Rector or chairman:

‘This session has been opened’ .

‘Dear candidate,

the Board of Deans of Maastricht University is giving you the opportunity to defend your dissertation in public.

I call upon the first opponent.’

( . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .)

‘The exchange of views will be continued by . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .‘

After the ‘hora est’ by the beadle:

‘Sir/Madam, the time to defend your dissertation is over. The committee will now retire for deliberations. I invite you and your company to await the results of these deliberations in this room.’

After the committee has returned:

‘The session has been resumed.’

Dear candidate, this committee, appointed by the Board of Deans, has taken note of your dissertation and has heard your defence.

The committee has decided to grant you the degree of doctor.

I now call upon the supervisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ., to bestow the honours in the appropriate fashion.’

Or

‘Dear candidate, the committee present here, having examined the quality of your dissertation and the way in

which you have defended it, having approved of both, and considering the results of previous examinations taken by you, has decided to grant you the degree of doctor.

I call upon the supervisor’.

Supervisor:

‘On the basis of the powers vested in us by law, and in accordance with the decision of the Supervisory Committee present here, I hereby grant you,. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (first name and last name of the candidate) the degree of doctor, (and because of your special merits, with distinction) with all the rights and duties towards science and society associated with this by law and custom. As witness whereof, I hereby give you the certificate, duly signed by the rector, the secretary and the other members of the committee, and by the

supervisor, and adorned by the Great Seal of the university’.

Speech by the supervisor or co-supervisor:

(. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .         )

Rector or chairman:

‘Dear Doctor,

also on behalf of the Board of Deans, I congratulate you

with the honour you have acquired.

I hereby declare this ceremony to be ended’.