Doctoral Studies in Germany

1. Supervision

Scientific Board or Supervisor?
There are both an appointed supervisor and a Scientific board. The latter includes 3 to 7 members depending on the university, elected by the Faculty/Department.
The student has the same personal supervisor during its thesis work on an active research area.

Subject Assignment?
Subject assigned at the beginning of the doctoral studies , by agreement between the student and supervisor. The subject might be changed slightly.

Duration?
4 years

Who can be a Supervisor?

• Only professors in the department can supervise doctoral students.

2. Development

Courseware?
No

Course Work:
There is no course program. The doctoral thesis is exclusively research-based.

Presentation of Work:

• In the department;
• At national conferences ;
• At international conferences.

3. Thesis

Submission of Doctoral Written Thesis:

• Language normally used: GERMAN. Alternative language: ENGLISH;
• No credits allocated to the doctoral thesis;
• The doctoral thesis is a previously unpublished substantial written report.
  

Oral Presentation of Thesis Work:

• Language normally used: GERMAN. Alternative language: ENGLISH;
• Oral presentation for an open audience and with one part of the oral examination public and another part of the oral examination that is not public;
• Duration: typical duration of 1,5 hours with upper limit.
  

4. Examination

Thesis Examination Board:

• Composition: four or three internal examiners and none or one external examiner (4 elements: 4+0 or 3+1).;
• Selection by the scientific committee of the institution.
  

Evaluation:

• Mark based on the reading of the thesis and the oral presentation of the thesis work, with a grading system.
  
• If the student fails he/she may resubmit a revised thesis not earlier than 1 year after the rejection of the first thesis. The student may also resubmit for doctorate but only once more.