Dissertation layout requirements
Your dissertation layout must meet certain requirements. Special rules apply if you have written your dissertation with others or if you are publishing a commercial edition.
Always make sure that there are enough copies of your dissertation in a format that is easy to read.
Dissertation comprising articles
If you are reprinting articles, make sure they have the same format. This may mean that you need to enlarge or reduce them. The dissertation must be presented in such a way that it is a bound book.
Commercial edition
If you want to publish a commercial edition of your dissertation, you may only do so if:
- It will be published after the PhD committee has decided that you may defend your dissertation.
- The commercial edition – which will be the dissertation submitted to the beadle – has a bound title page. For further requirements, see the PhD regulations.
Publication
You may publish part of your dissertation in an academic journal before the defence has taken place. You must indicate this in the dissertation.
Multiple authors
A dissertation may be a selection of previously published articles of which the candidate is not the only author, or it could be a selection of articles that have been submitted for publication. If you include these articles in your dissertation, it then counts as a new publication. Take note of the copyright of the other copyright holder(s).
Joint dissertation
If you have written a dissertation together with others, each of you must submit the dissertation with your ‘own’ title page and curriculum vitae, and the required number of propositions. On the back of the title page you can state that it is a joint study by two or three PhD candidates and that the result has led to a joint dissertation.
Requirements of the title page
See this example of title page to find out what the title page must look like. Note that you should not have the title page printed before the beadle has approved it on behalf of the Rector Magnificus.
Requirements of the non-scientific component
You may only duplicate the non-scientific component of your dissertation once the dean of the faculty has issued his or her approval. The non-scientific component comprises:
- title page (front and back)
- foreword and/or afterword
- acknowledgment(s)
- (possible) assignment
- (possible) quotation/motto
- table of contents
- curriculum vitae
- propositions
- summary
- cover
- front and back cover of the dissertation volume, both the front and the reverse
Publishing in the Meijers Series
The Department of Research has its own book series that includes PhD dissertations of Leiden Law School, but also books resulting from conferences and symposia.
Procedure
The choice of the publisher/printer is up to the author or editor. The Department of Research has agreements with a number of specialist companies for the lay-outing of a publication.
For the lay-outing of a PhD dissertation, it is recommended to calculate backwards from the date the book is due to be published. This is particularly important for PhD candidates whose defense date has already been set. In the case of a PhD dissertation, a period of 16 weeks is standard. For the procedure and planning, see instructions for authors.
The size of the PhD dissertation is in principle maximum 100,000 words (including footnotes but excluding the non-academic part). The Dean, on behalf of the Doctorate Board, may grant an extension, following a written request by the Supervisor.
Instructions for Authors in the Meijers series
In the instructions for authors you can find practical recommendations for the submission of a text document, tables and images and guidelines for writing text, footnotes and the list of literature references. These instructions are in line with the “Leidraad voor juridische auteurs” (Deventer: Kluwer 2022). They also include information on the production process from the moment the final manuscript is ready.
Obtaining a doctorate on the basis of articles
The format of a PhD dissertation varies and may result in a handbook or monograph or a collection of (published or submitted) articles. For more information on the latter see Memorandum on PhD dissertations.
Financial regulations
There are some reimbursements available for PhD candidates.
Information
If you have questions or would like to register your publications in the Meijers series, please send an e-mail to Belinda Helder.