Faculty of Biosciences/PhD Program FAQ

Promotionsfeier

The next PhD Celebration, the so called Promotionsfeier, for people graduating during the winter term takes place on April 27th, 2013 (at the Aula der Alten Universität at 10.00 am). Please remember to register or to cancel your participation by March 8th, 2013.

To register, email the Anmeldung 27 April 2013 to Frau Jankowski here
To download your invitation, click Einladung 27 April 2013(you may invite two other persons to the event)

(Winter term:  you had your defense examination between September 1st, 2012 and February 28th, 2013)

Thesis defense

Normally, the format of the defense consists of 20 minutes presentation, at least 20 minutes thesis related questions and at least 20 minutes discussion and general questioning. You can choose the media for your presentation. If you do a computer presentation (PowerPoint or presentation programs), you have to take care for the technical aspects such as availability of a beamer, compatibility of programs etc. Remember that technical equipment tends to break down in the least expected moment, and take precautions! The presentation should not contain more than 10 slides. Do not overload with text and especially no animations. You should present your own work - do not give a review of the field. You should use your own figures from your thesis, scans from books or papers are not allowed, and the use of material from the Internet is equally discouraged.

Submission of Thesis: Time restrictions

As your documents must be approved by the Vice Dean, please make sure that you submit your thesis with the required documents to the PhD Office not later than 8 weeks before your oral examination. Additionally, we would like to point out that a certain amount of time must pass, after both your first and second examiner have submitted their written reports to the Dekanat ("Auslagezeit"). This is at least 15 working days.  Remember that your reviewers go to conferences etc., and that the Dekanat also closes for holidays. This may delay your defense - so please check and plan well ahead.

Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren

Please contact the PhD Office concerning this procedure.

Qualification check for foreign Certificates

For all foreign graduates, certificates and qualifications have to be checked by the Dekanat, which may take 4 to 8 weeks.
You should check at www.anabin.de, whether your qualifications have been rated "gleichwertig"(= equivalent) to a local Diploma or Master of Science. This will ensure direct access to our PhD programs. Graduate-certificates, that have been rated "entspricht" (= similiar) require a case-by-case examination. This could result in the necessity to pass an examination ("Kenntnisstandprüfung") prior to registration (see Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren).

Cumulative Dissertation

Generally, the submission of a cumulative dissertation is possible, but you need the agreement of the Promotionsausschuss prior to submission.

Prerequisites:

• At MINIMUM two publications (average is five), which reflect the main part of the scientific work of the candidate.
• At least one first authorship, written BY the candidate
• A declaration signed by the supervisor, confirming the proportion of the candidates work to the publication.

Form:

• Summary of the results (max. 50 pages)
• Published results don't need to be discussed in detail, you can cite the publications.
• Publications appended

For more details, please download the information sheet about a cumulative thesis at 'forms and useful links'.

Contact

Please contact the PhD office for further information
opening hours: Tue, Thu 10.00 - 12.00

Further Information:

Locations and how to get there