The Defense of the Dissertation is the final exam of the PhD program. It is your obligation to submit an acceptable dissertation to the Graduate School. Therefore, every effort should be made to complete the dissertation and pass the Defense of the Dissertation exam before you leave The University of Texas at Austin for employment. You must notify the Graduate School officially of your defense using the Request for Final Examination form available at: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/academics/theses-and-dissertations/doctoral-candidacy/oral-examinations
Each member of your committee must receive a copy of your dissertation at least four weeks prior to your dissertation defense date. A defense cannot be held within two weeks of the last class day of the semester.
You must schedule the dissertation defense with the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the defense date by completing the Request for Final Oral Examination form.
You may use a Docusign version of the PDF: https://www.docusign.net/Member/PowerFormSigning.aspx?PowerFormId=c6bbce9f-5f81-4212-9259-3d2bf43702c2&env=na1&acct=d40a37d5-d708-44dd-9ea7-aab378b81326&v=2
All members of your committee must sign your request form indicating their intent to be present at your final oral. Your Graduate Adviser (Dr. Zhanmin Zhang) must also sign this form to indicate you have been approved to defend.
The Graduate School will acknowledge the date of the defense, and will follow up with an email including the final committee signature page, also known as The Report of the Dissertation Committee.
You MUST be registered for Dissertation (X99W) continuously from the time you are admitted to Candidacy until graduation. Beginning Fall 2019, students will register for C E x99 "W" for each subsequent semester after entering candidacy. At least six (6) hours of Dissertation are required to apply for graduation (these can be taken during a single semester). If you leave the campus without completing the requirements (incomplete courses or dissertation), continuous registration must still be maintained.
