Participants

Article 1
Every student graduating at a Flemish institution for higher education or a university can enroll.

Article 2
Participants are expected to be informed about and to agree with these rules.

Artikel 3
Relatives and in-laws of jury members, co-operators and employees of the Scriptie vzw are not allowed to participate.

Assignment

Article 4
Entries will be judged on two criteria:

• Journalistic "usefulness", i.e. the degree of originality,  innovation and accessibility in the subject choice and the elaboration of it;
• Scientific value

Rights

Article 5
Entering the dissertation does not imply transferring copyrights and/or any other competence related to copyrights, with the exception of what is stipulated in article 6. The author is responsible for the content of the article and the dissertation.

Article 6
The Scriptie vzw, organizer of the Flemish Dissertation Award, obtains the right to use the entered dissertations and articles for journalistic publications when crediting the source. The participant indemnifies the Scriptie vzw against third party liability due to copyright infringement. He/ she also accords his/her consent to place the article as well as the full text at the disposal of  third parties through the Flemish Dissertation Bank (www.scriptiebank.be).

Article 7
Entered dissertations and articles will not be returned. Participants accord their consent to the Scriptie vzw to pass on the dissertation and article to a scientific institution.

Judging

Article 8
The jury is appointed by the Members of the Board of the Scriptie vzw and under the auspices of the Royal Flemish Academy of Belgium for Science and the Arts and the Royal Academy of Dutch Language and Literature.

Article 9
One can only enroll if his/her dissertation received a sufficient mark, accorded by a Flemish institution of higher education between  October 1, 2009 and October 1, 2010 (make sure to enclose an official certificate), and if the dissertation has been executed as stipulated in article 12.

Article 10
The jury has the right not to grant the Flemish Dissertation Award if the general level of quality is considered insufficient. 

Ariticle 11
The jury has the right to consult external experts when assessing the dissertations.

Execution

Article 12
The jury of the Flemish Dissertation Award must receive all dissertations before October 11, 2010.

Contestants must register online.

The entry must contain:

• a digitale version of the registration form; 
• a digital version of the dissertation written in any desired language;
• a digital version of a well-written and publishable article on the dissertation (in Dutch, max. 7000 signs, interspacing included, name+ first name in the upper right corner);
• a digital version of the bibliography;
• an official certificate or a copy of the score card, of the academic year 2009-2010.

Article 13
Contestants will receive a confirmation on receipt of their dissertation. They will be informed whether or not they have made the shortlist, the list of the five nominees, early December. The winner of the Flemish Dissertation Award will be announced mid December.

Prizes

Article 14
The winner of the Flemish Dissertation Award will receive 2500 euros. The four other nominees will each be rewarded with 250 euros.

Concluding section

Article 15
In cases not covered by these regulations, the chairman of the jury will decide what measures need to be taken.