The student and the follow-up group discuss the completion of the doctoral thesis in their meetings. When the student has finished the manuscript, he/she forwards it to the supervisor and to the follow-up group. The process for permission to defend the thesis starts at this time. An application for permission to defend the thesis includes a statement from the chairperson of the follow-up group on the state of readiness of the thesis to be sent for pre-examination, and also the principal supervisors and the chairperson’s proposals for the pre-examiners, the opponent(s) and the custos. The chairperson of the doctoral training committee nominates the pre-examiners. The Chief Academic Officer helps the student and the supervisors in practical matters.