Completion/Submission of Dissertation and Disputation
In the dissertation, the doctoral candidate documents his/her ability to conduct independent scientific research. The dissertation deals with a relevant question in the context of international academic discourse in a methodologically and scientifically sound manner. The disputation is the final examination of the PhD programme.
Submission and assessment of the dissertation
Information regarding dissertations, design of the title page, plagiarism check can be found on the ademic Integrity homepage.. In the Rectorate's guideline on Academic Integrity you will find in § 4 formal requirements for theses at mdw. You can also borrow from the Rectorate's guideline on artistic diploma/master's thesis where formatting instructions are given under point 2 "Structure".
The final title of the dissertation must be bindingly determined at least one month before uploading. You can find the form to change your dissertation title here.
Before physical submission, the dissertation must be checked for plagiarism, for which you must upload it to mdwOnline. Detailed information and the process of the plagiarism check can be found on the homepage of the Academic Intergrity..
As soon as the plagiarism check is completed, you will receive an e-mail, after which you can have the dissertation bound and submit it to the StudienCenter. A prerequisite for submission is completion of all required courses in the PhD programme.
Submission is made to the StudienCenter using the form Registration for Disputation, Application for the award of the academic degree, to be found under forms and links. The following documents must be enclosed:
- Dissertation ((4 copies, hard bound,, plagiarism checked))
- Abstract in German and English (Arial, font size 12, 1.5 lines, 1500 to 4000 characters)
- Curriculum vitae (chronological) und short biography(continous text)
- Copy of identity card or passport
- Award certificatesof previously acquired academic degrees
- Application for the award of the academic degree
The Dean of Studies then assigns at least two reviewers to the assessment, at least one of whom must be external to the MdW and may not be in a supervisory relationship with the candidate. From the second reviewer on, it is permissible to appoint a reviewer from a subject closely related to the dissertation topic. The reviewers have to evaluate the dissertation within a maximum of four months. Please note that the date of the disputation can only be agreed upon after both reviews have been received!
- For students who have started in Curriculum 16W, the transitional provision applies that one reviewer must be the first supervisor and the co-supervisor is also eligible as a reviewer. In this case, it would be permissible for both persons to have a supervisory relationship with the student and for both persons to be university lecturers at the mdw.
Defence
In the defence, the candidate defends his/her dissertation before an examination committee. This committee is appointed by the Dean of Studies and consists of the Dean of Studies for Scientific Studies, the supervisor and at least one additional examiner suitable for the subject. Particular efforts are made to involve external co-supervisors and/or reviewers. The defence will be held in German or English in consultation with the Dean of Studies.
After a complete positive assessment of the dissertation, the date of the defence will be agreed upon by the Dean of Studies with the dissertation candidate and the examination committee.
Procedure of the Defence
The defence has the character of an in-depth scientific debate, which is intended to show that the doctoral candidate is capable of orally discussing scientific problems, knows how to present the factual and methodological basis of his/her dissertation, and can place it in the problem context of the subject in question, as well as being familiar with more recent developments in this subject. The discussion takes place exclusively between the dissertation candidate and the members of the examination committee.
- Presentation on the content and problems of the dissertation (25-30 minutes)
- Discussion between the examination committee and the dissertation candidate
- Deliberation of the examination committee on the assessment of the defence
- Declaration of the grade by the Dean of Studies
Completion of doctoral studies
The doctoral program is considered to have been completed when both the dissertation and the defence have been assessed positively, leading to a single overall grade for the doctoral program. This grade is composed of the dissertation assessment and the defence assessment. The dissertation counts as 2/3 and the defence as 1/3. The overall grade thus calculated is to be used for the certificate supplement.
As soon as the examination protocol has been sent to the StudienCenter by the Dean of Studies, the candidate will be contacted by the StudienCenter regarding confirmation by Statistics Austria. As soon as this has been received, the documents are forwarded to the Director of Studies for the awarding of the academic degree.
The Director of Studies shall award the academic degree "Doctor of Philosophy", abbreviated to "PhD", to the graduates after the positive completion of the defence by means of a written decision no later than one month after all requirements have been fulfilled. The certificate and the academic degree will then be sent by post within one month.
Registration for the graduation ceremony takes place in the office of the Director of Studies. All information in this regard can be found on the Director of Studies website.