The PhD Regulations are established by the Doctorate Board. The regulations set out who is eligible to be a PhD candidate, what the tasks of the supervisor and co-supervisor are and which criteria the dissertation has to meet.

PhD Regulations 2026

As of 1 October 2026, the Leiden University PhD Regulations 2026 will apply to all doctorates for which the manuscript has not yet been approved by the supervisor at that time; the requirement stated in Article 3, first paragraph, subparagraph c, is only applicable for PhD candidates who started their PhD track on or after 1 January 2024 (demonstrated by a declaration of admission to the Graduate School). In exceptional cases, a substantiated request for dispensation can be submitted to the Doctorate Board via the Dean.

For PhD candidates who started their PhD track before 1 January 2024 (demonstrated by a declaration of admission to the Graduate School), the requirement stated in Article 3, first paragraph, subparagraph c, of the PhD Regulations 2024 is applicable.

The requirement in Article 22 that every PhD candidate give a lay talk prior to the defence applies to all PhD candidates who defend their PhD after 1 September 2024.

Overview of PhD track

On the staff website you will find an overview of the PhD track.

Appendices/Forms 

• Request for exemption from the education requirements relating to admission to the PhD programme
• Letter from the dean to the PhD candidate regarding admission to the defence of the dissertation
• Registration at the Beadle’s Office
• Cum laude regulations
• Jurisprudence and explanatory notes to the PhD Regulations
• Licence agreement for inclusion of the dissertation in the Institutional Repository of Leiden University
• Form for dissertation description and upload to Leiden University Library