Doctoral Studies

Are you thinking about pursuing a doctoral degree at the Faculty of Protestant Theology in Bonn? Below you will find an overview of the steps to take as well as important documents to download.

Currently, you are undertaking your doctoral studies with a doctoral supervisor. You can choose between our doctoral program leading to a Dr. theol. dregree (requires konwledge of German at C2 level) and our new Ph.D. program (no knowledge of German needed).

The Doctoral Regulations and Ph.D. Regulations form the legal basis for your doctoral studies. In our Ph.D. program, you can choose from different majors.

Step 1: Doctoral Supervisior

First, find a doctoral supervisor for your dissertation project. You may ask any professor or private lecturer ("Privatdozent"/PD) of the Faculty's departments.

Next, fill in the application to Ph.D. program (PDF file for download) and get your supervisor to sign it.

Before you register, please also carefully read the information on doctoral studies (for the Dr. theol. program, only available in German) and information on the Ph.D. program at our faculty .

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Step 2: Registration

Now you can register for your doctoral studies by sending the application form and the completed Hochschulstatistikfragebogen (questionnaire for statistical purposes) to the Office for Doctoral Affairs by e-mail.

For the registration of your dissertation project, you must also submit the following (original or certified copy):

Degree Certificates
Language certificates
Transcript of Records
School leaving certificate

Certificate Doctorate Plus

The certificate Doctorate plus can be acquired in the following tracks: Research, Research Management, Business and Organizations Track.

The certificate is jointly issued by the Bonn Graduate Center and its cooperating institutions: Career Center, Human Development, Bonn University and State Library, International Office, Gender Equality Office and Bonner Zentrum für Hochschullehre.

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Step 3: Writing Phase

After finding your subject and preparing a synopsis in consultation with your supervisor, it is up to you to write, discuss and perhaps already present parts of your thesis.

In addition to writing the dissertation, the Ph.D. program includes structured doctoral studies, i.e. participation in courses and two international congresses. Details can be found in the information sheet.

It generally takes 3 years full-time to write a PhD thesis, and obviously longer if part-time. In addition to a monograph, the Ph.D. program also offers the option of a cumulative dissertation.

Step 4: Application for the Doctoral Examination

You have completed your thesis? Congratulations!

Submit at least 3 printed copies of your thesis as well as an electronic version to the Office for Doctoral Affairs. The application form for admission to the doctoral examination and the required attachments must also be submitted.

Expect a period of nine months between the submission of your thesis and the doctoral examination.

Step 5: Oral Defence or Viva

Get in touch with possible examiners early on.

Once your thesis has been evaluated and accepted by the examination board a date will be set for your oral examination and announced to you by e-mail. Vivas take place on a fixed date, whereas dates for disputations are arranged individually.

If you are defending your thesis in a a disputation, you must submit your arguments to the Office for Doctoral Affairs at least 6 weeks before the date.

Further Procedure

After your successful doctoral examination, you will receive a written confirmation. However, you may not use your doctoral title until you have been awarded your doctorate certificate.

The condition for this is, for example, the submission of a contract for the publication of your doctoral thesis. For alternatives, kindly refer to your Doctoral or Ph.D. Regulations.

There will be a graduation ceremony, to which you, your supervisor and the the second examiner will be invited. You are also welcome to bring other guests with you.

At the graduation ceremony you will receive a certificate and may take the doctoral oath if you would like to. Following the ceremony, you will be given written confirmation that you are now entitled to use the doctoral title.

Your thesis should be published within a year of graduating, otherwise you need to apply for an extension. 7 published copies must be submitted, into which specific details must be inserted by you – the Office for Doctoral Affairs has a template you can use.

And what now? The Career Service of Bonn University can advise you on further career opportunities.