The schedule of state examinations and dissertation defence

The path to graduation from the PhD programme is lined with a series of "finalising" study events - the State Doctoral Examination, the Internal Defence and the final Dissertation Defence.   

Doctoral State Examination

In the 5th semester or, at the latest, the 7th semester of study (taking into account the period of any interruption), learners register for the Doctoral State Examination and take the Doctoral State Examination. Students in the old programme (matriculation up to and including PS 2021) may also take the examination at the end of their studies together with their dissertation defence at their own choice.

Please note that the prerequisite for the PhD examination is the completion of the course RLDrA09 Article Preparation! We have introduced this prerequisite as a checkpoint to remind students that they need to submit their article for review well in advance so that it is published by the time they conclude their studies.

Advanced version of the dissertation, Internal defence and final version of the dissertation

In the penultimate semester of study, students register for RLDrA12 Doctoral Seminar IV: Advanced Dissertation and submit an advanced version of their dissertation for internal defense during the exam period of this course.

In the penultimate semester, learners register for RLDrA14 Doctoral Seminar V: Internal Opposition and Dissertation Completion.

In this course, the supervisor and the designated internal opponent read the thesis and give feedback to the learners on the completion of the thesis at the internal defense, possibly in the form of written comments on the thesis.

The internal defence takes place physically, online or hybrid and resembles a defence (it is in fact a mock defence).

The learner then completes the dissertation based on his/her own reflection, the supervisor's feedback, and the experience of the internal defense and submits the final version by January 31 (fall semester) or August 31 (spring semester).

Dissertation defence

In the last semester of study, at a date determined by the chair of the departmental board, the dissertation defense is held.