Information on changes to the doctoral degree regulations – valid from 1 October 2025
Several changes in the doctoral degree regulation (RerNat-O; see amtl. Mitteilung) come into effect on 1 October 2025. They apply to all doctoral students in GAUSS, independent of the starting date of their PhD. We have adjusted the checklists and handouts on our homepage accordingly. Below we would like to summarize the modifications we consider most relevant. This information was also send to every PhD student by Email.
Thesis Advisory Committee meeting and progress report (§5 RerNat-O)
The first progress report (template) and TAC meeting are due within the first six months after the start of the PhD (not after six months have passed).
Important: the doctoral candidate is responsible for organizing the annual TAC meeting. More information on TAC meetings in this Handout.
Submission of thesis (§9 RerNat-O)
Starting on 1 October 2025, the doctoral candidate has to submit only a digital version by default, not a printed and bound one.
The application for admission to the doctoral examination (incl. the thesis defense) and the digital dissertation have to be submitted online (eCampus) – more information on the PhD thesis submission here and in the Checklist – Countdown to doctoral degree.
A printed copy has to be made available to a reviewer if he/she explicitly requests this (in textform) within two weeks of being appointed (i.e. after the start of the examination procedure).
The doctoral candidate must comply with this request immediately and is responsible for the printing and timely distribution of the printed copy to the reviewer!
The time period for reviewing the dissertation starts with the receipt of the printed copy.
It is therefore strongly advised to clarify well in advance of the submission whether the reviewers would like to receive a printed version of the dissertation to avoid having to postpone the disputation.
Please find further information regarding the exam procedure in the Checklist – Countdown to doctoral degree, which we highly recommend to follow.
Doctoral Thesis (§10 RerNat-O)
In case of a manuscript-based thesis, it is no longer required that one of the supervisors confirm that the manuscript(s) make up the essential part of the scientific work.
Reviewer of thesis (§11 RerNat-O)
(At least) Two independent reviewers of the dissertation have to be appointed to the examination committee.
At least one reviewer shall not have any joint publication with the doctoral candidate. (exceptions are only permitted in rare cases and for valid reasons)
Any joint publication(s) with the reviewers must be listed in the online submission form (published, accepted for publication, underrevision, submitted, or in preparation).
Cover page & Page 2 of dissertation (Annex 2 RerNat-O)
Cover page: the place of birth does not have to be included.
Page 2: in German, the reviewers have been renamed to “Gutachterin” (previously “Referentin” and “Korreferent*in”).
Use the templates for the dissertation (while no other format requirements apply) – English or German.
General changes with regards to digitalization (entire RerNat-O).
Text form (i.e., e-mail or signed letter) in almost all processes and forms replaces the written form (i.e., signed letter).
Attachment:
Doctoral degree regulations (RerNat-O) valid from 1 October 2025.
(An unofficial English translation of the updated regulations will be available soon)