Thesis Regulations (Medical)

Thesis Regulations and Documents - Medical Doctoral Theses

Thesis Regulations - for Medical or Dental Doctoral Researchers only

Please note that doctoral theses submitted by medical doctoral researchers registered with the GSLS must be prepared according to the regulations (Promotionsordnung) of the GSLS. There are some key differences between the GSLS regulations and those of the Medical Faculty. Please read through the following guidelines, using the downloadable templates provided.

Thesis Submission Advisory Talk
Please make an appointment with Heike Schrenk (+49 (0)931 31-84079) or Katharina Bötsch (+49 (0)931 31-86595) to discuss your thesis submission, at least 4 weeks in advance of the thesis submission. You are also welcome to make an appointment with us much earlier than approximately four weeks in advance of the thesis submission.

It is essential to have a thesis submission advisory talk with us, as there is a lot of important information that we need to give you. Please bring your completed (or as complete as possible) study book to the appointment with you.

Thesis format

We kindly ask students to send us a final PDF version of their doctoral thesis so that we can check that all formatting requirements have been met and avoid any possible delays which incorrect formatting could cause.

Your thesis must:

be printed on white high quality paper (any paper suitable for Laser Printer will do)
use the DIN A4 format
have its pages numbered
be bound
be in English or German language
have both the English and German thesis title on the cover
Use this example for both cover and title page (German or English)
Example title page (English)
OR
Example title page (German)

Your thesis has to contain the following items:

Signed Affidavit / Eidesstattliche Erklärung
Table of contents
Summary / Zusammenfassung in both English and German
Complete references for any cited publication or personal communication
Signed Curriculum Vitae

Your thesis may contain:

Acknowledgements
Annex
Publications list

Thesis Submission

Please make a joint appointment with:

either Heike Schrenk or Katharina Bötsch

and Luise Lesch for the thesis submission.

The following forms must be submitted along with the final version of your thesis:

You will receive a document confirming the thesis submission. Please keep this form safe, as you will need it again after your defence.

Doctoral Procedure

During the doctoral procedure you should complete and submit your Diploma Supplement template to the GSLS via e-mail.

The doctoral procedure consists of the following steps:

Submission process & sending your thesis to your supervisors
Evaluation of your thesis/receipt of appraisal reports: 4-6 weeks
In case of grade 'summa cum laude' - External evaluation: ~6 weeks
Processing of the evaluations and grading
Mandatory electronic display of thesis and appraisal reports: 2 weeks
Announcement of defence: at least 7 days prior to defence taking place.
Please send the date, time and exact address of the room to Ms. Lesch at least 10 days in advance.

Final arrangements for your defence should only be made once your thesis has entered the display phase. The details of your defence can only be confirmed once your thesis has been accepted at the end of the electronic display.

Right after your successful defence you will get your first certificate/Zeugnis. This is not the final doctoral certificate and it does NOT grant you the right to carry the title "Dr. med." or "Dr. med. dent."

Library

Once you have completed your defence, you need to submit five hard copies and one electronic copy of your thesis to the university library.

Where possible, please upload the electronic version of your thesis to OPUS once your defence is over and before you go to the library in person. You can do this from home and do not need to be logged into the university network to do this. Please click on the 'publish' tab and follow the instructions on the screen. Please note that this process DOES NOT publish your thesis - the thesis is only published once all necessary copies have been received at the library.

Along with the five printed copies of the thesis, please also take your copy of the submission form (Laufzettel) that you received from the GSLS at the beginning of the doctoral procedure to the central library (Hubland campus). You will also need to take along a completed Author Contract (Autorenvertrag) with you. Once all formalities there are complete, the library will then sign for the receipt of your thesis. Please submit this signed form to Luise Lesch.

For doctoral theses which contain unpublished data or pending patent applications:
If this applies to your thesis, it is very important that you additionally submit an application for temporary non-publication of a dissertation. Please submit this completed form with the five hard copies of your thesis to the library.

Antrag auf vorläufige Nichtveröffentlichung (German)

Application for temporary non-publication (English)

Important: We need the library signature to be able to hand out your doctoral certificate.

There may be additional copies of your thesis remaining from the initially submitted 8 at the GSLS office. Please enquire at the GSLS office once your defence is over, as you can use these additional copies for the library.

Doctoral Certificates

You will be informed by Luise Lesch when your doctoral certificates are ready to be collected. You will receive two copies, one in German, one in English, awarded jointly by the Medical Faculty and the Graduate School of Life Sciences. The University must prepare the embossed official certificate signed by the President of the University and the Deans of the Medical Faculty and the Graduate School of Life Sciences and this of course takes some time - it will be a few weeks after the defence before you receive the certificates.

The receipt of these certificates grants you the doctoral title.

Additionally, you will receive a Diploma Supplement from the Graduate School of Life Sciences.

Congratulations! The Graduate School of Life Sciences wishes you all the best for your future career. Please keep in touch and join our Alumni network. We would be delighted to see you again some time in the future.