Doctoral school

Please find more information on the last part of your PhD, in this presentation:

It contains information on practical matters in the run-up to, during and after your defence. For instance on how to prepare for the day of the defence, on the Laymen's talk, the structure of the ceremony. On where to find information on media attention for your thesis, on reimbursments to which you might be entitled. In terms of information this workshop will partially overlap the VU University 'Meet the Beadle' meeting (below), but will also be complementary to it.

Still got questions? >> do register for one of the monthly workshops 'Last part of the PhD trajectory', which will be interesting if your manuscript is (about to be) assessed.

This same presentation forms the basis for the workshops that Ellen Dijkstra (Amsterdam UMC Doctoral School) provides on the dates listed below. If you have any additional questions or would prefer a verbal explanation, please register. If these dates are not convenient, please feel free to ask your question(s) by email.

• Thursday 18 December 2025, 14.00-15.00
• Tuesday 20 January 2026, 14.00-15.00
• Thursday 19 February 2026, 14.00-15.00
• Tuesday 17 March 2026, 14.00-15.00

Invitation: 'Meet the Beadle'

The VU beadles Ellis Verkerk and Eef Bergs (Beadle’s Office) and VU PhD policy advisor Fernie Maas (Institutional Affairs) organize ‘Meet the Beadle’ sessions. You are very much invited to join them. During the session, Ellis Verkerk and Eef Bergs will explain all about the PhD ceremony and take you to the sites that will be relevant: the Aula and Auditorium, the promovendus room and the Forum room. Explore the Aula and Auditorium and experience how it feels to be on the stage! You will also learn about the technical equipment. And of course: plenty of opportunity to ask your questions to the Beadles. An excellent way to prepare for your defence!

• Wednesday 4 February 2026
• Wednesday 22 April 2026
• Wednesday 2 September 2026
• Wednesday 4 November 2026

The meetings last from 16.00 to 17.15 and take place in the Auditorium VU Main Building.

If you want to join one of these sessions, or in case of questions or comments, please contact Fernie Maas (f.g.t.maas@vu.nl)

Note: Places are limited. Registrations are accepted on a first-come-first-serve basis. The session is open to all VU PhD candidates, particularly PhD candidates who are approaching their defence date.

• Professors wear gown and beret with dark clothing / shirt with dark tie, dark (socks and shoes) underneath. That means, among other things, no jeans, no shorts, no T-shirts, no sweaters, no colored pumps, no sneakers
• Co-supervisors and opponents who are not professors wear dark, occasion-appropriate clothing / tenue de ville / shirt with jacket and dark tie. That means, among other things, no jeans, no shorts, no T-shirts, no sweaters, no colored pumps, no sneakers
• During the PhD ceremony, the PhD candidate and the two ceremonial assistents (paranimfen) wear dress suit or other clothing suitable for the occasion (tenue de ville). Appropriate clothing can also be understood to mean appropriate traditional clothing from the country of the PhD candidate. The PhD candidate conforms to the judgment of the beadle