Public examination event
The stages of the examination process are submitting the dissertation for preliminary examination and appointment of preliminary examiners, receiving the preliminary examination statements and the decision on the permission for a public examination, decision on the public examination, publishing the dissertation, organising the public examination event and making dissertation press release, public examination event and the assessment of the doctoral dissertation.
This page includes instructions on organising the public examination event and making dissertation press release, as well as the public examination event.
Please note that you need to be registered as an attending for the semester during which you defend your doctoral thesis and the dissertation is registered in the study register.
Organising the public examination event
The procedure and formalities for the public examination of the dissertation may vary between faculties, so please also check the guidelines of your own faculty, which can be found at the bottom of this page.
The Custos appointed by the Faculty Council is the official supervisor of the public examination, with whom the details of the event are agreed. The doctoral candidate must not be in contact with the Opponent before the public examination of the dissertation. Communication with the opponent is done through the Custos.
Remember that in addition to organising the dissertation examination event, it is important to take care of the publication and distribution of your dissertation.
You can prepare for the public examination of your dissertation by thinking about what questions the Opponent might ask. Public examination is rarely an examination to the letter. The dissertations is usually no longer rejected at this stage.
Please note that the university’s facilities are public, and the university is not responsible for the safekeeping, loss, or damage of any personal belongings brought to the public examination event.
If the decision on the public examination is made on or after August 1, 2026: the doctoral candidate must prepare a summary of the changes made to the dissertation since the preliminary review (excluding technical revisions). The summary must be submitted to the faculty's doctoral studies coordinator at least 7 days before the public defense via HelpJYU service portal. Please note that the preliminary examination statements and the candidate’s summary on how the dissertation has changed since the preliminary examination will be shared with the following parties at later stages of the examination process:
- to the opponent(s) and the assessment board prior to the public examination
- to the Faculty Council when the Faculty Council makes the final decision on the approval and assessment of the doctoral dissertation. In addition, the Faculty Council is provided with any responses the doctoral candidate may have submitted to the preliminary examination statements.
The Custos is the chairman of the public examination of a dissertation and supervises the examination situation. The custos must have an employment relationship with the University of Jyväskylä. It is a task of honour and is usually given to the (main) supervisor of the thesis.
The Custos introduces the faculty instructions of the public examination to the opponent(s) and ensures that particularly international opponents become familiar with the dissertation practices of the University of Jyväskylä as well as the grading scales. The Custos will also ensure that the opponent knows the time, place, language and dress code of the dissertation. If necessary, the Custos will send the Opponent a summary of doctoral candidate's lectio preacursoria, if this is given in a language that the Opponent does not understand.
The custos will assist the opponent with travel arrangements as needed. Practical guidelines regarding the opponent’s travel arrangements can be found in the University of Jyväskylä’s travel guidelines on the website Travelling > Grant researchers, commissioned workers and University’s guests (UNO intranet). For questions regarding the opponent’s travel arrangements, the service channels are found on the website Travelling (UNO intranet).
Public examination of a dissertation is a public occasion, to which anyone interested in science is welcome to attend. You are also free to invite your relatives and friends by using separate invitations. Inviting people both to the public examination and to the post-doctoral celebration (karonkka) is convenient. Remember to clearly express whether you are inviting them personally or avec. Invitation card can be for example like the following:
"Welcome to the Public Examination of My Dissertation 18th of December 202x, at 12 o'clock at the old grand hall (S212) of the University of Jyväskylä. I also wish you welcome to join the post-doctoral celebration (karonkka) arranged in honour of my Opponent xxxxx at 19 o'clock at Lozzi restaurant."
The preferable costume for the guests at the public dissertation is an informal suit and to the post-doctoral celebration a dark suit or an academic ceremonial gown.
The introductory lecture is speech, which explains what new or interesting your thesis has to offer and how it is connected to the field of study and to the society in general. The recommended length of the lecture is no more than 20 minutes.
In your lectio praecursoria, you can answer to such questions as: What conclusions or recommendations can be made on the basis of the research? Can current societal issues be answered to on the basis of the research? How does it contribute to our worldview? Remember that lectio praecursoria might be the only part of the public examination of a dissertation that is understandable to all the participants of the occasion.
Traditionally lectio praecursoria has been a speech. Nowadays it is sometimes accompanied by a supporting slide show. Slideshow is not an essential part of the lectio praecursoria and it should be possible to follow the speech without it.
Lectio praecursoria can well be used also as the basis of your press release when it is condensed into fewer words.
The doctoral candidate discusses the language used in the public examination with the custos. The custos shall determine the language of the public examination in advance, after hearing both the doctoral candidate and the opponent(s). It is possible to use several languages in the public examination if it has been agreed upon with the custos, the doctoral candidate and the opponent.
At the public examination, the doctoral candidate, Opponent, and Custos dress appropriately for the dignity of the occasion. The choice of the dress code is made by the candidate in consultation with the Custos. The Custos will inform the Opponent of the dress code.
The traditional dress codes are:
- A tailcoat and a black waistcoat
- Dark suit
- A black, long-sleeved dress or a two-piece suit with a small neckline, but no headdress.
The doctoral candidate, Opponent, and Custos may also wear the ceremonial gown of the University. The ceremonial gowns of the University can be requested and booked from the Maintenance Managers at 029-4418069.
Foreign opponents may wear the ceremonial gown of their university.
The University does not compensate the clothing expenses of public examination, except for what is mentioned in University of Jyväskylä's guidelines for internal staff events and acknowledgements (the guidelines are on the UNO intranet and require login).
There is no specific dress code for the audience of the public examination. It is appropriate to attend the public examination in everyday clothing. However, guests invited by the doctoral candidate usually wear a dark suit or other more formal clothing.
Agree with the janitors about the media you might need in delivering your thesis, e.g. microphones, video, PC or multimedia applications. It is polite of you that everyone can hear the discussion held during the dissertation.
Make plans about the possible photographing at the public examination serving for all attending audience. You can for example arrange for a photographer to take pictures of the event on behalf of those present.
Live streaming and/or recording:
- please name the person responsible of ordering the video recording; it can be the doctoral candidate, the custos or other person.
- recordings should primarily be made in rooms/halls equipped with a lecture capturing device or fixed hybrid equipment. For a list of rooms/halls and instructions on how to capture lectures, please see the Lecture capturing instructions page.
- If the live streaming is made in rooms/halls equipped with a lecture capturing device, there is generally no cost. The service usually also includes a recording on request and some preliminary preparations. To request support for live streaming and/or recording, please use the HelpJYU form Video recording, live streaming and AV-studios. Please make the request in good time before the event!
- if the public examination event will be live streamed, please send the live stream link to your faculty's communication expert as soon as you receive it. The communications expert can include the link in the event announcement and/or the press release.
Be prepared for a reception serving coffee or sparkling wine after the public examination of the dissertation. You can reserve the coffee and refreshment service for example from Semma, and the premises from the University's Facilities service. Remember to think about, who are you going to invite to the public examination and who to the reception, and find out whether the department or Faculty will partly pay the bill (related to this, please see University of Jyväskylä's guidelines for internal staff events and acknowledgements; the guidelines are on the UNO intranet and require login). Please note that coffee service must be arranged in accordance with the social responsibility and sustainability criteria for catering practices at the University of Jyväskylä.
The Custos inquires from the Opponent whether the preparations for the post-doctoral celebration can be started. If you are arranging the post-doctoral celebration, plan the invitations, reception service and the programme, reserve the premises, and prepare to a speech of thanking the Opponent and others. Depending on the place and time, take care of the decorations, lighting, sound reproduction, orchestra etc. Usually people are invited to the public examination and to the post-doctoral celebration at the same time.
See more instructions on the post-doctoral celebration (karonkka) in section After the public examination of the dissertation.
For more information on the costs of holding a post-doctoral celebration (karonkka) on university premises, see the file on principles of cost responsibility for available teaching, meeting and sports facilities (intranet UNO, only in Finnish).
Announcing your dissertation
We publish news about dissertations in a question-and-answer format on the university website.
- The news item briefly summarises the key findings of the dissertation in plain language.
- The news item is directed to the general public, and when writing it, you should consider what aspects of the dissertation might be of interest to the general public.
- The news item should be no longer than 2,000 characters.
- Write a headline that clearly states the main result of the research in an interesting way. A good headline is important because it determines whether the reader will continue reading.
- Write a single sentence in the lead that states your name and what the research is about, with a maximum of 200 characters.
- Answer the following questions in the news item:
- What did you study?
- What were the results of your study or what is its main finding?
- How can the results be applied? What new insights did the research contribute to the topic?
- You can use AI tools to help you edit the text. Link to the University of Jyväskylä’s AI policy.
- The news item should be written in Finnish. If your doctoral dissertation is in English, please also write the item in English. If you cannot write in Finnish, you can write it in English only.
- At the end of the item, include the details of the public defence and a link if the event is accessible remotely. If the dissertation is conducted remotely, add the custos’s phone number in case the audience has any questions. This section does not count towards the amount of characters.
- Include a link to the dissertation if it has been published online.
- Include your contact information.
- Send the news item to viestinta@jyu.fi at least three weeks before the public defence. We will publish it on our website about a week before the event.
- Example of a news item: | University of Jyväskylä
Photo
- The news item should also include a photo. A photo taken with a phone is acceptable, as long as it is of a sufficient size (resolution 300 dpi). A landscape photo works best on websites. Remember to include the name of the photographer.
- You can also have your photo taken at a Star Image studio in Jyväskylä or at one of their other locations in Helsinki, Tampere or Turku. No appointment is necessary. Ask for a so-called “yearbook photo” (matrikkelikuva in Finnish). Please mention that the photo and invoice are to be sent to the University of Jyväskylä Communications: viestinta@jyu.fi.
- Please note that by using the Star Image service, you also accept that your photo can be used on the university’s social media channels and website. Your photo will be stored in the university’s image bank for four years. The photo will be archived to accompany your dissertation announcement and for possible future media distributions and inquiries. The studio will send the photo directly to University Communications.
Media communication
- For some dissertations, we will also send a press release to the media. The criteria for this include societal relevance and impact as well as general interest. Your faculty’s communications specialist will contact you and help you edit and distribute the press release based on the news item you prepared.
Presenting the thesis to the Rector
The doctoral student may, if they wish, present their dissertation to the Rector. Appointment times can be inquired from the Rector's Assistant, Anna Rantanen. Depending on the schedule, the presentation can be done before or after the public examination.
The examination event is an open public event, where the dissertation is examined. The following is the general structure and phrases of the examination, which should also be followed when using a remote connection. If there are several opponents, they will agree amongst themselves on how to take turns speaking.
1. The doctoral candidate, the custos and the opponent(s), in this order, enter the examination room fifteen minutes after the announced start time of the event. The audience stands. When entering and exiting the room, the custos and the opponent(s) hold their doctoral hat, if they have one as an emblem of their doctoral degree, in their left hand. During the examination, the hats are kept on the table so that the lyre is facing the audience.
2. When all participants have taken their seats, the custos introduces the doctoral candidate, the title of the dissertation, and the opponent. Then the custos declares the public examination opened by saying “As the Custos appointed by the faculty I declare this public examination opened.”
3. The doctoral candidate delivers the lectio praecursoria standing, first addressing the custos, then the opponent, and then the audience. The speech starts with the words: “Distinguished Custos, honoured Opponent, ladies and gentlemen.” The doctoral candidate’s lectio praecursoria may last no longer than 20 minutes.
4. After the lectio praecursoria, the doctoral candidate, still standing, asks the opponent to present their critical comments on the dissertation. The wording of the request is: “Honoured professor (doctor, etc.), as the opponent appointed by the faculty, please present the comments that you see my dissertation has given grounds for.” The doctoral candidate remains standing.
5. The opponent stands and gives a short opening statement, after which both the doctoral candidate and the opponent sit down.
6. At the beginning of the actual public examination, the opponent focuses first on the general strengths and challenges of the dissertation, which is followed by a detailed examination. The aim is to generate a high-level discussion between two experts in their respective fields on topics arising from the dissertation. An informed layperson should be able to follow the discussion, and it should give them food for thought as well. The public examination of the dissertation may last no longer than four hours. If necessary, the custos may order a short break in the examination event, the duration and end time of which they must announce to those present in the hall. The custos may also order a break at the suggestion of the doctoral candidate.
7. The opponent presents a concluding statement while standing, and the doctoral candidate listens to the statement standing up. At the end of their concluding statement, the opponent will state whether they recommend that the dissertation be approved by the faculty.
8. While still standing, the doctoral candidate thanks the opponent, who may then sit down.
9. The doctoral candidate turns to face the audience and solicits those who might have critical comments to request a turn to speak from the custos. This is done by saying: ”If anyone here has any critical comments to make on my dissertation, please ask the Custos for the floor.” After this the doctoral candidate sits down.
10. The custos leads the discussion by giving turns to speak and making sure that the doctoral candidate receives the opportunity to immediately respond to each comment. The custos also ensures that the comments do not digress from the subject. If any member of the audience who has requested a turn to speak makes a comment on unethical conduct, the custos writes the comment down, or, if the comment is long and detailed, requests the comment in writing in the same form and extent as it was presented at the public examination within five days from the examination. The written comment is submitted to the faculty council for information in connection with the evaluation of the dissertation.
11. The custos closes the public examination, standing up, by saying: “The public examination is now concluded.”
12. The doctoral candidate, the custos and the opponent leave the room in the same order they arrived. The audience stands up.
This section lists things that happen after the dissertation examination. Please note, however, that the list contains things that must be planned before the public examination event.
The reception with coffee or sparkling wine service is an unofficial and private occasion.
The doctoral candidate presents an invitation before leaving the hall. The department/faculty may partly pay the bill.
Sparking wine is served either at the hall or at the walkway near the hall. Coffee can be served for example at a nearby cafeteria. The doctoral candidate is complimented and presented with bouquets before the refreshments are served. The doctoral candidate is no longer expected to perform, but they should be prepared to accept congratulations. Reserving a separate table for the most honoured guests, such as the Custos and the Opponent etc., is a good idea.
It is usual that after the public examination the doctoral candidate arranges a post-doctoral party in honour of the opponent. If there has been an extra opponent at the public examination, they should also be invited to the post-doctoral party. However, it is the custom that the extra opponent politely turns down the invitation.
Today post-doctoral parties do not have as strict academic procedures as they used to have. The doctoral candidate can decide the type and size of the post-doctoral party. At for the very least, the post-doctoral party should be a dinner for the doctoral candidate, the Opponent and the Custos.
The usual dress code for the post-doctoral party is a tailcoat with a white waistcoat, a dark suit, or a long evening dress. The doctoral candidate wears black or other discreet colours. The doctoral candidate chooses the dress code and indicates it in the invitation.
At the post-doctoral party the Opponent sits on the right of the doctoral candidate and the Custos sits to the left. The professors sit in order according to the length of their service and their position.
The post-doctoral party can proceed for example in the following way:
- People gather for a welcoming toast. Wish the guests welcome and express your joy about your accomplishments!
- Sit down to the table. Name cards will help people find their own seats.
- Dinner.
- Speeches. The doctoral candidate gives the first speech. The doctoral candidate thanks first the Opponent, second the Custos, and then the Supervisors and other supporters of their work. Candidate may also thank the Rector, Dean or Head of department. After this the candidate possibly thanks other people. People replying speak in the order in which the doctoral candidate mentioned them in their speech. Only those who have been mentioned can speak.
- Coffee.
- Other programme.
See the instructions on applying the degree.
Thank your relatives, friends etc. for possible gifts and congratulations.
Some of the Faculties organize a diploma conferment ceremony or a graduation ceremony (publiikki) once or twice a year.
Conferment of Degrees Ceremony (promootio) is the biggest academic festivity, during which Masters’, Doctors’ and Honorary Doctors’ degrees are conferred. In the ceremony, the new Masters and Doctors will be given their degree in the ceremonial act of conferment, and will receive a Master’s laurel and ring or a Doctor’s hat and sword as the sign of it.
The Custos and the department, together with the candidate, are responsible for the practical matters related to the public examination event. Familiarize yourself well in advance with the above instructions regarding the public examination event and karonkka.
- Duties of the custos can be found inthe Instructions for the custos (in Intranet UNO)
- Duties of the doctoral candidate include at least the following:
- writing the press release
- be prepared for possible publication ceremonies of your specialisation (such as the “naulajaiset” [nailing ceremony] of the History subjects).
- ask your supervisor-in-charge and/or custos about the practicalities regarding the meeting before the public examination.
- be prepared for the coffee service. Contact the assistant of your department and ask them to organise the service and to book a suitable space for the event (for example, one of Semma's cafeterias).
- prepare the lectio praecursoria (introductory lecture)
- if the candidate wants to organise a post-doctoral party (karonkka) in honour of the opponent, they should prepare the invitations, organise the refreshments and programme, reserve a space for the party, and compose a speech to thank the opponent and all the other people they would like to acknowledge. Alternatively, the candidate may host a dinner in honour of the opponent.
When planning the public examination of your doctoral dissertation, pay attention to the following instructions regarding the expenses. Note that the list is not exhaustive, since there may be other expenses associated with the public examination event (e.g., dress, karonkka).
- Proofreading of the dissertation and abstracts: there is a separate process description concerning the proofreading of theses and abstracts (in Intranet UNO).
- Publication of the dissertation: see the instructions concerning publishing the dissertation
- Dinner of the evening before the public examination of the doctoral dissertation (participants: doctoral candidate, opponent, supervisor and custos): the department pays the costs of the dinner, provided that payment has been approved in advance by the head of the department.
- Coffee service after the public examination of the dissertation: the department pays for the dissertation coffee. The order for coffee serving should always be made together with the assistant of the department.
- Expenses of the karonkka event: the candidate is responsible for covering the costs of the party or the dinner. If the party takes place at the University, the department will cover the rent of the room until midnight.
Familiarize yourself well in advance with the above instructions regarding the public examination event and karonkka.
Organizing the public examination (defense)
- Date and place of the defence: See Decision on the public examination
- Faculty assistants take care of organizing the after-defence coffee service. The Faculty pays the costs of the coffee service.
- The Faculty will pay for the streaming of the defence, so that the event can also be followed online.
Post-doctoral party (karonkka in Finnish)
- It is usual that after the public examination the doctoral candidate arranges a post-doctoral party in honor of the opponent.
- Today post-doctoral parties do not have as strict academic procedures as they used to have. The doctoral candidate can decide the type and size of the post-doctoral party. The Faculty will pay the rent for the premises, if the party is organized at the university (until midnight, e.g. Lyhty or Lea Pulkkisen sali). Please make a reservation for the premises via HelpJYU.
Duties of the custos
- If any member of the audience makes a comment on unethical conduct (see general instructions), the custos will deliver the written comment to the Faculty.
- The custos is responsible for sending the final version of the dissertation to the opponent. The coordinator of doctoral studies delivers the published dissertation for the opponent after receiving it from the publishing unit of the university (link to online version). This is often very close to the examination day (min. 5 days prior), therefore custos sends the dissertation to the opponent as soon as it is ready for publication. Often the manuscript is already provided in attachment of the preliminary request. The final version can be sent to the opponent electronically at the same time when the candidate sends it for printing (no changes will be made after that).
For more information on the representative of the research area (if decision on the public examination is made by July 31, 2026) and the assessment board (if decision on the public examination is made after August 1, 2026) can be found here.
Please familiarise yourself carefully with the general instructions of the university given above. Additional instructions for the arrangements of the public examination at JSBE in intranet Uno:
Instructions for the arrangements of the public examination of a dissertation at the JSBE (in Finnish)
Instructions related to the public examination in general
- The Custos and the department, together with the doctoral candidate, are responsible for the practical matters related to the public examination event. You can ask the faculty’s coordinator responsible for doctoral study affairs for further information.
Duties of the custos
- A specific task of the custos is to introduce the opponent to the practicalities of the public examination, especially if he or she has no previous experience of public examinations at Finnish universities.
- Custos assists opponent with travel arrangements. If needed, travel secretary of the department assists custos.
Duties of the doctoral candidate
- send the final version of your dissertation to the faculty’s coordinator of doctoral study affairs as soon as you get it. The doctoral candidate takes care of ordering the books and delivering them. The coordinator sends only the electronic version to the evaluation committee.
- you may write a press release. If you plan to do so, write it at least three weeks before the public defense. The contact person is the faculty’s communication officer (Kirke Hassinen).
- order coffee and cake from Semma. First makes sure that there is a a suitable space for the event.
- prepare the lectio praecursoria (introductory lecture). It is important to take the general audience in to account by making sure that the main points of the thesis are also comprehensible to non-specialists.
- if the candidate wants to organize a post-doctoral party (karonkka) in honour of the opponent, they should prepare the invitations, organize the refreshments and programme, reserve a space for the party, and compose a speech to thank the opponent and all the other people they would like to acknowledge. Alternatively, the candidate may host a dinner in honour of the opponent.
Expenses related to the public examination of the doctoral dissertation
- Language checking of the dissertation and abstracts: if the doctoral candidate doesn’t have any research project the department reimburses moderate language checking costs. Contact the head of the department before sending the work to language checking.
- You can order ten real books from the university printing house and give your department as the payer. In addition to those, you get three A4-sized books. If you want more books you need to pay for them yourself.
- Possible dinner of the evening before the public examination of the doctoral dissertation (participants: opponent and custos): the custos is responsible for the dinner. The custos asks the department about the potential reimbursement before the dinner.
- If the doctoral candidate wants a broadcasting/video recording, you must order and pay for it yourself
- Coffee service after the public examination of the dissertation: the department pays for the dissertation coffee and cake up to 500 €.
- Expenses of the karonkka event: the candidate is responsible for covering the costs of the party or the dinner. If the party takes place at the university premises, the department pays for the rent of the room until midnight.
Please familiarise yourself carefully with the general instructions of the university given above. Additional instructions for the arrangements of the public examination at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences in intranet Uno:
Organizing the public examination (defense)
- Date and place of the defence: see Decision on the public examination
- For procedure of the public examination and the postdoctoral party (karonkka), language and the dress code: see the university's general guidelines at this web page. Discuss your own department's policies e.g. with your supervisor and other doctoral researchers at the department. Usually, the department's assistant will help you in organizíng the after-defence coffee or sparkling wine service.
Duties of the custos
- The custos is the chairman of the defence and supervises the public examination situation. The role of the custos usually belongs to the main supervisor of the thesis, and is regarded as an honored position. The custos must have an employment relationship with the University of Jyväskylä.
- The custos introduces the faculty instructions of the public examination to the opponent(s) and ensures that particularly international opponents become familiar with the dissertation practices of the University of Jyväskylä as well as the grading scales.
- The custos can, before the public examination, inquire from the opponent whether the preparations for the post-doctoral celebration (karonkka) can be started.
- Accusations of unethical practice made by member(s) of the audience during the public examination should be recorded by the custos. The custos should ask that long and complex comments are made in writing. The comment has to be written down in the same extent and form as it was made during the public examination. The custos will also set a deadline for the comment, and will deliver the comment to the doctoral education coordinator of the faculty.
- The custos will assist the opponent with travel arrangements as needed. Practical guidelines regarding the opponent’s travel arrangements can be found in the University of Jyväskylä’s travel guidelines on the website Travelling > Grant researchers, commissioned workers and University’s guests (UNO intranet). For questions regarding the opponent’s travel arrangements, the service channels are found on the website Travelling (UNO intranet).
- The Department of Biological and Environmental Science has further instructions for custos that can be found in intranet UNO (login required).