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Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielFaculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesDoctoral Degree ChecklistCHECK LISTwith important instructions on the doctoral degree procedure and the defenceof the doctoral dissertation (disputation)at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciencesat Kiel UniversityReference: Doctoral Degree Regulations as of 12 May 2009To avoid any confusion with regard to the doctoral degree regulations during the disputationprocess, the most important points are summarised in this leaflet.1. The application to be included in the list of doctoral candidates must be submitted priorto the commencement of any work on the dissertation. Ms Claudia Born is responsible forprocessing these applications.2. The dissertation can be produced as a monograph, cumulative dissertation or as acombination of both.a. A monograph is structured as follows: Introduction, material and methods, results,discussion, bibliography and appendix.b. The cumulative dissertation consists of separate chapters for the different types ofpublications and the way the work was published. For cumulative dissertations, inpublications with multiple authors, the doctoral candidate’s own contribution must bespecified in writing by the supervisor.c. A combination of monograph and cumulative dissertation contains parts from2.a. as well as 2 b.3. The doctoral dissertation may be produced in German or English. It should contain a onepage abstract in German and English.4. The application for admission to the examination must contain:a. four copies of the dissertation;including a written declaration that contains the following details:i. that apart from the supervisor's guidance the content and design of the paper is allthe candidate’s own work,ii. whether the thesis has already been submitted either partially or wholly as part ofa doctoral degree to another examining body and whether it has been publishedor submitted for publication;that the thesis has been prepared subject to the Rules of Good Scientific Practice ofthe German Research Foundation;Please refer also to the following document for details on this subject:Information sheet on the publication of dissertations of the Faculty of Mathematics andNatural Sciences, no. 5;b. a short description of the candidate’s scientific career with details of nationality,home town and course studied;1

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielFaculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesDoctoral Degree Checklistc. Supporting documents for the required studies with the associated diploma and anyother certificates of institutions of higher educationd. a current enrolment certificate ande. two suggestions from the supervisor for possible second referees.5. Once the application for admission to the examination has been submitted to Ms GesaKoberg, the first and second referee will be asked for an expert evaluation. These reportsshould be completed within 4 weeks. Shorter timeframes are permitted, provided thecandidate has agreed this with the persons preparing the report.6. Following receipt of the reports, the dissertation is exhibited for one week (during thelecture period) or three weeks (outside of the lecture period) in the Dean's Office forinspection. The exhibition period is announced on Mondays or Fridays.7. The candidate is responsible for organising the examination (date, venue, examinationcommittee including chairperson and collection and return of examination documents).If the date and the members of the examination committee are not yet set at the time ofsubmission of the application, the candidate provides these details in the same timeframeas the referees their reports (cf. Number 5).8. Approximately one week prior to the defence of the doctoral dissertation (disputation) thecandidates receive a written invitation. Confirmation of receipt must be returned to theDean’s Office.9. The examination documents must be delivered two days prior to the disputation to thechairperson of the examination committee and following the disputation they must bereturned to the Dean’s Office.10. The oral examination is carried out in the form of a disputation, An application can bemade for the oral examination to be held in English.11. The oral examination is open to all students and employees of the university. Anapplication to exclude the university audience must be well-grounded. (“I do not have theconfidence for it" or "I am nervous" are not acceptable reasons.)12. In the defence of the doctoral dissertation, the examination shall consist of apresentation of the dissertation by the doctoral candidate, lasting about 30 minutes and adiscussion between the doctoral candidate and the examination committee, which followson from the topic of the dissertation and related fields, lasting between 45 and 60minutes.13. In the overall grade the doctoral dissertation is worth 70% and the disputation is worth30%.14. Since at the end of the disputation it is decided whether the dissertation is ready forpublication, the candidate should request at this stage whether this is the case.15. A dissertation that is acknowledged as ready for publication should be supplied to thefaculty and published appropriately within one year of the oral examination. Thisrequirement is regarded as met once the author delivers the following in addition to the copyrequired for the examination files free of charge.a. Four copies with simultaneous publication in generally accessible electronic media via theuniversity library (in this case the files to be submitted to the university library must be2

Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu KielFaculty of Mathematics and Natural SciencesDoctoral Degree Checklistformatted in accordance with the library’s specifications) or via an appropriate PreprintServer (in general monographies) orb. four copies, if the main parts of the work are published in a journal which is usuallythe case for cumulative dissertationsc. 40 copies in printed or photocopied format for the purpose of distribution.Please refer also to the following document for further details:Information sheet on the publication of dissertations of the Faculty of Mathematicsand Natural Sciences16. The Dean’s Office requires proof of receipt from the university library and in the case ofelectronic publication the official form Publication of the dissertation in order to preparethe certificate.17. If the dissertation is not ready for publication at the time of the oral examination thesupervisor informs the Dean once it is ready (this may also be communicated by e-mail).18. The Dean hands out the Doctoral Degree Certificate following the swearing in of thedoctoral candidates within the framework of the ceremony for awarding the certificateswhich usually take place twice per semester. An application can be made for the doctoralcandidate to be sworn in following the disputation. Once the candidate has received thedoctoral degree certificate, he/she is entitled to hold a doctoral degree title. Up to thispoint, the candidate is not permitted to use the doctoral degree title, (Dr. of) in any form.http://www.uni-kiel.de/sy/2009/promotionsordnung-math-nat-fakultaet.pdf3