Article 1

General Principles

Doctoral studies in the Faculty of History and Archaeology of the National and kapodistrian University of Athens are organized and operate in accordance with the provisions of the 4485/2017 Law and in accordance with the general institutional context which is in effect each time. Doctoral studies aim at the advancement of original academic research and they lead on to the acquisition of a Doctoral Degree which certifies the conducting of original academic research and the substantial contribution to the development of knowledge in the relevant Discipline.

Article 2

Entitlement to apply for Doctoral Studies

Entitled to apply for undertaking a doctoral thesis is the holder of a Master’s degree from a national university or from a recognized as equitable foreign university or of an integrated Master’s in accordance with the 46^th article of the 4485/17 Law. In special cases, such as authorship of significant scientific work, published in authoritative peer reviewed scientific journals or published by national or foreign publications, an applicant can be justifiably accepted as a PhD candidate even if he/she does not hold a Master’s degree ( 38^th article of the 4485/17 Law).

In this case the PhD candidate is obliged to attend classes/seminars having to do with the subject relating to his research proposal. These classes/seminars are defined by the three- member examination board and are approved by the Faculty Assembly.

Article 3

Procedure for applying for a Doctoral Degree

Applicants can apply after the publisising of a relevant call for expression of interest for a doctoral degree in accordance with the 42th article, Law 4485/17.

The call for expression of interest is made public on the daily newspapers and is posted on the relevant websites of the Institution.

Conditions, terms, closing dates and the procedures for application of candidatures and for the selection of PhD candidates as well as their further obligations, clauses, deliverables and the time limits for completing the doctoral theses are clearly mentioned in the relevant call for expression of interest in accordance with the present regulation.

Article 4

Supporting Documents Required

1.Application for undertaking a doctoral thesis which includes the following:
- proposed title of the doctoral thesis
- proposed language of the doctoral thesis
- proposed supervisor of the doctoral thesis
2.Substantiated scientific proposal of the doctoral thesis
3.Analytical curriculum vitae.
4.ID photocopy
5.Recognition of equivalence of the Masters’s Degree by D.O.A.T.A.P. ( for foreign universities graduates).
6.A copy of Bachelor’s Degree
7.A copy of Master’s Degree
8.Analytical list of marks of postgraduate studies
9.A digital copy of the postgraduate dissertation
10.Publications in a digital form

Article 5

Procedure for selecting PhD candidates

Having taken into account the submitted applications, the Faculty Assembly classifies them in accordance with the relevance of the research subject and appoints a three-member board for each category of applications.

Each three-member board, consisted by academic staff of the Faculty, examines the corresponding applications together with the submitted documents and calls the applicants for an interview. Consequently, each board submits to the Faculty Assembly a statement for each one of the candidates in which the reasons for which each one of them is accepted or rejected are written as well as the proposed supervisor in case the candidate does not propose one. The Faculty Assembly having taken into account the statement of the board as well as the opinion of the proposed supervisor approves or rejects the candidate’s application with a corresponding justification.

The approval decision defines also the language of the doctoral thesis. This can be the Greek language or in special cases the English language (par. 3, article 38 and the 2^nd par. of the 39^th article of the 4485/17 Law).

The candidates who are admitted apply to the Secretariat of the Faculty for registration and for having issued passwords to the electronic services of the Institution.

After the registration of the PhD candidates and the appointment of the three- member advisory committees, the names of the PhD candidates, of the supervising members from the academic staff or from the researchers, the titles of the undertaken doctoral theses, together with a short summary (400 words) as well as the members of the doctoral theses’ advisory committees are posted by the Secretariat of the Faculty on the website of the Faculty both in Greek and in English (par. 4, article 39, 4485/17 Law).

Article 6

Supervising a Doctoral Thesis

1.Supervisor of a doctoral thesis

Entitled to supervise doctoral theses are members from the academic staff of grade A´ Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors of the relevant or other university or researchers of grade A´, B´ or C´ from research centres in accordance with the article 13Aof the 4310/2014, the research centres of the Academy of Athens as well as the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens included, unless it is differently defined by the existing each time legislative framework (par. 1, article 39 of the 4485/17 Law).

Each supervisor can supervise 8 (eight) PhD candidates at the most. Those PhD candidates who are in suspension of their studies and those who have completed three calendar years from their admission day are not added to this maximum number.

2.Three-member Advisory Committee

The Faculty Assembly assigns to the proposed supervisor, in accordance with the 3^rd paragraph of 38^th article of the 4485/17 Law, the supervision of the doctoral thesis and appoints a three-member Advisory Committee with the responsibility to supervise and support its research process and its writing. The Three-member Advisory Committee consists of the supervisor and two other academic staff members of grade A´ Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor from the relevant or other university or professors of recognized as equivalent foreign institutions who are doctorate holders or researchers of grade A´, B´ and C´, from research centres in accordance with the article 13Aof the 4310/2014, the research centres of the Academy of Athens as well as the Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens included or from recognised foreign research centres or foundations of the same or related discilpine with the doctoral thesis under examination.

At least one member of the three first grades from the academic staff of the Faculty of History and Archaeology has to participate in the Three-member Advisory Committee (par. 2, article 39 of the 4485/17 Law).

2^α Replacement of members of the three-member Advisory Committee

If for any reason the supervisor is absent or it has been proved that he/she is not able to supervise for at least six (6) months, the Faculty Assembly, considering the circumstances, assigns the supervision to another person, in accordance with what is defined in the previous paragraphs, either on its own initiative or after the PhD candidate’s application and with the opinion of the proposed supervisor. Otherwise, the Assembly assigns the supervision to one of the other two members of the Three-member Advisory Committee, even if this exceeds the maximum number of PhD candidates that can be supervised per professor, in accordance with those defined in the present Regulation (article 39^th of the 4485/17 Law) as long as this member belongs to the Faculty where the doctoral thesis is being undertaken.

2^b. A supervisor’s transfer/retirement

If the initial supervisor transfers to another university or to another faculty of the university or retires, he/she continues to act as supervisor of the doctoral theses that has undertaken and the title is awarded by the Faculty of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (par.3, 39^th article of the 4485/17 Law). In any case, the retired members of the Three-member Advisory Committee, by decision of the Faculty Assembly, are replaced by members of equal number in order for the seven-member board of examiners to be appointed for the examination of the doctoral thesis.

3.Seven-member Board of Examiners

The assembly of the Faculty of History and Archaeology appoints a seven-member Board of Examiners for the assessment of the doctoral thesis (par. 1, 41^st article of the 4485/17 Law).

In the seven-member board of examiners the members of the advisory committee participate except for those who have retired; the latter by decision of the Faculty Assembly are replaced with members of equal number who meet the criteria of the second and third subparagraphs of the 2^nd paragraph of the 39^th article of the 4485/17 Law.

The retired members of the Three-member Advisory Committee who were replaced can be present during the meeting of the seven-member board of examiners without being entitled to vote (articles 39 and 41of the 4485/17 Law).

Article 7

Duration, Rights and Obligations of PhD Candidates

1. Duration

The minimum duration for the acquisition of a Doctoral Degree is three (3) full calendar years from the date of appointment of the Three-member Advisory Committee (article 40, paragraph 1 of Law 4485/17).

A two-year extension is possible until the thesis is completed. The extension is approved by the Faculty Assembly at the request of the candidate and a substantiated report by the supervisor of the doctoral thesis.

The maximum duration of the PhD study program is five (5) years.

Doctoral candidates are entitled to suspend their studies in exceptional cases (eg military service, serious illness, serious family and serious professional reasons). The period of suspension may not exceed two years and the application must be accompanied by the written consent of the supervisor. The period of suspension is not included in the completion time of studies. For the specific period of suspension, the doctoral candidate is inactive and does not benefit from the entitlements and benefits provided for the doctoral candidates.

2. Rights and Obligations

Doctoral candidates are required to renew registration per academic year (Article 45, paragraph 2 of Law 4485/17).

Doctoral PhD candidates, before the end of every spring semester, present the results of their thesis orally and submit a written statement to the Three-member Advisory Committee on the progress of their doctoral thesis. A copy of the statement, as well as comments on it from the supervisor or the Three-member Advisory Committee, and progress reports are recorded in the candidate's personal file (par. 2, article 40 of Law 4485/17). Doctoral studies are offered free of charge.

Doctoral candidates enjoy all the entitlements and benefits provided for the students of the second circle of post graduate students, up to five (5) full academic years from their subscription to the PhD program. Up to five (5) years after the completion of their PhD thesis, they retain rights of access, borrowing and use of the electronic services of university libraries (Article 40, paragraph 3 of Law 4485/17).

PhD candidates are required to participate in graduate and postgraduate conferences, seminars, in special lectures or postgraduate seminars of their discipline.

Following the proposal of the Faculty Assembly and a joint decision of the Ministers of Education and Finances, PhD candidates may be assisting teaching members of the faculty at undergraduate and postgraduate level, with hourly compensation charged to the Foundation's budget (Article 9, paragraph 3, subparagraph ε, of 3685/2008 Law).

Candidates that fall under Article 19 (4) of Law 4452/17 may be employed as academic fellows by an Act of the relevant Faculty with a fixed-term private employment relationship for teaching, research, scientific, organizational, laboratory or clinical duties, specified in related contract. The announcement of the cognitive subject is made following a proposal of the Department Assembly and approval by the Faculty Assembly. The duration of the contract is fixed up to one academic year, depending on the needs of the Department.

Employment may be renewed or extended, however the total employment time may not exceed three (3) academic years. The employment of the PhD candidates may be full time or part time and the compensation will be covered by scholarships and resources, which will be provided by the Faculty, without increasing the state’s subsidy to the local university, and in accordance with the provisions in force.

Article 8

Undertaking a Doctoral Thesis

1. Definition / change of title of a doctoral thesis.

The finalization or modification of the temporary title of the doctoral thesis, as well as the language of its writing and its support, are defined after request of the thesis’ supervisor at the Secretariat of the Department at least three months before the end of the thesis’ term and are validated by the Faculty Assembly.

2. Writing instructions for a Doctoral Thesis

The extent of the PhD thesis is between 100,000 and 150,000 words, not including bibliography, tables, drawings and illustrations. In particular, the text should be written in font size 12 and line spacing 1.5, and notes in size 10 and single spacing. The cover sheet should also follow the model set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

3. Language of a doctoral thesis

The PhD thesis is written in a language decided by the Faculty Assembly, which takes into account the language proposed by the doctoral candidate in his/her application (article 38 par. 2 & 3 of Law 4485/17).

Article 9

Procedure of Examination of a Doctoral thesis

After completing the PhD thesis, the candidate submits to the Secretariat of the Faculty a request for public defense and evaluation, which is examined by the Three-member Advisory Committee. If the Three-member Advisory Committee accepts the candidate's request, it prepares an analytical report and submits it to the Department Assembly, requesting the appointment of a Seven-member Board of Examiners (article 41, par. 1 of Law 4485/17).

The candidate is required:

1. to deliver a copy in printed or electronic form to each member of the Seven-member Board of Examiners with a comprehensive summary (5 pages) in Greek, if the thesis is written in English and

2. to sign a statement that the thesis is not a product of plagiarism. The process of public defense starts with the physical presence of at least four (4) members of the Seven-member Board of Examiners, while the other members can participate by videoconference (par. 3, no. 41, Ν.4485 / 17).

The oral examination of the doctoral candidate is announced with public announcements and invitations to the teaching staff, students and members of the scientific community.

The PhD candidate delivers a 20-minute long presentation of his/her thesis to the Seven-member Board of Examiners and then answers questions from the members of the Seven- member Board of Examiners.

Subsequently, the Seven-member Board of Examiners meets without the presence of third parties, assesses the work in terms of quality, completeness, original thought and contribution to the Discipline, and approves by a majority of at least five (5) members Article 41 (3) of Law 4485/17), assesses the PhD thesis with grades of Good, Very Good or Outstanding, and draws up an Assessment Record, which is submitted to the Secretariat of the Faculty.

If the Assessment Record is signed by four members of the Seven-member Board of Examiners, and a fifth member has signed the Explanatory Report, the title is deemed to have been validly granted (Law 41186/2013, article 39, par. 18).

If the Seven-member Board of Examiners proposes partial corrections and changes, the candidate must, prior to his / her inauguration as a doctorate, make the corrections and - in order to take his/her graduation oath - to submit a copy of the corrected thesis to the supervisor who will verify that the candidate has taken into account the suggestions. The supervisor's verification is then submitted to the Secretariat of the Faculty so that the date of gratuation oath of the candidate is set.

The final text of the thesis mentions the composition of the Seven-member Board of Examiners.

Article 10

Inauguration - Graduation Oath

Prior to the inauguration, the PhD candidate is required to submit to the Faculty Secretariat the title and summaries of his/her doctoral thesis in Greek and English (800 words each) in order for these to be posted on the Department's website, as well as a copy of his doctoral thesis to the Library of the Department.

In addition, the PhD candidate is required to submit a copy of his doctoral thesis defining the access conditions according to the decision of the Senate of the Institution (no. dec. 1718001307 /15/9/17 amend. 25/7/2017) to the Institution’s digital repository ("Pergamos") and a copy of the thesis to the National Documentation Center.

The process is concluded with the gratuation oath and the official inauguration of the candidate as a Doctor of Philosophy before the Faculty Assembly and the receipt of the PhD title.

Article 11

Copyright Issues

The copyright of the PhD thesis belongs to the PhD candidate, according to Law 2121/93, as amended and in force.

Article 12

Removal of doctoral candidates

The Assembly of the Department of History and Archeology may decide to remove doctoral candidates if:

• the latter do not renew their annual subscription,
• they do not submit annual detailed statements on the progress of their thesis,
• they exceed the maximum duration of a doctoral thesis, as defined in this Regulation,
• they have violated the applicable provisions regarding disciplinary offenses by the disciplinary bodies and committees.
• at the request of the doctoral candidates.

Article 13

Doctoral Thesis with co-Supervision

The Department of History and Archeology of the University of Athens may cooperate with national and foreign research centres and institutes for the undertaking of a doctoral thesis, subject to the conditions provided for in Article 43 (3) of Law 4485/2017.

Decision of the Minister of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, published in the Government Gazette, defines any relevant issue concerning the undretaking of doctoral theses with recognized institutions or research centres and institutes abroad (par. 3, article 43, law 4448 / 17).

Article 14

Transitional provisions

The provisions of Law 4485/17 are also applicable to the PhD candidates who have been admitted to the program before the law’s entry into force, provided that, upon its entry into force, the Seven- member Board of Examiners (of Article 41 of the Law, article 85, par. 5 of Law 4485/17) has not been designated.

Νew Regulation for Doctoral Studies

Αpplication Form for the preparation of a Doctoral Dissertation

PhD Thesis Cover Template