Dissertation Defense
On this webpage, you will find all information regarding the administrative procedures for the dissertation defense: the list of required documents and the submission process, information on printing the dissertation, templates for requests and documents, etc.
Thesis submission process
The dissertation is presented at the Unit meeting. Upon receipt of a positive review, the unit's decision and the dissertation manuscript are forwarded to the Chair of the Doctoral Committee.
The Chair of the doctoral committee convenes a meeting to appoint reviewers no later than within two weeks (excluding the months of July and August). The reviewers' written evaluations are submitted no later than within one month.
Upon receipt of the reviews, a meeting of the doctoral committee is convened to approve the date and venue of the dissertation defense and to appoint a five-member defense board.
Administrative procedure for dissertation defense (for those admitted after 2017 and for external defense)
1. List of documents to be submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (1.5–1 month before the defense)
1.5–1 month prior to the dissertation defense, doctoral candidates must submit the following printed documents to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (Universiteto St. 3, Room 109):
- Request for permission to defend a doctoral dissertation.
- Copy of the Master's degree or equivalent higher education diploma.
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- Transcript(s) of examination results (to PhD students from other higher education institutions).
- Protocols of the dissertation review by the unit and the doctoral committee.
- Reviewers' reports.
- Consent of the researchers to serve as members of the defense panel.
- Lists of research papers of the members of the Defence Panel*.
- List of scientific articles published by the dissertant on the subject of the dissertation and copies of the articles (1 copy each).
- List of scientific / academic events at which the findings of the dissertation have been presented.
*Lists of research papers of the members of the Defence Panel:
– Sample list of publications for researchers in the field of Humanities;
– Sample list of publiactions for researchers in the field of Social sciences;
– Sample list of publications for researchers in the fields of Natural sciences, Medicine and health sciences, Technological sciences.
2. Preparing the dissertation for publication (1.5–1 month before the defense)
Before sending the dissertation for printing, you must submit it in Microsoft Word (DOCX)* format to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt).
Only after receiving confirmation from the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department that the dissertation meets all formal requirements** can it be sent to Vilnius University Press.
*If the dissertation is prepared using LaTeX, you may submit it for review in PDF format.
**The dissertation must meet the following formal criteria: VU dissertation layout template.
ATTENTION: If the dissertation includes scientific publications that have not been published in open-access journals, permission must be obtained from the publisher before the dissertation is printed (see: the sample request to the publisher).
3. Printing the dissertation (1.5–1 month before the defense)
Once you have received confirmation that the dissertation has been properly prepared:
- Send a request for the printing of the dissertation and the summary* to the email addresses vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt.
- Send the dissertation for printing to Vilnius University Press (email: info@leidykla.vu.lt and diana.leleikiene@leidykla.vu.lt).
*The request must be signed by the doctoral student and the head of the unit.
4. After the dissertation has been printed (1.5–1 month before the defense)
After the dissertation has been printed:
- Send the dissertation (printed by the VU Press) in PDF format to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt).
- When sending the dissertation, also include the dissertation abstract* in both Lithuanian and English.
- Deliver two printed copies of the dissertation to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (Universiteto St. 3, Room 109).
*The abstract is a brief presentation (up to 1,500 characters) of the dissertation. Both the Lithuanian and English versions should be submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department in a single Microsoft Word (DOCX) document, indicating the dissertation title in both Lithuanian and English. These abstracts are required for publicity purposes and for uploading the dissertation to eLABa.
5. Withdrawal of the defense dossier (5 days before the defense)
Approximately five days before the dissertation defense, the doctoral student (or a person authorized by the Department) must come to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Office (Universiteto St. 3, Room 109) to collect the prepared defense dossier. This dossier must be handed over to the chairperson of the defense board.
6. After the defense (within 2 weeks)
After the dissertation defense:
- Return the defense dossier—along with the audio recording of the defense meeting*, signed documents, and the diploma—to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department.
- Submit one dissertation copy to the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, Rare Books and Manuscripts Reading Room (Gediminas Ave. 51, 5th floor, Room 533).
- Upload the dissertation to the Lithuanian Academic Electronic Library (eLABa).
- Once the aforementioned steps are completed, the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department will inform you when you can come to collect the diploma.
*We recommend checking in advance whether you need to provide the storage medium yourself. This medium will be archived and will not be returned.
Administrative procedure for dissertation defense (for those admitted before 2017)
Doctoral students admitted before 2017 defend their dissertations in accordance with the Regulations of Doctoral Studies at Vilnius University, approved by Resolution No. SK-2010-10-78 of the Vilnius University Senate Commission on June 3, 2010.
1. List of documents to be submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (1.5–1 month before the defense)
1.5–1 month prior to the dissertation defense, doctoral candidates must submit the following printed documents to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (Universiteto St. 3, Room 109):
- Request for permission to defend a doctoral dissertation.
- Copy of the Master's degree or equivalent higher education diploma.
- Curriculum vitae (CV).
- Transcript(s) of examination results (to PhD students from other higher education institutions).
- Protocols of the dissertation review by the unit and the doctoral committee.
- Reviewers' reports.
- Consent of the researchers to serve as members of the defense panel.
- Lists of research papers of the members of the Defense Panel*.
- List of scientific articles published by the dissertant on the subject of the dissertation and copies of the articles (1 copy each).
- List of scientific / academic events at which the findings of the dissertation have been presented.
*Lists of research papers of the members of the Defense Panel:
– Sample list of publications for researchers in the field of Humanities;
– Sample list of publications for researchers in the field of Social sciences;
– Sample list of publications for researchers in the fields of Natural sciences, Medicine and health sciences, Technological sciences.
2. Preparing the dissertation for publication (1.5–1 month before the defense)
Before sending the dissertation for printing, you must submit it in Microsoft Word (DOCX)* format to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt).
Only after receiving confirmation from the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department that the dissertation meets all formal requirements** can it be sent to Vilnius University Press.
*If the dissertation is prepared using LaTeX, you may submit it for review in PDF format.
**The dissertation must meet the following formal criteria: VU dissertation layout template.
ATTENTION: If the dissertation includes scientific publications that have not been published in open-access journals, permission must be obtained from the publisher before the dissertation is printed (see: the sample request to the publisher).
3. Printing the dissertation (1.5–1 month before the defense)
Once you have received confirmation that the dissertation has been properly prepared:
- Send a request for the printing of the dissertation and the summary* to the email addresses vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt.
- Send the dissertation for printing to Vilnius University Press (email: info@leidykla.vu.lt and diana.leleikiene@leidykla.vu.lt).
*The request must be signed by the doctoral student and the head of the unit.
4. After the dissertation has been printed (1.5–1 month before the defense)
After the dissertation has been printed:
- Send the dissertation (printed by the VU Press) in PDF format to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt).
- When sending the dissertation, also include the dissertation abstract* in both Lithuanian and English.
- Deliver two printed copies of the dissertation to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (Universiteto St. 3, Room 109).
*The abstract is a brief presentation (up to 1,500 characters) of the dissertation. Both the Lithuanian and English versions should be submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department in a single Microsoft Word (DOCX) document, indicating the dissertation title in both Lithuanian and English. These abstracts are required for publicity purposes and for uploading the dissertation to eLABa.
5. Withdrawal of the defense dossier (5 days before the defense)
Approximately five days before the dissertation defense, the doctoral student (or a person authorized by the Department) must come to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Office (Universiteto St. 3, Room 109) to collect the prepared defense dossier. This dossier must be handed over to the chairperson of the defense board.
6. After the defense (within 2 weeks)
After the dissertation defense:
- Return the defense dossier—along with the audio recording of the defense meeting*, signed documents, and the diploma—to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department.
- Submit one dissertation copy to the Martynas Mažvydas National Library of Lithuania, Rare Books and Manuscripts Reading Room (Gediminas Ave. 51, 5th floor, Room 533).
- Upload the dissertation to the Lithuanian Academic Electronic Library (eLABa).
- Once the aforementioned steps are completed, the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department will inform you when you can come to collect the diploma.
*We recommend checking in advance whether you need to provide the storage medium yourself. This medium will be archived and will not be returned.
External defense
An individual wishing to defend a dissertation externally must submit the documents listed below to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt). The request will be registered, and the submitted documents will be forwarded to the Doctoral Committee of the relevant field of study.
- Request to accept the dissertation for external defense (in PDF and DOCX formats).
- Dissertation manuscript or published monograph (in PDF format).
- List of published scientific articles on the topic of the dissertation, and copies of the articles (in PDF format).
- List of scientific events where the dissertation research results were presented (in PDF format).
- A copy of the Master’s or an equivalent higher education diploma (in PDF format).
- Curriculum vitae (in PDF format).
- Record of passed doctoral exams (in PDF format).
Requests and documents templates
Examples of requests and documents submitted to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Department
- Request for permission to defend a doctoral dissertation
- Consent of the researchers to serve as members of the defense panel
- Lists of research papers of the members of the Defense Panel: 1) The Humanities (LT / EN); 2) Social Sciences (LT / EN); 3) Natural, Medicine and Health, and Technological Sciences (LT / EN).
- Request for the printing of the dissertation and the summary
Examples of requests to Vilnius University Press
- Sample letter to a publisher (required only if the dissertation includes scientific publications that have not been published in open-access journals)
NB: the request for the printing of the dissertation is sent to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Department (email: vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt).
Dissertation layout
Official VU dissertation template:
Please pay attention to the fonts, font sizes, use of capital letters, etc. The publisher will not accept dissertations that do not conform to the layout specifications.
- At the doctoral candidate's request, a 5–8 sentence description of the dissertation may be included on the back cover.
- ORCID ID - international open researcher and contributor ID (English Open Researcher and Contributor iD) must be entered in the thesis. If you don't have one yet, you can create one at: https://orcid.org/.
External defense
Frequently Asked Questions
Printing of the dissertation
Deadlines for submitting the dissertation for printing
- If you are not requesting layout and editing services, the dissertation must be submitted to the VU Publishing House 7 working days (or 9 working days if it needs to be delivered to Šiauliai) before the desired collection date.
- When ordering layout services, the dissertation must be submitted to the VU Publishing House at least 10 working days before the desired collection date.
- When ordering layout and editing services, the dissertation must be submitted to the VU Publishing House at least 15 working days before the desired collection date.
Dissertation Layout
- Page size – B5 (17x24 cm).
- Bottom margin – 2 cm; top margin – 1.5 cm; left and right margins – 2.5 cm.
- Line spacing – 1.15.
- Font – 11 pt Times New Roman.
- Page numbering – at the bottom center of the page.
- The width of images must not exceed the width of the text.
Official VU dissertation template:
Recommendations for illustrations and graphs in the dissertation and its summary:
- The resolution must be at least 200 dpi;
- the shorter side of an illustration should be at least 800 px;
- lines must be sharp;
- textual data must be legible.
Illustrations and graphs
Recommendations for illustrations and graphs in the dissertation and its summary:
- The resolution must be at least 200 dpi;
- the shorter side of an illustration should be at least 800 px;
- lines must be sharp;
- textual data must be legible.
NB: The colors of illustrations and graphs will appear less vivid in the printed versions compared to the Word or PDF versions of the dissertation. The more detailed an illustration or graph—and the smaller the text within it—the more difficult it will be to see and read in the printed version. It is not advisable to place two graphs side-by-side. If, however, your design requires two graphs to appear next to each other, please use thicker lines, a larger font size, and ensure that no gray background is applied to the illustration or graph. If you have any concerns regarding the quality of specific illustrations or graphs while preparing your dissertation (or summary), please contact the VU Press. There is a simple way to check how an illustration or graph will look in print: print the relevant page of the dissertation (or summary)—formatted according to the required specifications—using a standard printer.
Scope of layout services
The layout service, ordered for a dissertation and/or its summary, includes:
- Preparation of title pages.
- Formatting.
- Setting margins.
- Adjusting the table of contents and the list of references.
- Alignment of headings and subheadings.
- Managing numbering.
- Formatting tables.
- Inserting publications in PDF format (as needed).
- Aligning illustrations and/or graphs to the width of the text (tasks related to the resolution and quality of illustrations and/or graphs are not included in the standard layout service).
Please note that the colors of illustrations or graphs in the printed paper versions of the dissertation will appear less vivid than they do in the Word or PDF versions. The finer the details—such as the lines in an illustration or graph, or the accompanying text—the more difficult they will be to see or read in the printed version. It is not advisable to place two graphs side-by-side. If, however, your design requires two graphs to appear next to each other, please use thicker lines and a larger font size; also, ensure that no gray background has been applied to the illustration or graph.
If you have any concerns regarding the quality of specific illustrations or graphs while preparing your dissertation (or summary), please inform the VU Press. There is a simple way to check how an illustration or graph will look once printed: print the relevant page of the dissertation (or summary)—formatted according to the required specifications—using a standard printer.
Will I be able to see the final layout before the dissertation is printed?
Yes. The final layout of the dissertation is sent for printing only after receiving confirmation from the doctoral student.
Does it cost anything to include articles in PDF format in a dissertation?
Yes. For that, you would need to order a layout design service.
What does the cost of printing a dissertation depend on?
The cost of printing a dissertation depends on the volume of text (number of characters), the quantity of illustrations (tables, graphs), and the number of (color) pages.
Where can I pick up the printed dissertations?
You can pick up printed dissertations at the Vilnius University Press (Saulėtekio al. 9, Building III, Room 616).
Other F.A.Q.
Is it possible to defend a dissertation based on articles?
You may defend dissertation based on a collection of articles if you meet the following requirements:
"As of June 1, 2023, an amendment to the Regulations for Doctoral Studies—approved by Order No. V-2003 of the Minister of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, dated December 23, 2022—has come into effect. It stipulates that a doctoral candidate defending a dissertation based on a collection of articles "must have published the key research results [...] in at least four articles (being the sole author or the principal co-author of at least two of them), which have been published or accepted for publication (and possess a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or other evidence of acceptance for publication):
- in the fields of natural sciences, technology, medicine and health sciences, and agricultural sciences – in international scientific publications that have a citation metric in the *Clarivate Analytics Web of Science* (CA WoS) database;
- in the fields of humanities and social sciences – in international scientific publications that have a citation metric in the *Clarivate Analytics Web of Science* (CA WoS) and/or *Elsevier Scopus* (Scopus) databases.”
Is it possible to defend a dissertation as an external candidate?
An individual wishing to defend a dissertation as an external candidate must submit the documents listed below to the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Studies Department (email: vida.duboniene@cr.vu.lt and drs@cr.vu.lt). The received request will be registered, and the submitted documents will be forwarded to the Doctoral Committee for the relevant field of study.
List of documents:
- Request to accept the dissertation for external defense (in PDF and DOCX formats).
- Dissertation manuscript or published monograph (in PDF format).
- List of published scientific articles on the topic of the dissertation, and copies of the articles (in PDF format).
- List of scientific events where the dissertation research results were presented (in PDF format).
- A copy of the Master’s or an equivalent higher education diploma (in PDF format).
- Curriculum vitae (in PDF format).
- Record of passed doctoral exams (in PDF format).