Τμήμα Οικονομίας και Βιώσιμης Ανάπτυξης

Doctorate Studies

AIM

Doctoral studies aim at promoting knowledge and scientific research in the fields of science served by the Department of Home Economics and Ecology. They lead to the acquisition of a Ph.D. Degree, which certifies the completion of an original scientific research as well as the substantial contribution of its holder to the development of academic areas of major importance within the Department's scientific disciplines.

TUITION FEE - DURATION

Doctoral studies at the Department of Home Economics and Ecology are offered free of charge and they cover a minimum of three years and a maximum of six. In exceptional circumstances, a one-year extension may be granted.

REQUIREMENTS

Candidate postgraduate students should submit the following supporting documents: • An application on a special form provided by the Post-graduate School Office. • Official copies of their diplomas or degrees, along with their detailed transcripts or any other evidence of graduation. If they have studied abroad, they should also provide a certifi-cate of equivalence granted by the Greek Accreditation Centre for foreign university degrees (DOATAP, in Greek). • A Curriculum Vitae in which they should include information regarding their studies, as well as their research or professional activities. • Proof of knowledge of at least one foreign language (for foreign students, knowledge of the Greek language is required). • Two letters of recommendation.

SUPERVISING COMMITTIES AND PROCEDURES

The Doctoral Studies Coordinating Committee is appointed by a decision of the Assembly of the Department, has a three-year mandate and consists of five faculty members of the Department, from those who have the possibility to undertake and supervise doctoral theses. The Doctoral Studies Coordinating Committee is responsible for monitoring and coordinating the selection process of the Department's doctoral candidates. In general, the role of the Doctoral Studies Coordination Committee is to supervise, manage and suggest issues related to the smooth functioning of the Department's Doctoral Studies.

The Assembly of the Department, taking into consideration the applications submitted, classifies them on the basis of the relevance of the research object and appoints a three-member committee, composed of members of the faculty. The three-member committee examines the corresponding applications and the documents submitted and invites candidates to an interview. It then submits to the Assembly of the Department a detailed memorandum stating the reasons why each candidate must or should not be admitted and the proposed supervisor, if not proposed by the candidate. The Assembly of the Department approve or reject the candidate's request.

In the approval decision, the Assembly of the Department assigns to the proposed supervisor the supervision of the doctoral dissertation and appoints a three-member Advisory Committee. The Assembly’s decision also defines the language of the doctoral dissertation. If the doctoral dissertation is written in a language other than Greek, it will contain an extensive Greek summary.

After the submission and approval of the thesis proposal, the Ph.D. candidate begins the fieldwork stage of the research, followed by the write-up stage of the thesis. The subject of the thesis should be included in the Department's subjects and the candidate's studies at undergraduate or post-graduate level must be relevant to the Department's subjects.

After completing the Ph.D. dissertation and submitting it to the three-member Advisory Committee, the latter accepts or rejects the candidate's request for public support and evaluation. If the three-member Advisory Committee accepts the candidate's application, it prepares a detailed exploratory report and submits it to the Assembly of the Department, requesting the appointment of a seven-member Examination Committee for the doctoral dissertation. The members of the three-member Advisory Committee, as well as four (4) additional members, who are members of the faculty, participate in the seven-member Examination Committee.

Prerequisites

A prerequisite for the appointment of a seven-member Examination Committee is the publication by the candidate of at least two (2) papers on the subject of his/her dissertation in international peer-reviewed scientific Journals / collective volumes or, alternatively, of at least one (1) paper in an international peer-reviewed scientific Journal and at least two (2) peer-reviewed oral presentations to international Conferences.

Evaluation

The doctoral candidates publicly defend their doctoral dissertations. The process of public support presupposes the physical presence of at least four (4) members of the Examination Committee, while the other members may also participate through teleconference. Subsequently, the Examination Committee meets without the presence of third parties, considers the work in terms of its quality, completeness, originality and its contribution to science and approves it on the basis of these criteria by a majority of at least five (5) votes, evaluating the doctoral dissertation as “Good”, “Very Good” or “Excellent”.

Award of Ph.D. Degree

The Assembly of the Department accepts the evaluation report of the Examination Committee. The Ph.D. status is officially awarded to the Ph.D. candidate during a special ceremony held in the presence of the Rector of the University. The candidate holds the Ph.D. degree from the Department of Home Economics and Ecology of the School of Environment, Geography and Applied Economics of Harokopio University.