NEW REGULATIONS (valid as of 2007-2008)(see below for the OLD REGULATIONS)

Part I
General Regulations concerning the Doctoral programme as integrated into the Graduate School of Theology

1. Predoctoral Programme
Depending on academic degrees and research competence, a predoctoral programme is mandatory. In this case the candidates for doctoral studies need to register formally as a "predoctoral student". Both international students as well as Belgian graduates of a "Hogeschool" programme of two cycles, who intend to pursue a Ph.D. in Theology must take a predoctoral test. In the Graduate Programme, the Master's Programme of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion (the "fifth year") is considered as a predoctoral programme. The exams for this programme and the evaluation of the research paper are considered as a predoctoral test.
For international doctoral student candidates who have completed their qualifying studies in EEA-countries,the predoctoral phase takes at most one year. For international doctoral student candidates who have completed their qualifying studies in non-EEA-countries, the predoctoral phase can take at most two years. In the Faculty of Theology students with advanced standing who belong to this category get immediate access to the predoctoral programme (Master's of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religious Studies). Students without advanced standing will be required to take an initial Master's Programme (fourth year) before they can be registered as predoctoral student.
In the predoctoral period, the academic competence and the research maturity of a candidate is tested. During this period students prepare for the doctoral project. The Doctoral Commission of the faculty, in coordination with the promoter, decides whether a candidate is qualified to begin the doctoral programme or not. The predoctoral period is certified upon its completion.

 2. Doctoral Programme

 Art. 1 Admission to the Doctoral Programme
1. Admission to the Doctoral Programme in Theology as described in part II of the present regulations is open to applicants who hold the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion granted by the Faculty of Theology of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Prior to May 25/August 22 of the year in
which they want to be admitted to the Doctoral Programme, candidates are required to submit a concise description of the doctoral project, signed by the promoter, to the Faculty secretariat. During the first and second weeks of June/September the members of the tenured academic staff of the Research Units are to determine whether the proposed projects exhibit sufficient correspondence with the main research concerns. Particular attention is also to be given to the capacity of the doctorandus/a to study the primary literature required for his/her research in its original language. The coordinator then submits a report of the Research Unit's findings to the Faculty's Doctoral Committee which is established according to article 9.2 of the Regulations. The Doctoral Committee looks at the findings of the Research Units and determines finally if the submitted doctoral descriptions meet with the requirements. The Secretary of the Doctoral Committee retains a copy of the proposed project, signed by the Research Unit's coordinator, the promoter (and, if necessary, co-promoter) and the doctoral candidate, which is preserved in the candidate's file.
Moreover the Committee assesses whether candidates for the Doctoral Programme are in compliance with the following two minimum conditions:
* They have obtained the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion at least cum laude.
* They have attained a level of 75% for the Research Paper, or for a comparable project presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree examination.
The Committee meets to discuss applications within two days of the conclusion of the deliberations following the second and third regular examination periods. The Committee asks the promoter and the correctors of the Research Paper for their recommendations. The Chair of the Doctoral Committee informs candidates in writing of the Committee's decision and the grounds upon which it was made.

2. Candidates who have obtained a second cycle diploma in Theology from another Belgian or a non-Belgian university may also be admitted to the Doctoral Programme providing they meet the conditions for admission outlined in article 1. Applications are assessed by the Faculty's Doctoral Committee which is constituted according to article 9.2 of the Regulations.
The Committee evaluates the content of the various programme items which make up the second-cycle degree obtained by the applicants. Should it become evident that the said programme is not equivalent to that required for the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion offered by the Faculty of Theology of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the candidates in question will not be offered direct access to the Doctoral Programme. The candidates' applications are then submitted to the Faculty's Admissions Committee for further assessment.

3. Candidates who are not admitted to the Doctoral Programme and who have obtained the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion at least cum laude have the possibility to apply again for admission three years later under the condition that he/she has published two articles in IT-journals of which at least one IT1 or IT2 journal (ranking of the Faculty). This condition could be replaced by the publication of a monograph, approved by a reading committee.

 Art. 2 Doctoral Programme
Candidates who have been admitted to the Doctoral programme are required to register each year, without exception, for the Doctoral Programme established by the Faculty of Theology. The requirements for the Doctoral Programme are outlined in part II of the Regulations.
Students admitted to the Doctoral programme are expected to submit their dissertation within four years.

 Art. 3 Membership of a Research Unit
1. Candidates who have been admitted to the Doctoral Programme become full members of the Research Unit in which they intend to undertake their research project (Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, Theological ethics, History of Church and Theology, Pastoral Theology or the Interdisciplinary Centre for World Religions, Interreligious Dialogue and Religious Studies).
2. As members of a Research Unit, doctoral candidates take part in the meetings to which they are invited.
In the course of the Doctoral Programme, candidates are required to give a presentation/lecture on at least two occasions to the members of the Research Unit and its invited guests outlining the status of their doctoral research.

 Art. 4 Guidance in Preparation of the Doctoral Dissertation
1. The doctoral dissertation is prepared under the guidance of one or more promoter(s) (and, if necessary, one or more co-promoter(s)). A tenured member of the academic staff belonging to one of the Research Units of the Faculty of Theology is to be selected as the primary promoter. Members of the tenured academic staff of the K.U.Leuven with teaching responsibilities in the Faculty may also serve as promoter
for dissertations in Theology. On the advice of the Research Unit, the Faculty Board can appoint a member of the tenured or extraordinary academic staff of the K.U.Leuven without teaching responsibilities in the Faculty as well, as members of the academic staff of other Belgian or non-Belgian universities and "hogescholen", as promoter of a dissertation, provided an agreement has been reached with the K.U.Leuven in this regard. In such cases, a member of the tenured academic staff of the relevant Research Unit acts as co-promoter for the respective doctoral research project. If requested by the promoter and pending the advice of the Research Unit, the Faculty Board can appoint members of the above mentioned staff groups as co-promoter, even without a doctorate.

2. "The student's promoter plays a key role during the whole of the Doctoral Programme. The promoter is responsible for the creation of the material and intellectual climate which is necessary for the furtherance of the student's research. The promoter stimulates, supervises, and evaluates the student during the whole of the doctoral process, and his/her final evaluation of the doctorate is of capital importance" (translated from 'Profiel van de goede promotor'; http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/doctoreren/profiel.htm

3. The Faculty Council has established a numerus clausus with regard to the number of doctoral dissertations which may be directed by a single promoter simultaneously. As a rule, this number should not exceed six dissertations. A promoter wishing to direct more than six dissertations at the same time must submit a request to this effect to the Research Unit concerned which will then advise the Faculty Board.

4. Candidates for the Doctor's Degree in Theology are required to consult with their promoter(s) (copromoter(s)) at least twice per semester to discuss the progress of their research. Prior to May 31 each year, the candidate is to submit a signed progress report to the chair of the Doctoral Committee (max. two pages, on standard form). The progress report of the first, third and later years will be sent to the promoter (and, where appropriate, co-promoter) who will be invited to evaluate the progress of the doctoral research project and to sign it. Two years after starting a doctorate or before the application for or extension of a scholarship or mandate an officially organized discussion concerning the research progress is to be arranged between the members of the supervisory committee (promoter(s), copromoter(s) and at least two members of the tenured staff of the Research Unit) and the doctoral student. In order to organize this discussion, the progress reports are to be placed at the disposal of the coordinators of the Research Units concerned. The members of the tenured academic staff of the Research Units discuss the progress of each doctoral student during the second and the third week of June and report their findings to the Chair of the Doctoral Committee. Should the promoter, the relevant Research Unit or the Doctoral Committee find that the candidate has made insufficient progress in his/her research project, the Doctoral Committee, established according to article 9.2 of the Regulations, is to hold an interim evaluation of the relevant doctoral project. The Chair of the Doctoral Committee invites the promoter (and, if necessary, copromoter) and the tenured academic staff of the relevant Research Unit to take part in the discussion. After consulting the student concerned, and upon the recommendation of the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Board can refuse to renew its permission to register for the Doctoral Programme. The Doctoral Committee can also conclude that the progress report is missing. In such instances, the doctoral student is granted a two-week extension to remedy the situation. After two weeks, the Chair of the Doctoral Committee verifies if the students concerned have rectified the situation. A one-month discontinued payment of their study allowance as of October 1, is the consequence for students who have failed to do so. All financial instances concerned will be notified.

 Art. 5 Language of the Dissertation
Candidates for the degree of Doctor in Theology who are registered in the Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Theology are free to write their dissertation in Dutch, English, French or German. On the advice of the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Board can give permission for the dissertation to be written in a language other than the above. Dissertations written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a detailed summary in English which is to be included in the form of an appendix to the dissertation.

 Art. 6 Evaluation and Public Defense of the Dissertation
1. The academic degree of Doctor in Theology is granted after the public defense of the dissertation. Candidates who fulfill the following requirements are granted permission to defend:
* They have been holders of the academic degree of Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion for at least two years or have been granted direct admission by the Faculty to the Doctoral Programme.
* They have successfully completed the required Doctoral Programme of the Faculty.
* After approval for defense by the reading committee and before the defense takes place, candidates have to send the pdf-file of the doctoral dissertation to Lirias for electronic archiving.

2. With the written permission of the promoter (and, if necessary, the co-promoter), the candidate is to submit an unbound manuscript copy of the completed dissertation to the Board of the Faculty with a request to be admitted to the defense. A certificate obtainable from the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee declaring that the candidate has successfully completed the Doctoral Programme must also be submitted at this stage.
The length of the dissertation may not be less than 150,000 words and may not exceed 175,000 words (ca 300 pages A4 format). Any deviation from this norm must be supported by the Research Unit and must be approved by the Doctoral Committee beforehand. The format of the dissertation must be in accordance with the Faculty's Guidelines for Papers, Theses, Research Papers, and Dissertations.

3. After the Dean has determined that the candidate has fulfilled all the requirements for admission to the defense and on condition that the Faculty Board has a complete copy of the dissertation at its disposal, a Reading Committee is designated by the Faculty Board. The promoter of the dissertation and the coordinator of the Research Unit to which the candidate belongs are consulted beforehand. The promoter is to consult the candidate with regard to the members of the Committee.
The Reading Committee is approved by the (Vice-)Rector on the proposal of the Faculty. At least one member of the Reading Committee must be from outside the K.U.Leuven.
No more than two weeks after the submission of the dissertation, the candidate is to submit three to five theses that represent the predominant results of his/her doctoral research. In addition, one or more theses should be formulated that indicate the significance of the dissertation for the other theological disciplines, for the whole of theology, for other sciences or for the church and society at large. The list of theses is to be submitted to the Faculty secretariat which will immediately distribute copies to the members of the Reading Committee.
No more than six weeks after the designation of the Reading Committee by the Faculty Board, vacation periods excluded, the members of the Reading Committee are to submit a written evaluation of the dissertation and the theses to the Dean. A standard form which will be made available by the faculty
secretariat is to be used for this purpose. Vacation times include the Christmas vacation, the January examination period, and the period from the conclusion of the second ordinary examination period to the beginning of the third ordinary examination period. If ever the need arises to deviate from this procedure, due to pressing circumstances, a request for an exception to the rule has to be submitted to and granted by the Faculty Board.

4. The evaluations by the members of the Reading Committee are to be submitted within the specified time limits. Upon receipt of the evaluations, the Dean is to call a meeting of the Committee for a deliberation. The candidate is to be consulted before the Committee makes its decision. The Reading Committee's initial evaluation of the dissertation follows a two-step process:
 1° Placet (iuxta modum) or non placet nisi corrigatur 
l Placet means that the dissertation has been accepted for defense. Placet iuxta modum means that the dissertation, in principle, has been accepted for the defense, but requires remedial work. In both cases, the Dean receives the candidate, together with the promoter, and provides him/her with a report of the decision of the Reading Committee. In case of placet, the promoter is to provide the candidate, no more than three days later, with a written summary report explaining the Committee's decision. The candidate is free to follow the suggestions of the Reading Committee and to submit the bound copies of the dissertation when ready. In case of placet iuxta modum, the promoter is to provide the candidate, no more than three days later, with a written summary report explaining the Committee's decision and the required modifications. Once the candidate has incorporated the revisions required by the Reading Committee, and having obtained the written permission of the promoter (and, if necessary, the copromoter), he/she may submit the revised parts of the dissertation to the Dean of the Faculty who will then present it to the Reading Committee. A new meeting of the Reading Committee is only required, if a (new) problem regarding the revised text arises for one or more members of the Reading Committee. As a rule, the members of the Reading Committee express their opinion on the acceptability of the revisions of the dissertation through e-mail within the timeframe determined by the Reading Committee at their initial meeting.
l Non placet nisi corrigatur means that the dissertation will only be accepted for defense on the condition that the candidate completely revises the dissertation according to the requirements of the Reading Committee. In the event of an evaluation non placet nisi corrigatur the following procedure is to be followed. Immediately after the Reading Committee has concluded its deliberations, the Dean is to inform the candidate of its decision. No more than one week later, the promoter is to provide the candidate with a written report offering a detailed presentation of the evaluation of the Reading Committee and outlining their requirements for revision of the dissertation. The candidate is granted a period of maximum six months to make the required revisions to his/her dissertation.
 2° Placet or non placet
Once the candidate has incorporated the revisions required by the Reading Committee, and having obtained the written permission of the promoter (and, if necessary, the co-promoter), he or she may submit the revised dissertation to the Dean of the Faculty who will then present it to the Reading Committee. As a rule, the Reading Committee is to meet once again, after a period of three weeks, to deliver a definitive statement on the acceptability of the dissertation. The final judgement of the Reading Committee is either placet (accepted) or non placet (not accepted). In the event that the dissertation has been given a placet by the Reading Committee, the Dean will immediately inform the candidate of this decision. Should the Reading Committee consider the dissertation to be unacceptable (non placet), the Dean is to set up a meeting with the Reading Committee and the candidate in order to inform the candidate that the dissertation has not been accepted and to justify this decision.
5. As soon as the accepted dissertation is bound, the candidate is to deliver six copies to the Dean, accompanied by a summary (standard format) both in English and in Dutch and a definitive list of attached theses. He/she delivers a pdf-file of his/her doctoral dissertation to Lirias for electronic archiving. The submission of the dissertation (both printed and electronic version) counts as the official admission to the public defense. The Reading Committee is thereby appointed as the Board of Examiners, to which the Dean (or his/her substitute) is added as Chair. The Dean is to notify the Rector of the composition of the Board of Examiners. No less than five working days before the defense, the promoter (and, if necessary, the co-promoter) and the correctors receive a final bound copy of the dissertation. Before this date an electronic copy of the dissertation must be delivered to Lirias. If these conditions are not met, the public defense will not take place on the date (a working day) marking the end of the required five working days. If this condition is met, the promoter (and, if necessary, the co-promoter) and the correctors are to submit their individual evaluation of the dissertation in writing to the Dean no less than two working days before the defense. This numerical evaluation, out of a maximum of twenty points, refers to the dissertation in its definitive form.
6. As a rule, the public defense of the dissertation and the annexed theses takes place in the University's Promotion Hall no more than three weeks after the placet granted by the Reading Committee. Public defenses can take place from the last week of September up to and including the first week of July.
The public defense is structured as follows. The candidate begins with a fifteen minute presentation of the most significant results of his/her research. The promoter then follows with a fifteen minute evaluation and laudatio. In the event that a co-promoter has been appointed to assist in the guidance of the candidate's preparation, he or she may arrange with the promoter to offer an evaluation of the dissertation within the allotted time. The three correctors are each allotted fifteen minutes for discussion with the candidate.
A brief summary of the dissertation together with the appended theses is to be made available to the public. After the defense, the Board of Examiners withdraws for deliberation. The Board then arrives at a single mutually agreed result, out of a maximum of twenty points, based on the dissertation in its definitive form and the defense. The sum of this consensus result and the individual evaluations of the promoter (and, if necessary, the co-promoter) and the correctors provides a final percentage result. No grades or distinctions are awarded. After hearing the candidate the Board of Examiners decides on the accessibility of the electronically archived dissertation (accessible on the internet or under embargo). If the candidate decides to make his/her dissertation accessible on the internet, the Board of Examiners shall agree with it unless there are proportional reasons to refuse his/her request. If the candidate decides not to publish his/her dissertation, the Board of Examiners will place a temporary embargo on the accessibility of the dissertation for a period of five years.
The Chair of the Board of Examiners publicly announces the promotion of the candidate to Doctor in Theology (Ph.D.) in the Promotion Hall. The newly promoted Doctor is then presented with the ecclesial diploma of Sacrae Theologiae Doctor in so far as the requirements for this degree have been met. No more than one month after the promotion, the documents associated with the official degree of Doctor in Theology are presented to the newly promoted Doctor. Promotions are announced on an annual basis during the Faculty's Solemn Proclamations which follow the second and third ordinary examination periods.

 Art. 7 Publication of the Dissertation
1. Prior to the public defense of the dissertation and with a view to providing evidence of the capacity to engage in independent theological research, candidates are obliged, in the context of the Doctoral Programme, to publish discrete segments of their research results in the form of one or more scholarly articles. In preparation for publication they are to submit their work to the promoter for his/her approval. Should the promoter consider the submitted article worthy of publication it should then be offered to the editorial board of an academic journal. Journals connected with the Faculty of Theology of the
K.U.Leuven should be given preference.
2. The author maintains his or her full moral rights (the right of creator, the entitlement to choose whether or not his or her work is made known to the public, and the right to integrity) and property rights with respect to his/her dissertation, under restriction of the prerogatives and rights of use that this regulation imposes in articles 3 and 4 in favour of the University as well as the rights of any co-authors (http://www.kuleuven.ac.be/admin/st/niv3/ja-i83e.htm). The author consequently retains complete power of decision with respect to other forms of publication of his/her dissertation after its defence.
3. After the candidate has been promoted to Doctor in Theology and with the positive recommendation of the Board of Examiners, the new Doctor is free to submit his/her dissertation for publication. Preference should be given to the series of the Faculty of Theology of the K.U.Leuven: Annua Nuntia Lovaniensia, Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium, Bibliothèque de la Revue d'histoire ecclésiastique, Louvain Theological and Pastoral Monographs, Textes et Etudes Liturgiques/Studies in Liturgy.
Segments of the dissertation may also be offered in the form of one or more articles to the editorial board of an academic journal. Once again preference should be given where possible to the journals mentioned in point 1.

 Part II
 Regulations Governing the Doctoral Programme
 Art. 8 Aims and Descriptions
1. The most important aim of the Doctoral Programme is to broaden and to deepen the knowledge of the doctoral candidates within his or her research domain. Furthermore, the programme aims to assist candidates in conducting their doctoral research in an efficient way so that they can successfully accomplish their primary task within a reasonable period of time, namely the writing of a dissertation representing their personal contribution to theological research. Finally, the programme aims at preparing the doctoral student optimally for his or her professional career.
2. The Doctoral Programme consists of an interrelated and coherent combination of educational, research and study. Elements of the Doctoral Programme can be followed at other Belgian or non-Belgian universities and institutes for scientific research. Preference should be given to those institutions which, by way of mutual agreement, enjoy special cooperative status with the Faculty of Theology of the K.U.Leuven.
3. The Doctoral Programme consists of obligatory and optional elements which are intended to broaden the candidate's knowledge and experience by way of methodological reflection, systematic guidance, discussion with other programme participants, confrontation with professors from one's own area of research, the presentation of one's research results, international contacts, preparation of publications, supplementary formation in languages and other specialized courses and team work.
4. Candidates for the degree of Doctor in Theology are obliged to participate in the Doctoral Programme. As a rule this implies a residency requirement of two years. In exceptional cases candidates may be granted exemption from the requirement to participate in the Doctoral Programme. In such cases an alternate assignment will be imposed. Candidates who are not granted exemption from the requirement to participate in the Doctoral Programme as a whole, can receive exemption for a maximum of 20 % of the complete Doctoral Programme on the basis of previous educational items regarded by the Doctoral Committee as extremely valuable to the Doctoral Programme.
This will be extremely rare with regard to a course from the second cycle or complementary study.
5. Candidates who are registered in the Doctoral Programme and not paid by the FWO-V may request limited financial assistance to cover their programme related costs. This subsidy is intended for activities related to the candidate's participation in the Doctoral Programme. Evidence of the significance of the costs entailed for the Doctoral Programme will be required. The subsidy consists of a maximum of # 1500. The following costs may be considered eligible for re-imbursement of # 750:
1° Travel and registration costs incurred through participation in congresses, colloquia or other academic meetings both in Belgium and abroad. Participants are required to submit documentary proof of participation. Attendance at a Summer School or a residential study programme outside Belgium may also be eligible for reimbursement provided the candidate submits documentary evidence of attendance from the institute concerned.
Doctoral students who are nationals of one of the member states of the EU may request financial assistance for participation in a congress or residential study programme from the FWO-V (Flemish Fund for Scientific Research) or the Academische Stichting. In every case, candidates are required to obtain the written permission of their promoter prior to participation in the aforementioned activities.
2° Translation costs incurred in relation to the publication of the candidate's research results in the form of scientific articles. Costs related to the printing of the dissertation.
3° Costs with regard to the purchase of relevant scientific literature or photocopy costs essential to the candidate's doctoral research (max. # 250). Upon request, an additional sum of maximum # 750 is available to assist candidates to participate actively in an international conference (lecture/presentation of a paper or a poster). Decisions in regard to the award of the abovementioned subsidies are made by the chair and the secretary of the Faculty's Doctoral Committee.

 Art. 9 The Faculty's Doctoral Committee
 1. The Faculty of Theology has established a Doctoral Committee which is entrusted with the following responsibilities:
1° The Doctoral Committee functions as an admissions committee, dealing with applications for admission to the Doctoral Programme.
2° The Doctoral Committee functions as a teaching committee which deliberates on the overall form of the Doctoral Programme and establishes the regulations which govern its procedures. In the second trimester of the current academic year the Doctoral Committee puts together the programme for the following academic year. The Doctoral Committee monitors the quality of the doctoral programming.
3° The Doctoral Committee functions as Board of Examiners of the Doctoral Programme.
 2. The membership of the Faculty's Doctoral Committee is established as follows:
1° The Vice Dean Research who also serves as Chair of the Committee;
2° The Vice Dean Education who also serves as Secretary of the Committee;
3° The coordinators of the six Research Units;
4° An ombudsperson elected by the doctoral students from among the tenured academic staff and the assistant and extraordinary academic staff with doctorate for a renewable mandate of three years;
5° One representative elected from among the assistant academic staff and the extraordinary academic staff with doctorate. The procedure followed for this election is to be determined by the members of the respective staff groups. The representative is elected for a renewal mandate of three years;
6° Two representatives elected by the members of the assistant academic staff and the extraordinary academic staff. The procedure followed for this election is to be determined by the members of the respective staff groups. Those elected must be registered in the Doctoral Programme. The representatives are elected for a renewal mandate of two years;
7° One representative of the doctoral students, registered for the Dutch language section of the Doctoral programme, who is not a member of the assistant academic staff or the extraordinary academic staff (with exception of the voluntary scientific assistants). The procedure followed for this election is to be determined by the members of the respective student group. The representative of the doctoral students may serve for a renewal mandate of two years;
8° Six representatives of the doctoral students, one from each Research Unit, registered for the English language section of the Doctoral Programme, who are not members of the assistant academic staff or the extraordinary academic staff. The procedure followed for this election is to be determined by the members of the respective student groups. The representatives of the doctoral students may serve for a renewable
mandate of two years;
9° The secretary of the Doctoral Committee.
The nine aforementioned representative of the doctoral students do not participate in the meetings of the Doctoral Committee when these are devoted to applications for admission to the programme, individual study programmes, and applications for financial support from doctoral students. The Doctoral Committee also meets without these representatives in its function as Board of Examiners.
 3. The Doctoral Committee is responsible for determining the form and structure of both the Predoctoral Programme and the Doctoral Programme (Graduate School) and establishing the regulations which govern those programmes as a whole. After consulting the respective promoters, the Committee is charged with approving the individual programmes presented by the doctorandi/ae.
The Doctoral Committee supervises the implementation and regular evaluation of the individual programmes and determines whether or not the certificate of completion of both the Predoctoral
Programme and the Doctoral Programme is to be awarded. After consulting the respective promoters, the Committee is charged with determining the study value (in hours) of individual courses, research activities/projects, etc. in so far as this has not already been determined by the present regulations (see list below).
After consulting the respective promoter, the Doctoral Committee is to decide whether exception can be made to the residency requirements. In exceptional cases the Committee may exempt candidates from the obligation to participate in a part or the whole of the Doctoral Programme.
Upon request of those concerned and in its function as Teaching Committee or Board of Examiners, the Doctoral Committee is obliged to hear each promoter and each doctorandus/a. The representatives of the assistant academic staff and the extraordinary academic staff as well as the representatives of the doctorandi/ae, each in their capacity as elected representatives to the Faculty Council, may also request to be heard by the Doctoral Committee. A member of the Committee who also serves as a promoter does not take part in discussions relating to the doctorandi/ae under his/her guidance.

 Art. 10 Doctoral Programme
At least once per year, candidates for the doctorate are to submit to the Secretary of the Doctoral Committee a list of classes attended and other completed study activities and projects. The documents should be accompanied by the necessary documentation and certificates. The Secretary is to present the list of the candidate's activities regularly to the Committee for its approval.

 A. COMPULSORY ACTIVITIES
Scientific Publication(s), with Supervision
1 At least one publication at international level. A publication with international distribution is: a reviewed contribution (article in a magazine with IT-classification, book, conference proceeding) written in the forum language of the study field and for an international public
or
2 Three articles in a publication with national distribution (magazine or book)
Or
3. Sole author of a book/monograph.
Participation in the Activities of the Research Unit and Presentation of one's Doctoral Research
4. The doctoral candidate is expected to participate in the meetings, conferences and lectures of the Research Unit to which he/she belongs. During the Doctoral Programme, each doctoral candidate is expected to give at least two public presentations of his/her research in the form of a lecture followed by discussion.
International Scientific Conferences
5. Every doctoral candidate is expected to participate actively (lecture/presentation of a paper or poster) in an international scientific conference, at least once, in the course of the doctoral programme. Doctoral Research Courses, Courses and Seminars with Evaluation (max. four)
6a Each specialism/major oranises for the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion Programme by means of a two-yearly system four research courses involving students in current research. As a rule, each doctoral student is obliged to follow, during the first year of his/her doctoral training, the two research courses organised by his/her specialism/major, which were not part of his/her programme during the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion. In case the doctoral student already took these research courses at an earlier occasion, he/she will follow the research courses of the following year to meet his/her obligation. As a rule, a doctoral student with direct admission into the Doctoral Programme has to follow the four research courses organised by his/her specialism/major during the first two years of his/her Doctoral Programme.
6b The doctoral student can in addition to his/her own research project follow a maximum of two extra research courses from the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion programme. It will also be possible to follow doctoral courses/seminars at other Research Units and other universities. The Doctoral Committee will decide if the above mentioned courses/seminars meet the required doctoral level and will have to give permission for admission of these courses/seminars into the
Doctoral Programme. (26 attendance hours with evaluation; obligatory twice during the programme)
Project Description of the Doctoral Project and Progress Reports
7 Before May 31/August 22, the candidate has to submit at the Faculty secretariat a project description of his/her doctoral project, signed by the student and the promoter, and an electronic version by e-mail. As of the second year of the Doctoral Programme, the doctoral student must submit a progress report before May 31. Two years after starting a doctorate each doctoralstudent has to appear before a supervisory committee (promoter(s), co-promoter(s) and two other members) evaluating the research progress on the basis of the submitted progress report.

 B. OTHER RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS (OPTIONAL)
Recommended activities (portfolio My PhD via K.U.Loket)
1. Courses Taken from the Second and Third Cycle Programmes
Candidates are free to take second and third cycle programme courses or seminars offered by the Faculty or at another faculty of the K.U.Leuven or at another Belgian or non-Belgian university which have relevance for their doctoral research.
2. National Publications (not covered under point 2)
- Reviews, columns, reports
- Editing of a book or a journal with mention of the name of the doctoral candidate
3. Conferences, Workshops, Study Trips and Lectures
- Participation in (inter-)university, (inter-)faculty or interdisciplinary workshops or lectures in Belgium
or abroad
- Supervised study trips to Belgian and non-Belgian universities and research centres which are relevant to the candidate's doctoral research
- Participation in the activities of a scientific research commity in Belgium or abroad
- Presentations for student audiences of the first cycle
- Presentations for student audiences of the second and third cycle
4. Supervision
Assistance in the supervision of papers and theses of students who work in the same field of study as the doctoral candidate (assistant academic staff, extraordinary academic staff, and other doctoral students)
5. Scientific Assistance
- Scientific assistance in Faculty research units
- Scientific assistance with Faculty colloquia
- Scientific assistance with the publications of members of the Research Unit or the publications of external professors relevant to the research domain of the doctoral student
- Participation in Continued Educational Programmes
6. Teaching Formation and cooperation in projects involving educational reform Courses/seminars offered by the University in teaching formation for assistants and other doctoral candidates or cooperation in projects involving educational reform


 OLD REGULATIONS 

The Doctoral Programme is organised by the Faculty's Doctoral Committee. A separate brochure with the Faculty Regulations for the Doctoral Examination with Dissertation is available at the Faculty secretariat and at http://www.theo.kuleuven.be/en/doctorate.htm.

 Membership of a Research Department
Candidates who have been admitted to the Doctoral Programme become full members of the Research Department in which they intend to undertake their research project (Biblical Studies, Dogmatic Theology, Moral Theology, History of Church and Theology, Pastoral Theology or the Interdisciplinary Centre for Religious Studies).
Prior to October 10 of the year in which they are admitted to the Doctoral Programme, candidates are required to submit a concise description of the doctoral project, signed by the promoter, to the Faculty secretariat. The standard form which the candidates received together with the letter of admission to the Doctoral Programme should be used for this purpose. These forms are put at the disposal of the Chairs of the Research Departments concerned.
During the second and third weeks of October, the members of the tenured academic personnel of the Research Departments are to determine whether the proposed projects exhibit sufficient correspondence with the main research concerns of the department. Particular attention is also to be given to the capacity of the docorandus/a to study the primary literature required for his/her research in its original language. Where it becomes evident that the doctorands/a does not exhibit this capacity his/her doctoral project is to be rejected.

As members of a Research Department, doctoral candidates take part in the department meetings to which they are invited. In the course of the Doctoral Programme, candidates are required to give a presentation/lecture on at least two occasions to the members of the department and its invited guests outlining the status of their doctoral research.

 Admission requirements 

To be admitted to the Doctoral Programme, students must hold the Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion (MAS) from the Faculty. Candidates must have obtained the degree at least cum laude. Moreover, they should have attained a level of 75% for the Research Paper or for a comparable project. The Faculty's Doctoral Committee examines the applications of the candidates and meets to discuss the applications within two days after the deliberations of the second and third regular examination periods. The Committee will ask the promoter and the correctors of the Research Paper for their recommendations. The Chair of the Doctoral Committee will inform the candidates in writing of the motivated decisions taken by the Committee. Candidates who have obtained a second-cycle diploma in Theology from another Belgian or foreign university with a recognised equivalent value, in accordance with art. 60 of the university decree, can also be admittto the Doctoral Programme if they meet the conditions as mentioned above. The application will be assessed by the Doctoral Committee.

 Programme structure 

The Doctoral Programme is structured as follows:
1. The most important aim of the Doctoral Programme is to expand the knowledge of the doctoral candidates on the level of scholarly theological research. Furthermore, the programme aims to assist candidates in conducting their doctoral research in an efficient way so that they can successfully accomplish their primary task within a reasonable period of time, namely the writing of a dissertation representing their personal contribution to theological research.
2. The Doctoral Programme consists of an interrelated and coherent combination of educational, research and study activities involving a study load of minimum 1500 hours and maximum 1800 hours. This corresponds with a total of 60 study points distributed over the entire duration of the candidate's doctoral research in preparation for the dissertation. Elements of the Doctoral Programme can be followed at other Belgian or non-Belgian universities and institutes for scientific research. Preference should be given where possible to those institutions which, by way of mutual agreement, enjoy special cooperative status with the Faculty of Theology of the K.U.Leuven.
3. The Doctoral Programme consists of obligatory and optional elements which are intended to broaden the candidate's knowledge and experience by way of methodological reflection, systematic guidance, discussion with other programme participants, confrontation with professors from one's own area of research, the presentation of one's research results, international contacts, preparation of publications, supplementary formation in languages and other specialised courses and team work.

 Guidance
The doctoral dissertation is prepared under the guidance of a promoter (and, if necessary, a co-promoter). A tenured member of the academic personnel belonging to one of the Research Departments of the Faculty of Theology is to be selected for this function. Members of the tenured academic personnel of the K.U.Leuven with teaching responsibilities in the Faculty may also serve as promoter for dissertations in Theology. On the advice of the Department, the Faculty Bureau can appoint a member of the tenured or extraordinary academic personnel of the K.U.Leuven without teaching responsibilities in the Faculty as well as members of the academic personnel of other Belgian or non-Belgian universities, as promoter of a dissertation, provided an agreement has been reached with the K.U.Leuven in this regard. In such cases, a member of the tenured academic personnel of the relevant Department acts as co-promoter for the respective doctoral research project. If requested by the promoter and pending the advice of the Department, the Faculty Bureau can appoint members of the above mentioned personnel groups as co-promoter.
 'The student's promoter plays a key role during the whole of the Doctoral Programme. The promoter is responsible for the creation of the material and intellectual climate necessary for the furtherance of the student's research. The promoter stimulates, supervises, and evaluates the student during the whole of the doctoral process, and his/her final evaluation of the doctorate is of capital importance' (translated from 'Profiel van de goede promotor').

Candidates for the Doctor's Degree in Theology are required to consult with their promoter (co-promoter) at least twice per semester to discuss the progress of their research. Prior to October 10 of each year, the candidate is to submit a signed progress report (max. two pages, on standard form) which must also be signed by the promoter (and, if necessary, co-promoter). These reports are put at the disposal of the Chairs of the Research Departments concerned. The members of the tenured academic personnel of the Research Departments discuss the progress of each doctoral student during the second and the third week of October and report their findings to the Chair of the Doctoral Committee. Should the promoter, the relevant Department or the Doctoral Committee find that the candidate has made insufficient progress in his/her research project, the Doctoral Committee is to hold an interim evaluation of the relevant doctoral project. The Chair of the Doctoral Committee invites the promoter (and, if necessary, co-promoter) and the tenured academic personnel of the relevant Research Department to take part in the discussion. After consulting the student concerned, and upon the recommendation of the Doctoral Committee, the Faculty Bureau can refuse to renew its permission to register for the Doctoral Programme.

 

Candidates who fulfill the following requirements are granted permission to defend:
- They have been holders of the academic degree of Master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion for at least two years or have been granted direct admission by the Faculty to the Doctoral Programme in Theology.
- They have successfully completed the required Doctoral Programme of the Faculty.