FAQ Doctorates
The requirements for a doctorate are regulated in the respective doctoral regulations of the schools.
In general, the following degrees entitle the holder to a Doctorate:
- Completion of a degree program at a German university (Master's, state examination, Diplom or Magister, in some subjects also Bachelor's in exceptional cases)
- University degree of the First State Examination for Teacher Education
- Completed equivalent studies at a comparable foreign university
- Completion of a relevant university degree course
As a rule, an above-average degree is expected as proof of the ability to carry out in-depth academic work. The exact access requirements for individual subjects (e.g. grade limits, submission of exposés or further proof of the ability to carry out in-depth academic work) can be found in the doctoral regulations of the school in which you would like to do your doctorate. These also set out all the procedural steps for the entire doctoral process - from the confirmation of supervision and acceptance as a doctoral candidate, admission to the doctorate (dissertation and oral examination) to the publication of the dissertation.
Confirmation of supervision
The first step in taking up a Doctorate is to obtain a commitment from a university lecturer to supervise your doctoral thesis. Think about who is suitable for your topic in good time. Find out about the main areas of research and consider whether these fall within the scope of your doctoral topic, as you should always discuss content-related questions with your future supervisor.
The confirmation of supervision should be recorded in writing on the form Confirmation of Supervision (PDF, 12.81 kB) (PDF, 12.81 kB). You will need the completed and signed form for the next step.
Acceptance as a doctoral candidate
Once you have received a confirmation of supervision, you can apply for acceptance as a doctoral candidate (PDF, 210 kB), which is the next formal step on the path to the Doctorate.
To do this, you must submit the signed confirmation of supervision to the Chair of the Doctoral Committee at the school, together with proof of completion of an Individual Doctoral Development Plan (IDP), a copy of a Master's certificate (in the case of a degree from an external university in certified form) and a completed questionnaire for the doctoral student statistics. (PDF, 126 kB) With the signature of the chairperson and an official seal, you are accepted as a doctoral candidate at the school and can now enrol for a doctorate at the Admissions Office.
Individual Doctorate Development Plan (IDP)
Osnabrück University has an Individual Development Plan (IDP) for coordination between doctoral candidates and supervisors. The IDP is an extended supervision agreement that must be concluded at the beginning of the Doctorate. The agreement of the IDP is additionally documented by the confirmation of the conclusion of the Individual Development Plan. The IDP serves to clarify mutual expectations in the supervisory relationship and forms the basis for regular status meetings between doctoral candidates and supervisors.
In addition to questions regarding the content of the doctoral project and supervision (such as the frequency of status meetings and the scope of work reports), questions regarding financial security, the acquisition of further academic and interdisciplinary skills, participation in teaching, career prospects after the Doctorate and principles of good research practice are also addressed.
Enrolment for a Doctorate
Enrolment for a Doctorate requires a confirmation of supervision and acceptance by the relevant schools. Please register online via the Osnabrück University application portal by September 30 for the winter semester and by March 31 for the summer semester.
Doctoral students must pay a semester fee each semester. If doctoral students receive a publicly funded scholarship, they are exempt from paying the administrative fee, which is included in the semester fee, in accordance with Section 11 (1) sentence 2 no. 3 NHG.
Authorization
The following documents must be enclosed with the application for admission to doctoral studies (PDF, 83 kB) in the form of a cover letter to the Dean of the School of Mathematics/Computer Science/Physics requesting the opening of the procedure:
- a current certificate of enrollment for doctoral students (via the Admissions Office), if necessary another one until the disputation in the case of a procedure spanning several semesters;
- three copies of the dissertation (if there are more than two reviewers, if necessary an additional copy if necessary);
- an electronic version of the thesis that corresponds to the written version (attached on a flash drive or by e-mail);
- a declaration of independence of (PDF, 8.21 kB)the work performed (preferably bound into the dissertation copies);
- Proof of participation in a course for doctoral candidates;
- a current curriculum vitae;
- a (small) police clearance certificate, not older than three months, and
- a declaration of any previous doctoral applications (PDF, 8.56 kB).
Once all of the above documents have been submitted, the Dean's Office will prepare and send a letter of admission and the procedure will be initiated, i.e. the committee will be proposed and appointed; the expert reports will be requested and made available for inspection by the doctoral research assistants for 10 days after receipt, together with the dissertation. After the date of the defense has been set, the invitation is sent to the candidate and the invitation to the defense is made public at the university.
If the disputation is successfully completed, the thesis can be published (PDF, 87 kB). As a rule, this is done electronically via the university library.
Any changes must be agreed in advance with the main referee using a form (PDF, 83 kB)and approved by him/her and the dean. The University Library creates a corresponding metadata record. This is approved by the main supervisor and sent to the University Library together with a cover letter. Once the deposit copies have been submitted (the schools will be notified accordingly), the certificate can be issued.
Anyone interested in doing a doctorate should always read the doctoral regulations of the subject in which they wish to do their doctorate. There you will find the specific procedural steps of the doctorate in the respective schools, from acceptance as a doctoral candidate to the award of the doctorate.
Doctoral degree regulations of the Schools of Biology/Chemistry, Mathematics/Computer Science/Physics for the award of the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) (PDF, 142 kB)