The Graduate School
Request for Final Oral Examination
Instructions for Submitting the Request for Final Oral
- Begin arranging for your defense at the beginning of the semester, especially during the summer, in order to accommodate the travel plans of your committee members.
- You should submit the final draft of your dissertation, reviewed for technical and grammatical correctness by your supervisor, to each of your committee members at least four weeks before your final defense. All members of the committee must sign the Request for Final Oral. By signing, each member acknowledges receipt of a copy of your dissertation draft and agrees to be present at the defense on the scheduled date. If there is difficulty in obtaining a signature, call the Graduate School (512) 471-4511.
- The request must be filed in the Graduate School with the vita, abstracts, signature and title pages for a format check at least two weeks in advance of your defense. This time is necessary for the Graduate School to process your request and to mail the defense report materials, a copy of the abstract and an invitation to the defense to your committee members and graduate program.
- By signing the Request for Final Oral Examination, you authorize The University of Texas at Austin to publish your name, major, dissertation title, committee chair, and the date, time, and location of your final oral exam. In the absence of this signature, this information will not be published as a part of the Schedule of Final Oral Exams.
Why the Defense?
- The Final Oral Examination is a major component of the doctoral degree requirement. Your dissertation cannot be approved by the Graduate School until you have successfully passed your defense and your committee members have signed the Report form and the approval page (signature page) of your dissertation.
- The signed Report of Dissertation Defense is the official recommendation of your committee to the Graduate Dean, who depends upon it to determine your eligibility to receive the doctoral degree. A passing Report signifies that your committee unanimously agrees that you have completed a dissertation that is an independent investigation in your major field.
- This Report form will be mailed to your committee supervisor by the Graduate School. In the event that revisions to your dissertation are necessary before your committee members will approve your dissertation, the Report form should be retained by your supervisor until all revisions have been completed. Defense materials for off-campus members will be sent to your supervisor so that all members will have the forms they need at the defense.
Suggestions for Completing the Request Form
- Type this form before circulating it for signatures.
- Your Graduate Adviser must sign this form to indicate you have been approved to defend. All members of your committee must sign your request form indicating their intent to be present at your final oral.
- If a committee member is unable to attend your defense, there must be an explanation of the member's absence, together with an assurance that your dissertation will be read, and if approved, signed. There is a pre-typed note on the back of the Request form which may be used or an attached letter can also be used. These explanations must be signed by the committee member in question, OR your committee supervisor, OR your Graduate Adviser. Call the Graduate School at 471-4511 with any questions concerning this.
- At least four committee members, including your supervisor, must be physically present at the defense, and all members must sign the signature page of your dissertation. It is a good idea to take at least two copies of your cotton bond signature page to your defense.
Formatted Pages Also To Be Included With Request
Submit one copy each of your vita, your dissertation abstract, the title page, and the Committee Certification of Approved Version for a format check at this time. Refer to the format booklet in your graduation packet for more details.
Committee Changes
It is important to remember that any changes made to your committee must be approved by the Dean of the Graduate School as the changes occur. Changes need to be approved at least 30 days prior to the date of the Final Oral so that all new members will have ample time to become familiar with your dissertation.
Request for Final Oral Form (.pdf)
Please note: To access or complete the form, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or newer installed on your computer.
