Curriculum Requirements

The curricular requirements to finish the phd program differ between the different universities. However, the DK participation and resulting benefits come along with some additional requirements on top of those of the general PhD curricula. They are part of the contract, resp. association with the DK. Below we first list these specific requirements, and then also the requirements for each of the three participating Universities.

  • According to the general principles of the FWF and consequently of our DK, each DK student should spend the total of a semester abroad. This can be subdivided into several stays of at least 6 weeks (in exceptional cases 4 weeks), not inculding conferences, summer schools, etc. Within the first three years, at least 3 months are required. For internal DK students, this is the FWF-condition for the funding of the fourth year. In that fourth year, the total of 6 months abroad must be reached. These rules should be equally applied to all DK students, internal as well as associated.

  • One part of the specific DK-requirements is that each DK student should attend a seminar "Scientific Communication", which takes place every summer semester. The required participation is at least 75% of the 30 hours. Thus, the students should not miss more than four meetings.

  • At each participating University the required number of PhD thesis referees is at least two. However, one specific DK-requirement is that the number of thesis referees for DK students is at least three (advisor + two other referees).

Graz University of Technology

All relevant information can be found on the page of the Doctoral School of Mathematics and Scientific Computing. The page also contains an english version of the Curriculum. Note that this is only a translation of the german version (can be found here) of the curriculum and not legally binding.

Requirements for finishing the PhD

  1. Courses:
    • The student needs to have taken exams consisting in total of 14 semester course hours.
  2. Writing of a PhD thesis:
    • At least two referees need to be selected at the latest two months before submission of the PhD thesis.
    • The supervisor and the doctoral candidate have the right to propose names of referees.
    • The first referee is the supervisor of the PhD thesis.
    • At least one referee should be from outside of Graz University of Technology.
    • Referees must not all be employed at the same institute.
    • The referees need to be provided with a preliminary version of the PhD thesis two months before submission of the thesis.
    • If the candidate has no peer reviewed publications at least three referees are required.
  3. Thesis defence consisting of two parts:
    • Presentation of the scientific work of the candidate
    • Oral examiniation of the subject of the PhD thesis by the board of examiners

Karl-Franzens University Graz

The curriculum for the doctoral studies at Karl-Franzens unversity can be found here. No english version of this document is available.

Requirements for finishing the PhD

  1. Courses:
    • The student needs to have taken exams consisting in total of 16 semester course hours.
  2. Writing of a PhD thesis:
    • At least two referees need to be selected before submission of the PhD thesis.
    • The supervisor and the doctoral candidate have the right to propose names of referees.
    • The first referee is the supervisor of the PhD thesis.
    • At least one referee should be from outside of Karl-Franzens University.
    • Referees must not all be employed at the same institute.
  3. Thesis defence consisting of two parts:
    • Presentation of the scientific work of the candidate
    • Oral examiniation of the subject of the PhD thesis by the board of examiners

Montan University Leoben

The curriculum for the doctoral studies at Montan University Leoben can be found here. No english version of this document is available.

Requirements for finishing the PhD

  1. Courses:
    • The student needs to have taken exams consisting in total of 20 ETCS points.
  2. Writing of a PhD thesis:
    • At least two referees need to be selected before submission of the PhD thesis.
    • The supervisor and the doctoral candidate have the right to propose names of referees.
    • The supervisor and the mentor of the candidate is not allowed to be one of the referees.
    • At least one referee should be from outside of Montan University Leoben.
    • At least part of the thesis should be published in a peer reviewed journal.
  3. Thesis defence consisting of two parts:
    • Short 10 minutes presentation of the scientific work of the candidate
    • Oral examiniation of the subject of the PhD thesis by the board of examiners