PhD students who have commenced their PhD studies before 1 February 2008 are entitled to complete their PhD studies in accordance with the Ministerial order no. 114 of 8 March 2002; however the submission, assessment and defence of the thesis, as well as the decision on the award of the PhD degree must be carried out in accordance with the prescriptions of the Ministerial order no. 18 of 14 January 2008.