Dissertation layout requirements
The layout of a dissertation must meet certain requirements. Special rules also apply if the dissertation was written with others or if a commercial edition will be published.
The main requirements for layout are given here. For a complete overview of all the requirements, please see the PhD Regulations. A faculty may set additional requirements (see your faculty tab or Graduate School).
Title page and non-scientific part
The title page of the dissertation has a prescribed format. The non-scientific part comprises the following elements:
- Title page (front and reverse)
- Foreword and/or afterword
- Acknowledgement(s)
- Assignment/assigning party (if applicable)
- Quotation/motto (if applicable)
- Table of contents
- Curriculum vitae
- Propositions
- Summary
- Cover
- Front and back cover of the dissertation volume (outside and inside)
Before reproducing the dissertation (printing or copying), you must first submit the non-scientific part for approval to the Dean, and the title page to both the Dean and the Beadle.
If you have written the dissertation with another PhD candidate, both of you must submit the dissertation with your own title page, curriculum vitae and propositions. You may state on the back of the title page that the PhD research was conducted jointly by two PhD candidates and has resulted in a joint dissertation.
Obtaining a PhD on the basis of articles and earlier publications
The dissertation may be written in the form of either a monograph or multiple articles that have been published or submitted for publication. In the latter case, the articles must be combined in such a way that the complete dissertation has the character of a stitched, glued or bound book. The articles must also have the same format; they will therefore sometimes need to be enlarged or reduced.
The articles must be related in terms of content, and the relationship explained in an introductory and/or concluding chapter. The different faculties may set additional requirements.
When articles are included in the dissertation, this counts as a new publication. It is therefore important to be aware of the copyright of any co-authors. For dissertations in the form of a monograph, references must be given for any previously published parts.
Commercial edition
You may choose to also publish a commercial edition of your dissertation, but only after you have been awarded your PhD. If the commercial edition is also used as the dissertation, a title page must be bound into it. For further requirements, see the PhD Regulations.
The Doctorate Committee
The Doctorate Committee counts at least four members, among them the chairman (the Dean or his/her substitute) and the Secretary of the Committee. The majority of the members of the committee will be professors. At least two members of the committee should not be involved in the practical realisation of the dissertation and at least two members of the committee should not be appointed at the Faculty. As a rule, the committee will include at least one male and at least one female member (see Regulations, chap. 4).
Non-scientific components & propositions
The non-scientific component of the dissertation comprises:
- title page (front and back)
- foreword and/or afterword
- acknowledgment(s) (max. 400 words)
- (possible) assignment
- (possible) quotation/motto
- table of contents
- curriculum vitae
- date and place of birth
- name of school and year of graduation
- (possible) extra qualifications
- details about professional career
- institute of PhD research
- propositions
- summary
- cover
- front and back cover of the dissertation volume, both the front and the reverse
Click on the General tab for further information.
The non-scientific component of the dissertation covers following: the title page, the reverse of the title page that lists the members of the Doctorate Committee, the publication details, the foreword and/or closing text (including any acknowledgments), the table of contents, the curriculum vitae of the doctoral candidate, any other non-scientific additions or expressions, as well as the inner and outer covers, both front and back.
Please take into account that acknowledgements are to be written in fairly formal language and should be limited to those involved in composing and executing the PhD research and the layout of the manuscript. Any thanks to the supervisors and co-supervisors should be limited to a maximum of two sentences per person. The other members of the Doctorate Committee should not be thanked within the dissertation, except for the normal way in which recognition is given to scientific publications. You are allowed to acknowledge family and friends. The length should be limited to one and a half page printed.
For an example of how to design the non-scientific parts see this document.
For an example of FGGA propositions see this document.
The Opposition Committee
The Opposition Committee consists of the Chairman (the Rector Magnificus or his/her substitute) and at least four other members. It comprises the members of the Doctorate Committee and also professors or experts holding a doctorate degree. The majority of the Committee members should be professors and in addition, the majority of the Committee members should be appointed at Leiden University. As a rule, the Committee includes at least one male and one female member (see Regulations, art. 24).
Publication
PhD candidates receive a financial compensation of € 500,- for the printing costs of the dissertation. This compensation is paid by the UBL. For further information see the University Library website.
You can publish your dissertation through any publisher. Leiden university has its own publishing service at Leiden University Press.