Exposé
The exposé is one of the compulsory parts of the SBESS doctoral program, which is intended to expand the research outline (Forschungsskizze). In the following bullet points, the exposé should present the research project of the doctoral thesis in concrete terms:
- Outline of the Problem and Motivation of the Choice of Topic
- Critical Overview of the State if the Art
- Scientific Relevance of Topic
- Own Preliminary Work
- Choice of Methodology
- Work to Be Done
- Bibliography
The text part of the exposé should not exceed 6,000 words without timetable and bibliography (a word count must be submitted). Its style should be clear and concise and factual. Further information can be found in the information sheet for the submission of the exposé.
Attention: Students from the expiring curriculum versions 2018W and 2021W can find all further relevant information in the section "Announcement of Doctoral Thesis Topic" below!
Important note: No exposés will be accepted in the periods of 20.6. to 15.8. and 15.12. to 6.1.
Announcment of Doctoral Thesis Topic
(For students of the expiring curriculum versions 2018W and 2021W)
Within the first academic year after admission to the Doctoral Program, the Doctoral Thesis Topic must be announced in writing to the Dean of Studies. This announcement includes:
- Submission of the form "Request for Approval of a Doctoral Thesis Topic"
- Exposé
Information Sheet for the Submission of the Exposé - Supervision Agreement with the first Supervisor
The topic and/or the supervisor can be changed until the submission of the doctoral thesis. However, the change must be announced to the Student Services Center via email by using the relevant form and must be approved by the (Vice) Dean of Studies.
Cumulative Doctoral Thesis
A Cumulative Doctoral Thesis at the School of Business, Economics and Social Sciences consists of:
- an introduction.
- at least three scientific essays, either published in an academic journal or at a level suitable for publication. Each essay should make a substantial orginal contribution.
- a conclusion.
The introduction presents the research questions, provides an overview of the research project and its objectives, and describes the structure of the paper.
The research essays are thematically related.
The conclusion section at the end of the paper summarizes the main scientific findings and clarifies how they contribute to the existing literature. Alternatively, the introduction and conclusion can be replaced by a detailed abstract that precedes the paper and explains how the research essays contribute to the research field.
For all co-authored essays, the contribution of each author must be reported as a percentage. All co-authors must agree to the percentages in writing when submitting the doctoral thesis.
The candidate’s total contribution must add up to at least 200%. An essay in sole authorship is not mandatory.
Doctoral Thesis Submission
The topic and/or the supervisors can be changed until the submission of the doctoral thesis. However, the change must be announced to the Student Services Center via email by using the relevant form and must be approved by the (Vice) Dean of Studies.
No later than the submission of the doctoral thesis, the “Request for Appointment of Doctoral Thesis Reviewer” must be submitted to the Student Services Center via email to sowi.doktorat(at)uni-graz.at.
If this is a cumulative doctoral thesis, please attach to this request the list of percentages signed by all co-authors.
Cover Page
For the doctoral thesis, please use the corresponding template for the title page:
Cover Page Template in English
Note: Please do not print logos on the cover and the cover page.
The Affidavit is only to be confirmed electronically at the time of submission and may not be included in the Doctoral Thesis.
Electronic Submission of the Doctoral Thesis
Theses must only be submitted electronically. Your supervisor may additionally request a printout of your Doctoral thesis. This printout must be submitted directly to your supervisor.
Step 1: Electronic Submission in UNIGRAZonline
- Application “My Theses“ on your Business Card
- Fill in all required fields
When entering the title of the thesis, do not use a line break (Enter) – this will cause problems during data transfer. - Entry of the German and English abstracts (min. 1,700 to max. 4,000 characters incl. spaces)
- Consent to the Affidavit
- Upload the full text as a PDF-A
The file size of the pdf file must not exceed 40 MB. - Click “Complete and notify supervisor now“ (Submit now) (a change is no longer possible)
- Your supervisor will receive an automated notification for abstract release.
- Request for Doctoral Thesis Embargo (if necessary)
This request must be approved by the respective supervisor prior to the electronic submission of the thesis in UNIGRAZonline. The form has to be emailed to the Student Services Center.
Step 2: Plagiarism Check
Your thesis will be subject to a plagiarism check after electronic submission.
Deadlines
The reviewers must assess and grade the thesis within four months of submission.
The period between the submission of a scientific paper and the examination concluding the study program or the completion of the program may not be less than four weeks.
If the study program is completed with an examination that concludes the study program, this examination can be taken no earlier than two weeks after the assessment has been submitted to the Examination Office or the Dean’s Office.
