Doctoral studies are concluded with the defence of the dissertation. The defence is public.

The doctoral student must submit an Application for the Defence of the Doctoral Dissertation well in advance, proposing—together with their supervisor—at least two reviewers, of whom at least one must hold the academic title of Associate Professor or Professor. The application must also include up-to-date contact details for the proposed reviewers. If any reviewer is a foreign national (this also applies to citizens of the Slovak Republic), the Study Department must be informed at least three months prior to the defence. Further information on selecting reviewers can be found in the AVU Methodological Guidelines. The selected reviewers and the supervisor prepare written assessments, after which the dissertation may be presented for defence.

The student must submit three bound copies of the dissertation, along with digital documentation of the artistic work, to the Study Department by the deadline specified in the current Academic Year Schedule. (The submission of a documentation of artistic work does not apply to the Theory and History of Contemporary Art programme.)

The defence takes the form of an academic discussion with a committee, based on the assessment reports provided by reviewers and supervisor. The committee then informs the student of the outcome and makes a recommendation to the Rector of AVU on whether the academic title of Ph.D. should be awarded.

Doctoral State Exam and Dissertation Defence

State examination

Dissertation thesis

Dissertation defence

Evaluation criteria for artistic research doctorates