Program Structure

Program structure diagram :

• Completing all modules; 
• participating in the Proposal defense and having an accepted research proposal
• fulfilling partly the publication requirements; collecting a minimum of 3 points

Doctoral Complex Examination closes the first phase. This exam is on a pass/fail basis, no marking is possible. 

Second phase: independent research (4 semesters)

• research and dissertation writing 
• The student can hand in the dissertation for final evaluation only if s/he has satisfied the publication requirements in full: minimum 30 publication points, among them 4 peer reviewed journal articles, minimum 1 Q1-Q3 category all in English.
• Submitted dissertations will be pre-evaluated by two external experts in the field. The student has to accept the opinion of the reviewer and correct the dissertation accordingly. 
• After this, the student can hand in the dissertation for the final evaluation. If the student cannot hand in the dissertation at the end of the second phase; in the fourth year, s/he may get one more year upon request. In the case of attenuating circumstances, this can be extended to plus one year. 

By the end of the second phase students shall obtain the absolutorium. 

Final evaluation by two external specialists in the field. In the case of two favorable evaluations the student can defend her/his dissertation at an open debate. 

Defense: open debate. 

Absolutorium

• Conditions: 
• 1. First version of the dissertation sent to referees 
• 2. 120 completed credits 
• 30 publications points: that is 120 credits (not necessarily from the four articles) 
• Successful complex exam 

Dissertation

Deadline for submitting the dissertation: At the end of the eight active semesters. 

If you do not submit the final version of your dissertation three years after the complex exam you will be discharged from the program. 

The overall objective of the Dissertation is to prove that the student can do independent research. The range of problems that may be addressed is extensive. The student’s supervisor has to agree with the student on the topic and the used methodology.

Dissertation evaluation stages

The formal requirements of the dissertation are HERE. Please closely follow the regulations, dissertations that do not follow the formal requirements will be sent back to the student for amendment. 

Stage I. 

Students have to provide one electronic and two hard copies of their dissertation to the Program Administrator. The electronic copy is used to check the paper with Turnitin, two hard copies are sent out to referees. The hard copies should be bound (a soft cover is sufficient) 

The Program Director will select two referees to evaluate the first completed version of the dissertation. The evaluation format is free. 

The assessors hand in the evaluation in writing (hard copy) to Program management. The student has a right to see the evaluation. Also, it is encouraged to read and take the suggestions on board. 

The assessors have three options concerning the evaluation: 

•  Option 1. Accept as it is, no changes required  
• Option 2. Conditionally accept – revision is needed.  
• Option 3. Reject – through revision is mandatory 

Depending on the decision the student has to take steps to address issues as required by the assessors. 

Stage II. 

After the student did the necessary steps to correct the dissertation according to the requirements of the assessors the dissertation will be sent to two new, independent assessors to evaluate the dissertation. The decision of these assessors is binding and final. 

Students at this stage have to provide again one electronic and three hard copies of their dissertation to the Program Administrator. The electronic copy is used to check the paper with Turnitin, two hard copies are sent out to referees, one is for the record. The hard copies should be bound, here a black hard cover is required. 

The assessors have two options concerning the evaluation:  

• Option 1. Accept  
• Option 2. Reject – through revision is mandatory. If the referees reject the dissertation the student has to do a through revision. The student can hand in the dissertation again in two years. 

Dissertation defense