Doctoral Examination - Preparation and Procedure

Preparation and procedure of a doctoral examination:

• In accordance with § 24 (4) of the Doctoral Regulations , a doctoral examination is oral, lasts approx. 90 minutes and can take the form of a colloquium or a defence.
• We recommend that examiners and doctoral candidates discuss
  a) the form of the examination - colloquium or defence - and
  b) the content to be examined as early as possible in preparation for the examination - e.g. at the same time as the date is set.
• The third mandatory Supervision Meeting can and should also be used for this purpose.

Possible forms of examination:

a) Colloquium

• Firstly, the doctoral candidate presents the main contents of his or her dissertation in a 10-minute presentation.
• The presentation is followed by a scientific discussion lasting at least 30 minutes between the doctoral candidate and the members of the Doctoral Committee under the direction of the chairperson of the doctoral committee.
• The remaining examination time of approx. 50 minutes is devoted to the discussion of further study contents that belong to the doctoral subject or are related to it.

b) Disputation

• This is where a discussion of the main results of the dissertation as a defence of the dissertation and its results.
• The doctoral candidate presents the dissertation in a 30-minute lecture .
• This is followed by a 60-minute academic debate .