Doctoral Thesis Defense (Rigorosum Part 2)
This information is relevant to students who are in the expiring curriculum version 18W.
The Doctoral Thesis Defense (defensio dissertationis) is a public, oral, comprehensive subject examination by committee conducted in a single examination procedure. Further information on the doctoral thesis defense is available in the curriculum (§ 6 para. 5 and § 11 para. 1) as well as in the Laws Governing University Studies (§§ 27, 28, 29 and 31).
The subject of the doctoral thesis defense (defensio dissertationis) are:
- Presentation of the doctoral thesis by the student.
- Questions of the members of the examination committee about the doctoral thesis.
The presentation of the doctoral thesis should not significantly exceed 20 to 25 minutes. The presentation should cover the research questions addressed, the methods used, the results obtained, and the scientific relevance of the work.
Examination Date
The arrangement of an examination date is made by the student her/himself. The examination date is to be coordinated and agreed upon with all members of the examination committee.
Examination Committee
The examination committee shall consist of at least three persons. The doctoral thesis defense (defensio dissertationis) takes place with the Dean of Studies as chairperson. As a rule, the examiners shall be university teaching staff with a teaching qualification pursuant to § 98 para. 12 or § 103 UG, for those subjects in which they hold their teaching qualification (cf. § 31 Laws Governing University Studies).
The examination committee shall consist of three persons:
- First Examiner (First Reviewer)
- Second Examiner (Second Reviewer)
- Dean of Studies (Chairperson)
A personal union is excluded. The arrangement of the examination date is made by the student and has to be made with all members of the examination committee.
Exam Registration
The registration for the doctoral thesis defense requires the positive assessment of the Doctoral Colloquium 2 and the positive assessment and grading of the doctoral thesis (cf. § 7 Curriculum for the Doctoral Program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences).
Registration for the doctoral thesis defense is done using the appropriate form in the Student Services Center of the School of Business, Economics and Social Sciences. Please submit it by email to sowi.doktorat(at)uni-graz.at.
Additionally: Please send the form "Degree Completion: Doctoral Program in Business, Economics and Social Sciences 18W" with the registration form.
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/s has been submitted to the Examination Office or the Dean’s Office.
