A Doctorate at D-BAUG
Applicable to doctoral students matriculated before 1 January 2022.
(This highly important topic is dealt with outside the above graph; it formed part of a previous tab on the research plan.)
What exactly are the parameters for a cumulative thesis?
There are different sources to consult, but start out with the D-BAUG infos, especially with regard to the number of publications needed:
Detailed Stipulations D-BAUG, Art. 10
Please note that all of these requirements must be fulfilled at the time when you submit your exam version, i.e. 8 weeks prior to your doctoral examination.
"Download Guidelines (PDF, 468 KB) on the Structure of a Cumulative Doctoral Thesis for D-BAUG Doctoral-Students"
"How to make Download changes (PDF, 142 KB) to papers that from part of a cumulative thesis"
Additionally: Make sure you also consult the website of the Central Doctoral Administration of ETH.
Last but not least, the overarching legal framework:
Rector's Implementation Provisions for the ETH Ordinance on the Doctorate, section 11.2
As you might have heard, you no longer need to nominate your 1st co-examiner after your 3rd year.
This element was deleted in the new Doctoral Ordinance (from 01.01.2022). -- The above diagramm, however, remains unchanged so people with a very early matriculation don't get confused, and "the new ones" realise they're on the wrong website.
Please now go to the examination page, "Approval of all Co-Examiners".
This chapter comprises the last element of Transitional Provisions.
In other words: If you did not opt for the credit point regulations under the new Doctoral Ordinance (in effect since 01.01.22), the Detailed Provisions hereunder are applicable to you. Please note that the opportunity to switch expired mid 2022.
Over the course of your doctoral studies, you have the right and the obligation to develop your knowledge in the field of your doctoral thesis. General information about this is available on the Student portal.
Regarding additional D-BAUG requirements, please consult our Download Detailed Provisions (PDF, 45 KB) as of 1 July 2016. (If you need to refer to the previous version, you will still find it under Documents.)
Please note:
- Discuss your individual study programme with your doctoral thesis supervisor
- Credits of qualifying exams (additional requirements) do not count towards the 12 credit points of your doctoral studies. See Download Detailed Provisions D-BAUG (PDF, 45 KB), Art. 5.
- At least one-third of your credits must be gained outside your discipline.
- All lectures taken from the ETH Zurich course catalogue are shown in myStudies.
- Performance assessments from other universities as well as any other achievements need to be accounted for separately.
To get your 12 credit points confirmed around 8-9 months prior to your doctoral examination, please to the Doctoral Administration D-BAUG:
- your "Transcript of Records" (source: myStudies)
- course confirmations, diplomas etc. for any credits accumulated outside ETH
- the Download registration form (PDF, 1.5 MB) for the doctoral examination filled out (upper section).
Annual Status Conversation with Progress Report
Overview
After definitive admission, a written progress report must be submitted to the doctoral thesis supervisor each year.
The progress report must describe the following:
- status and anticipated progress of research work
- any significant deviations from the research objectives set out in the doctoral plan
The individual annual status conversation must include the following:
- discussion and assessment of research progress (based on progress report)
- determination of next steps
- progress of doctoral studies
- working situation in the research group
- personal development possibilities and the corresponding measures if required
To Do
- The progress report and the report on the status conversation must be submitted to the second advisor (and possibly additional experts) for information purposes.
- The doctoral thesis supervisor and the doctoral student are both obliged to store progress reports and the respective status conversation reports until the time of dematriculation. -- If legal proceedings are pending the documents must be retained until a legal ruling has been issued.
NOTE: The annual status conversation comprises two separate parts:
1. Scientific progress
2. Evaluation of career and personal development
The first part of the discussion addresses the doctorate and the research project.
Involving the second advisor in the first part is recommended. Further experts in the field may also take part.
The second part of the discussion is conducted as a development interview which involves mutual feedback and addresses the further development of competences. This part concerns the doctoral thesis supervisor and the doctoral student only and is confidential.
Here is the form.
Legal Basis
Comprehensive information surrounding the preparation of your doctoral examination is available on our separate website Doctoral Examination.
The maximum duration of a doctorate at ETH is 6 years. See Ordinance on Doctoral Studies ETH Zurich, art. 27, section 4, as well as the corresponding Implementation Provisions.