In order to begin Doctoral studies, the student must provide proof of having completed Licentiate studies with superior performance. Completing Licentiate studies does not imply any right to enter the Doctoral program, and as a result all interested students —including those who performed their Licentiate studies at this School of Theology— must apply for admission to the Doctoral program.

Students admitted to the Doctoral program must pass four specialized academic courses, choosing from among those which the School offers each academic year. In those cases in which the topic of the doctoral thesis does not coincide with that of the Licentiate, the School may require the student to take additional Licentiate-level classes (or to take these classes in place of the doctoral-level courses).

Under the direction of a professor of the School of Theology, and during the time necessary, the student will prepare a Doctoral thesis, which must constitute a genuine contribution to the body of theological research, and which must be defended orally before a Tribunal.

Norms for the Presentation of the Doctoral Thesis

The doctoral student must present to the Administrative Offices of the School of Theology an application directed to the Dean, in which the student requests the approval of the topic of his or her doctoral thesis and which indicates the thesis director who has been chosen.

Once the editing of the thesis has been completed, and once the thesis director has given his or her approval, the student may turn in a printed and bound copy of the thesis to the Administrative Offices of the School, at which point the professor designated to assess the thesis will have fifteen days to provide comments.

For the defense of the thesis, the student must submit to the Administrative Offices of the School seven copies of the thesis signed by the thesis director; in addition, the student must register for the credits corresponding to the thesis defense and pay the required fees. One copy of the thesis will be returned to the author, stamped to indicate its approval by the School.

The defense of the doctoral thesis will take place in a public session before a tribunal formed of five professors. At least fifteen days must pass between the date of submission of the copies and the defense of the thesis.

Prior to publishing the thesis, the student must take into account the observations provided by the thesis tribunal, and make any corresponding corrections.