Office of the Beadle
Responsibilities
The Office of the Beadle is responsible for organising PhD defence ceremonies, inaugural lectures and valedictory lectures, and should be contacted for matters relating to PhD defence ceremonies, such as reserving a date.
Position within the University
In organisational terms, the Office of the Beadle is part of the Strategic Communication and Marketing directorate of Leiden University’s Administration and Central Services.
Beadle office employees
Erick van Zuijlen, head of Beadle office, beadle and custos
Frank Geerlings, beadle
Tineke Schutte, beadle
Rob Vervark, secretary
Contact
| pedel@bb.leidenuniv.nl | |
| Tel. | 071 527 7211 |
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Postal address
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Office of the Beadle |
| Visiting address | Academy Building Rapenburg 73 2311 GJ Leiden Plattegrond |
You can contact the Office of the Beadle for:
PhD ceremonies used to take place in the Senate Chamber or in the Great Auditorium. The candidate, accompanied by their two assistants (paranymphs) sat opposite the Rector Magnificus and the members of the PhD Committee and Examining Committee and defended their thesis for 45 minutes in the presence of family and friends. Following this, the beadle entered the room and concluded the defence by announcing ‘Hora Est’.
However, in the light of the coronavirus restrictions, the university has been forced to make a number of adjustments to the ceremony proceedings. Ceremonies are now held in the Telders Auditorium instead of the Senate Chamber, and fewer people are allowed to attend. The Examining Committee attends and participates in the ceremony via a video link. If the candidate wishes, people who are interested in watching the defence can also view the ceremony via livestream.
PhD section of the website
The PhD section on our website contains everything you need to know about organising your PhD ceremony. Here you can read about the PhD track, how to plan your PhD ceremony and the regulations that apply. You will also find important information on the dress code and on changes made to the ceremony proceedings due to the coronavirus.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, please contact the Office of the Beadle.
Downloads
- The PhD regulations
- The PhD protocol for online PhD ceremonies
You will find comprehensive information on all aspects of an inaugural lecture in the Protocol for Inaugural Lectures (Dutch only), which is available on our website.
The Protocol for Valedictory Lectures (Dutch) contains useful information and tips for organising a valedictory lecture.