Universities

VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT AMSTERDAM

VU Amsterdam thesis submission and defence deadlines

At VU Amsterdam, the manuscript first needs approval from the doctorate committee and dean. The title page, library licence and physical copies then have separate deadlines.

Calculate dates from my defence →

THE DIRECT ANSWER

What the university requires before your defence.

The Rector must approve the title page before printing. The library needs the licence agreement at least six weeks before graduation, and five printed copies must reach the Beadle’s Office no later than three weeks before graduation.

PUBLISHED DEADLINES

Work backwards from the first binding deadline.

This page reflects VU Amsterdam’s central dissertation-submission guidance. Confirm the current Hora Finita workflow and any faculty instructions for your case.

THESIS PRINTING

At VU, title-page approval comes before printing.

Upload the prescribed title page in Hora Finita and wait for Rector approval. The VU page also requires a summary in the dissertation language and an English summary plus English title translation.

Use the printed-copy deadline as the deadline for delivery—not as the date to send an unapproved PDF to a printer. Leave time for a proof, corrections and delivery.

Read the thesis printing guide →

FILES AND APPROVALS

Prepare these before the final weeks.

This is a practical completion list from the linked university guidance. Keep each approved item alongside its final print and digital versions.

01

Approval confirmation

Wait for approval by the doctorate committee and dean before setting the defence option.

02

Rector-approved title page

Do not send the dissertation to print before the title page is approved.

03

Required summaries

Prepare the thesis-language summary plus the English summary and English title translation.

04

Digital-publication package

Complete the licence agreement and Hora Finita upload after title-page approval; plan for the six-week library deadline.

05

Committee copies

Plan the copies that go to the thesis committee alongside the formal Beadle delivery.

06

Beadle’s Office copies

Deliver five copies no later than three weeks before graduation.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Answers from the published process.

When can I book a defence date?

After the doctorate committee and dean approve the manuscript, VU instructs candidates to contact the Beadle’s Office to set an option.

Can I print before the title page is approved?

No. VU states that the Rector must approve the title page before the dissertation is printed.

How many copies are required?

VU states that five copies must be delivered to the Beadle’s Office no later than three weeks before graduation.

What summaries must be included?

VU states that every dissertation includes a summary in the dissertation’s language plus an English summary and English title translation.

When is the digital version due?

VU says the University Library must have the licence agreement at least six weeks before graduation. After the title page is approved, the digital thesis is uploaded through Hora Finita for the VU Research Portal.

What should I expect from the ceremony?

VU says the public ceremony includes ten minutes to present the dissertation and one hour for the defence; the Beadle’s Office sends the relevant procedure information once the definite date is set.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

Check the current university instructions.

Last checked: 22 September 2026. Set a defence option after your manuscript is approved by the doctorate committee and dean. The source pages below are the authority if this guide and a local instruction differ.

VU: Dissertation submission & defence ↗View the complete PhDHelp university guide →