For the PhD programme
  1. Comprehensive examination.
    Between the third and the end of the sixth semester at the latest, the PhD candidate is required to pass a comprehensive examination before a three-member scientific committee, which is appointed by the two departments involved (BMGS and HISARC), following the recommendation of the academic supervisor. The examination is oral and its duration is three hours. It comprises three subjects selected by the candidate from a range of topics representative of all the academic fields of the postgraduate programme in agreement with the members of the scientific committee.
  2. Approval of detailed thesis proposal.
    Following the comprehensive examination, within a period of two to four semesters maximum, the PhD candidate submits a detailed thesis proposal. The proposal is evaluated by a three-member scientific committee, which is appointed by the two departments involved (BMGS and HISARC), following the recommendation of the academic supervisor. Only after the proposal’s approval is the candidate eligible to begin thesis work.
  3. Research and composition of PhD thesis.
  4. Attendance of and active participation in the Colloquium of Byzantine and Medieval Studies, including the presentation of a research paper in 45-50 minutes.
  5. Submission and defence of the PhD dissertation before a five-member committee, within the maximum limit of eight years since admission to the programme and according to the Postgraduate Studies Regulations of the University of Cyprus.
    The length of the PhD thesis should normally be between 80,000 – 120,000 words (including footnotes and bibliography, but excluding appendices, editions of texts, tables, etc.).  With the approval of the academic supervisor, the length of the thesis can be negotiated.

The PhD programme entails the succesful completion of  240 ECTS (1 ECTS = 25 working hours), which are distributed as follows:

  • 60 ECTS – Postgraduate courses (possession of an MA degree or equivalent entitles the student to a partial or full exemption from this requirement)
  • 120 ECTS – Research stages (I-IV)
  • 60 ECTS – Writing stages (I-II)
  • 0 ECTS – Comprehensive examination
  • 0 ECTS – Examination of thesis proposal
  • 0 ECTS – Colloquium of Byzantine and Medieval Studies (I-IV)