Programme of Study:
• The doctoral dissertation, which forms the basis for granting the degree, must be a substantial and original piece of research in a theological area, offering a notable contribution to the advancement of the theological sciences.

• The dissertation must be prepared under the direction of a member of the Faculty on a topic approved by the Faculty.

• Students who have completed the STL programme in the Faculty are not required to take courses or attend lectures.

• Students who have not taken any special courses at the Faculty but have a Licentiate of the required standard must take special courses for one year. These are qualifying only.

• At the end of the first year, doctoral students should provide sufficient evidence of progress in the preparation of the dissertation to warrant continuance.

• Dissertations submitted by 30th November are accepted for examination by early spring. Those submitted by 15th May are accepted for examination in early summer. Examination at any other time may be considered only in exceptional circumstances and by express leave of the Faculty.

• The dissertation shall be presented to the Director of Postgraduate studies at least two months before the candidate may be admitted to defend it. In exceptional cases the Council of the Faculty may shorten the period required.

• Three copies of the dissertation are to be submitted in the first instance, and these may be ring-bound. A hard-bound copy, incorporating any corrections which the examiners may require, must be submitted to the Library following successful defence of the work.

• All dissertations shall remain the property of the Pontifical University.

Public Examination:
The public examination shall comprise the following elements:

• A lecture by the candidate for half-an-hour on the topic, arguments and conclusions of the dissertation

• A defence of the dissertation for an hour against objections.

• An examination for half-an-hour on nine propositions chosen by the candidate and approved by the Council of the Faculty. Three propositions will be chosen from each subject area, Systematic theology, moral theology and Sacred Scripture.

• At the end of the Defence, the Faculty shall vote firstly on whether the degree of doctor is to be awarded and secondly on what mark shall be given. Separate marks are given for the thesis and the propositions; the minimum mark is 65%. The marks are counted and an aggregate mark is awarded. This is not communicated to the student. The number of examiners from the Faculty at the examination shall be at least five.

Publication of Doctoral Dissertation:
Before the Doctorate in Divinity can be conferred, the dissertation, or at least a substantial part thereof, must be published. Publication may take any of the following forms:

• Appearance as a book, or as an article in a recognised theological journal

• Circulation of copies of the dissertation, or of a major excerpt, in printed form, on disk, microfilm or microfiche, to the main ecclesiastical Faculties of Theology.

• Deposition of a copy of the dissertation and of the disk in the John Paul II Library at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, together with notification of the fact through appropriate means of inter-library exchange.

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Publication of Doctoral Dissertation

Before the Doctorate in Divinity can be conferred, the dissertation, or at least a substantial part thereof, must be published. Publication may take any of the following forms:

•Appearance as a book, or as an article in a recognised theological journal

•Circulation of copies of the dissertation, or of a major excerpt, in printed form, on disk, microfilm or microfiche, to the main ecclesiastical Faculties of Theology.

•Deposition of a copy of the dissertation and of the disk in the John Paul II Library at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, together with notification of the fact through appropriate means of inter-library exchange.