic that it treats. As a rule, topics must be selected in such a way that they can be treated in a scholarly way in no more than 175,000 words (including footnotes). Well-motivated exceptions, when supported by the Research Unit, can be approved by the Doctoral Committee. 3. It is also permitted to defend a doctorate on the basis of a series of articles accepted and/or published in IT-journals. In this case, one must however make sure that there is a thematic unity, made explicit in an extensive introduction and/or conclusion, and that the length complies with the general expectations for a doctoral dissertation. Article 7. Evaluation and Defense of the Dissertation The academic degree of Doctor in Theology/Doctor in Religious Studies is granted after the public defense of the dissertation. The public defense is preceded by the evaluation of the dissertation by a Reading Committee. 6

7 1. Submission of the Doctoral Dissertation Doctoral students who fulfil the following requirements may submit the manuscript of their doctoral dissertation to the Faculty Board: A. Doctor in Theology: They have been holders of the academic degree of Master of Arts in de gespecialiseerde studies in de godgeleerdheid en de godsdienstwetenschappen/master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion for at least two years, or were granted direct admission by the Faculty to the Doctoral Programme. B. Doctor in Religious Studies: They were granted direct admission by the Faculty to the Doctoral Programme at least two years prior to submitting their dissertations. They have successfully completed the prescribed Doctoral Programme of the Faculty. They have submitted their publications by means of LIRIAS. The meeting of the Faculty Board must have at its disposal a complete copy of the unbound manuscript of the dissertation; moreover, an electronic copy is submitted to the Research Secretariat for the systematic monitoring of plagiarism. Every dissertation is screened for plagiarism with the help of a plagiarism control system. 2. Composition of the Reading Committee The Reading Committees for the evaluation of the doctoral dissertations are constituted as follows: The promoter consults the candidate with regard to the possible members of the Committee and formulates a proposal. The promoter discusses the proposal with the coordinator of the Research Unit. The promoter submits the proposal in writing to the Vice-Dean for Research, who makes sure that the Reading Committee has sufficient expertise and independence. As a rule, at least one member of the Reading Committee comes from outside the Faculty. As a rule, the Dean or Vice-Dean for Research serves as Chair of the Reading Committee. As a rule, the Chair of the Reading Committee is also the Chair for the defense. The Vice-Dean for Research submits the proposal at the next meeting of the Faculty Board. As a rule, the proposals are discussed during the regular meetings. In exceptional cases (especially during periods when the Faculty Board does not meet regularly), a proposal can be submitted in written form to the members of the Faculty Board. The Faculty Board decides whether the student is admitted to the evaluation and determines the members of the Reading Committee. The Vice-Dean for Research contacts the proposed members of the Reading Committee. If someone does not accept, the Vice-Dean for Research discusses a new proposal with the promoter and submits this new proposal in writing to the members of the Faculty Board. A copy of the unbound manuscript of the dissertation accompanied by a letter from the Dean and/or Vice-Dean for Research with the submission date for the reading report is sent to the members of the Reading Committee. The administrative secretary sends a message to the members of the Reading Committee with a series of proposed dates for the meeting of the Reading Committee and on the condition of placet possible dates for the defense. Within two weeks after the submission of the dissertation, the candidate submits, with the approval of his/her promoter, a summary of (maximum) 500 words at the Research Secretariat. The summary will present the research in a clear and easily accessible manner. In addition to the summary the student will submit a maximum of three main theses in which the main results of the doctoral research are summarized. In addition, one or (maximum) two theses are to be added that demonstrate the significance of the dissertation for theology/religious studies as a whole, for domains outside of the area of specialization of the dissertation, for other sciences, or for the church and/or society. All theses together are not to exceed 200 words. The administrative secretary will, after verification of the make-up and the size of these texts, immediately distribute these to the members of the Reading Committee. 7

8 3. Report of the Reading Committee Within six weeks after the constitution of the Reading Committee by the Faculty Board, vacation periods excluded, the members of the Reading Committee submit a written evaluation of the dissertation and the theses to the Research Secretariat for the attention of the Chair of the Reading Committee. For this they use the guidelines provided to them by the Research Secretariat. Vacation times means Christmas vacation and the period from the conclusion of the second ordinary examination period to the beginning of the third ordinary examination period. If due to exceptional circumstances, the need arises to deviate from this procedure, a request for an exception to the rule has to be submitted to the Faculty Board, which will reach a decision on the matter. The members of the Reading Committee each, independently of one another, write a report according to the Faculty guidelines and explicitly mention a motivated final assessment (placet, placet iuxta modum or non placet nisi corrigatur; cf. 4 below). All members of the Reading Committee are expected to electronically submit their evaluation report on the dissertation, before the stated deadline, to the Research Secretariat for the attention of the Chair of the Reading Committee. After all reports have been received, these are sent electronically by the Research Secretariat to all members of the Reading Committee including the Chair. 4. Evaluation by the Reading Committee The meetings of the Reading Committee take place in the office of the Chair. The members of the Committee first briefly discuss their evaluations. Then the candidate is invited to join the Committee. The Committee members present their questions and objections to him/her, and the candidate is given the opportunity to respond. After this, the Committee deliberates, without the presence of the candidate, on their evaluation. Placet means that the dissertation is accepted for defense. Placet iuxta modum means that the dissertation is, in principle, accepted for the defense, but a number of corrections must first be made. Non placet nisi corrigatur means that the dissertation will only be accepted for defense on the condition that the candidate thoroughly revises the dissertation according to the requirements set out in writing by the Reading Committee. Whenever it is deemed appropriate, the Chair will consult the members of the Committee on the desirability of the (form of the) manuscript s publication. Then the Chair will examine whether or not the results of the research can be made available for research-pr and scientific communication. When the latter is the case, the Research Secretariat will take all steps deemed appropriate, in consultation with the student and the promoter. The Reading Committee s evaluation of the dissertation is communicated in the following way: 1 Placet In the case of a placet, the Chair of the Committee receives the candidate, together with the promoter(s), and reports on the decision of the Reading Committee. The promoter(s) provide(s) the candidate, within three days, with a summary report explaining the Committee s decision. The candidate is free to follow suggestions made by the Reading Committee before submitting the bound copies of the dissertation. 2 Placet iuxta modum In case of placet iuxta modum, the promoter(s) provide(s) the candidate, within three days, with a written summary report explaining the decision and summarizing the required modifications. When the candidate is of the opinion that the revised dissertation meets the stated requirements, he/she resubmits, with the written agreement of the promoter(s) (and, if necessary, the co-promoter(s)), within a maximum period of three weeks, the revised part/parts of the dissertation to the Chair of the Reading Committee, who then presents it to the Reading Committee. A new meeting of the Reading Committee is only required if one or more members reports a (new) problem regarding the revised text. As a rule, the members of the Reading Committee may express their opinion on the acceptability of the revised part/parts of the dissertation via . They must do so before the deadline determined during the initial meeting of the Reading Committee. 8

9 3 Non placet nisi corrigatur In the event of an evaluation of non placet nisi corrigatur, the following procedure is to be followed. Immediately after the Reading Committee has concluded its deliberations, the Chair of the Reading Committee informs the candidate of this decision. Within a week, the promoter and correctors provide the candidate with a joint written report in which the readers evaluation is thoroughly explained and which presents the requirements for the revision of the dissertation. On the basis of this report, the candidate reworks the dissertation during a period of maximum six months. When the candidate is of the opinion that the revised dissertation meets the stated requirements, he/she may, with the written agreement of the promoter(s) (and, if necessary, the co-promoter(s)), resubmit the dissertation and the revised summary and list of annexed theses to the Chair of the Reading Committee, who then presents it to the members of the Reading Committee. As a rule, the Committee meets again after a maximum of six weeks to deliver a definitive evaluation on the acceptability of the work. All members are expected to electronically submit, within the predetermined time, a supplementary report with a motivated final evaluation to the Research Secretariat for the attention of the Chair of the Reading Committee. The final evaluation can only be placet (accepted) or non placet (not accepted). In the case of a placet, the Chair of the Reading Committee will immediately inform the candidate of this decision. In the case of a non placet, the non-acceptance of the dissertation is explained to the candidate by the Chair and the members of the Reading Committee. 5. Appointment of the Jury and Preparation of the Public Defense Between the Reading Committee and the public defense, there is a period of maximum six weeks. If a student received a placet (iuxta modum) from the Reading Committee, a Jury is constituted by the (Vice-)Rector on the proposal of the Faculty Board. As a rule, the Jury consists of the same members as the Reading Committee. The candidate finalises the text of the dissertation, has it bound, and delivers six bound (A5, recto verso) copies (in case of a copromoter, seven copies) of the dissertation at the Research Secretariat. Each of the bound copies contains at the front a signed original Declaration of Originality/Plagiarism Declaration. At the same time he/she electronically submits a summary and his/her list of theses to the Research Secretariat. He/she uploads a PDF-file of the final version to Lirias (via KU Loket), after he/she has enrolled for the doctoral defense at the KU Leuven student administration. The proof of submission of the dissertation, both printed and electronic, serves as the official admission to the public defense. As a rule, the promoter(s) (and, if applicable, the co-promoter(s)) and the correctors receive a definitive bound copy of the dissertation ten days before the defense. Before this date, the dissertation must also be electronically archived in Lirias (via KU Loket). The candidate discusses the mode of accessibility of the doctoral dissertation in Lirias with his/her promoter. The promoter(s) (and, if applicable, the co-promoter(s)) and the correctors are to submit their individual evaluation of the submitted dissertation in writing to the Research Secretariat for the attention of the Chair of the Jury, at the latest two working days before the defense. This evaluation applies to the work in its definitive form and is expressed in the form of a mark out of a total of twenty points. 6. The Public Defense As a rule, the public defense of the dissertation and the annexed theses takes place in the University s Promotion Hall or the Faculty s conference room within six weeks after the placet has been granted by the Reading Committee. Defenses can take place from 1 September up to and including the day of the proclamation of the second ordinary examination period. The public defense proceeds as follows. First, the candidate gives, in a fifteen minute presentation, the main research results. The promoter then presents a fifteen minute evaluation and laudatio. In the event that there is a co-promoter, he/she may arrange with the promoter to offer an evaluation of the dissertation within the time allotted to the promoter(s). The three correctors are each allotted about fifteen minutes for discussion with the candidate. 9

10 A brief summary of the dissertation together with the theses is made available to the public. After the defense, the Examination Committee adjourns for deliberation. The Examination Committee determines a mutually-agreed-upon mark. This mark is given based on the dissertation in its definitive form and the defense. The sum of this mutually-agreed-upon mark and the individual evaluations of the promoter(s) (and, if necessary, the co-promoter(s)) and the correctors expresses the final result. This result is expressed as a percentage. No grade is awarded. Doctor in Theology: The Chair of the Examination Committee announces the promotion to Doctor in de godgeleerdheid/doctor in Theology (Ph.D.). The newly promoted Doctor is then presented with the ecclesial diploma of Sacrae Theologiae Doctor (if the requirements for this canonical degree have been met). Doctor in Religious Studies: The Chair of the Examination Committee announces the promotion to Doctor in de religiestudie/doctor in Religious Studies. Within one month after the promotion, the newly promoted Doctor receives a letter with the percentage obtained, pending the finalisation of the official documents associated with the official degree of Doctor. Promotions of the current academic year are announced during the Faculty s solemn proclamations and promotions, which follow the second and third ordinary examination periods. Article 8. Publication of (Parts of) the Dissertation 1. Prior to the public defense of the dissertation and with a view to providing evidence of the capacity to engage in independent theological research, doctoral candidates are obliged, in the context of the Doctoral Programme, to publish separate sections of their research work in the form of one or more scholarly articles. While preparing their work for publication they are to submit their manuscript to the promoter for his/her approval. If the promoter approves the submitted work for publication, it should then be offered to the editorial board of an academic journal. Journals connected with the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies of the KU Leuven can be considered. 2. After the promotion and with the positive recommendation of the Examination Committee, the newly promoted Doctor can offer the dissertation for publication, e.g. to one of the series with a connection to the Faculty. Alternatively, parts of the dissertation may also be reworked into one or more articles and offered to the editorial board of an academic journal. 3. The author retains his/her full moral rights (the rights as author, the decision whether or not his/her work is made known to the public, the right to integrity) and property rights with respect to his/her dissertation, under restriction of the prescriptions concerning the rights described in the University Regulations. (cf. The author consequently retains complete freedom of choice with respect to other forms of publication after the defense. 10

11 Part II Regulations for the Doctoral Programme Article 1. Aims and Definitions 1. The primary aim of the Doctoral Programme is to broaden and to deepen the knowledge of the doctoral candidates in the area of scholarly research in theology or religious studies. Furthermore, the programme aims at facilitating the more efficient progress of the doctoral research by means of adequate supervision of the candidates, so that they can successfully accomplish their most important task within a reasonable period of time, namely the presentation of a personal contribution to research in theological and religious studies in the form of a dissertation. Finally, the programme aims at preparing the student in the best possible way for his/her professional career. 2. The Doctoral Programme consists of an interrelated and coherent combination of educational and other study activities. Components of the Doctoral Programme can be followed at other national or international universities and institutes for scientific research, especially those with which the Faculty has established collaborative agreements. Doctoral students are encouraged to spend time abroad, e.g. in the context of the Erasmus/Socrates agreements. 3. The Doctoral Programme consists of obligatory and optional elements which aim at broadening knowledge and experience by way of methodological reflection, systematic guidance, discussion with other doctoral students, contact with professors from one s own area of research, the presentation of research results, international contacts, preparation of publications, supplementary formation through the study of languages and other specialized courses, and team work. 4. Participation in the Doctoral Programme is a compulsory condition for being awarded the Doctor s degree and, as a rule, this implies a residency requirement of two years. In exceptional cases candidates may be exempted from the requirement to participate in the Doctoral Programme. In such cases an alternative assignment will be imposed. 5. Candidates who are not employed by the FWO-V or as project assistants, and who are enrolled in the Programme, receive financial assistance to cover programme-related costs. The subsidy consists of a maximum of 750. This subsidy is intended for activities during the Doctoral Programme that have a demonstrable link with it. The details can be consulted in the Doctoral financial instructions. 6. In addition to the financial assistance of maximum 750, it is also possible for doctoral students to submit applications for special conference grants. Each application is however limited to a maximum value of 750. These grants are intended for active participation in international conferences (a lecture/presentation of a paper or poster). The details can be consulted in the Doctoral financial instructions that are available on the Faculty s website. Article 2. Educational Programme At least once per year, candidates for the doctorate are to submit to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee attestations detailing the classes followed and other study activities and projects undertaken. The attestations are accompanied by the necessary proof. The Secretary is to present the list of the candidate s activities regularly to the Committee for its approval. 11

12 A. COMPULSORY ACTIVITIES Scientific Publication(s), with Supervision 1 At least one publication at the international level: a reviewed contribution (article in a journal with IT-classification, contribution in a book in a series with a faculty classification or an international publisher) written in a forum language of the field of specialization and aimed at an international readership; or 2 Three articles in a publication with national distribution (journal or book); or 3. Sole author of a scholarly book/monograph. Participation in the Doctoral Colloquia 4. Doctoral students participate, during their programme, in the compulsory colloquia organized by the Doctoral Committee for all students, as well as in those that are organized specifically for the group to which they belong. Those unable to attend are expected to inform the Chair of the Doctoral Committee. They are also invited to take part in the formation sessions organized by the Doctoral Committee. Participation in the Activities of the Research Unit to which One Belongs 5. Every doctoral student is expected to participate in the meetings of the Research Unit to which he/she belongs. Those unable to attend are expected to inform the coordinator of the Research Unit. They are also expected to participate in the conferences and lectures organized by their own Research Unit. During the Doctoral Programme, each doctoral candidate is expected to give at least two public presentations of his/her research, one by the end of March of the year in which he/she was admitted to the Doctoral Programme, and the second in a later phase of the doctoral research. International Scholarly Conferences 6. Every doctoral student actively participates (with a lecture or the presentation of a paper or poster) in an international, scholarly conference at least once. For this, students use the funding opportunities offered by the FWO, Academische Stichting Leuven, the Faculty s conference grants, and so on. Lectures and Conferences 7. Students are obliged to participate in the guest lectures and conferences organized by their respective Research Units and to make note of their participation in the annual progress report. Research Courses, Courses and Seminars on the Doctoral Level with Evaluation (max. four) 8. Doctor in Theology: each year each specialization/major organizes one research course for the Doctoral Programme. In the first and second year of his/her Doctoral Programme, the doctoral student is obliged to successfully follow the research course organized for his/her specialization/major. If he/she has already followed this course, he/she can propose to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee to replace that course by a research course taken from the Master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion to meet this obligation. A doctoral candidate who is immediately admitted to the Doctoral Programme must follow, in addition to the two research courses organised by his/her specialization/major, two supplementary courses from the Master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion (proposal to be submitted to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee). 12

13 All (research) courses have to be successfully followed (including examinations) before they can be counted towards the completion of the Doctoral Programme. Exceptions to this rule can only be granted by the Doctoral Committee. Requests for any exception(s) must be submitted to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee before October 5. Doctor in Religious Studies: During the first and the second year of the Doctoral Programme, the doctoral student is obliged to successfully follow (including examinations) two (research) courses organised by the Faculty. The courses chosen have to contribute to the research project of the doctoral student. The choice of the two (research) courses must be submitted at the Research Secretariat before October 5 (on the correct standard form and signed by the promoter) for approval by the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee. Exceptions to this rule can only be granted by the Doctoral Committee. Requests to this purpose must be submitted to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee before October The doctoral candidate can, in connection with his/her own research project, include a maximum of two other research courses or advanced language courses from the Master of Arts in Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion in his/her programme. Doctoral level courses/seminars from other programmes and universities can also be included in the programme. The Doctoral Committee decides if the aforementioned courses/seminars meet the required doctoral level and must give permission for inclusion of these into the Doctoral Programme. Doctoral Plan and Progress Reports 10. By the end of the first doctoral year and during all subsequent years the doctoral student must submit a progress report, signed by the student and the promoter, before the date indicated on the faculty calendar. Two years after the start of the Doctoral Programme, each doctoral student must appear before the Supervisory Committee (cf. part I, 2, article 5, A, 3), which discusses the progress of the doctoral student on the basis of the progress report submitted. B. OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS (OPTIONAL) (It is possible to create one s own portfolio in My PhD via KU Loket) Courses from the Second and Third Cycle Programmes 1. Courses or seminars from the second and third cycle programme offered by the Faculty (or by another faculty of the KU Leuven or at another Belgian or foreign university), which are relevant to the doctoral student s doctoral research may be followed. Other Publications (not covered under point A) 2. - Reviews, columns, reports. - Editing of a book or a journal with mention of the name of the doctoral candidate The input towards the planning, the presentation (introduction and conclusion), the editing, and the translation is also considered. In the case of co-publication, the input of the doctoral candidate will be evaluated as accurately as possible. Conferences, Workshops, Research Visits, and Lectures 3. - Participation in national or foreign (inter-)university, (inter-)faculty or interdisciplinary workshops or lectures. - Supervised research visits associated with the doctoral project to national or foreign universities and research centres, especially within the scope of the Erasmus/Socrates programme, which is open to all students who have obtained an M.A. at a university in the EU and are presently enrolled at a university in the EU. - Participation in the activities of scholarly research groups and networks in Belgium and abroad. - Presentations of one s own research for students of the first, the second, or the third cycles. 13

14 Supervision 4. For assistant academic personnel and extraordinary academic personnel (as well as for other doctoral students with the approval of the Doctoral Committee): Assistance in the supervision of Bachelor s papers and Master s research papers in one s own discipline (AAP/BAP); assistance in the supervision of doctoral research, which has a clear link to one s own doctoral research. Scholarly Service 5 - Scholarly assistance in Faculty Research Units - Scholarly assistance in Faculty colloquia - Scholarly assistance in publications of the members of the Faculty or of external professors (relevant to the student s doctoral research) - Assistance in Continued Educational Programmes Teaching Formation and Collaboration in Projects of Educational Reform 6. Courses/seminars offered by the University in teaching formation for assistants and other doctoral candidates or cooperation in projects involving educational reform. Transitional Measure With the exception of students, who were granted an exemption in the past, these Regulations apply to all doctoral students of the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies. New requests for exemptions must be submitted to the Doctoral Committee. 14