Application & Advice

After the completion of both the doctoral programme and your dissertation begins the doctoral examination process in which your dissertation is evaluated and defended.

You need to apply for the start of the doctoral examination process at the respective faculty, whose doctoral regulations specify which documents have to be produced and eventually submitted to the relevant Dean's Office. Templates for all relevant forms are available here.

You need to apply for the Academic Transcript of the Doctoral Programme not later than four weeks before you plan to initiate the doctoral examination process. This transcript serves the purpose of documenting the successful completion of your doctoral studies (classes etc.).

The doctoral regulations of the faculties as well as the general doctoral regulations of Bielefeld University govern the implementation of the doctoral procedure and the composition of the examination committees.

Please note that special requirements apply to group or team work, cumulative or binational doctorates, which are explained in the respective doctoral regulations or in additional contractual agreements.

Doctoral researchers in History should contact the academic management of the School of Historical Research if they have any questions.

Doctoral researchers of Sociology should contact the Examination Office of the Faculty of Sociology (Prüfungsamt der Fakultät für Soziologie) and the responsible contact person for the area of Freie und strukturierte Promotion (non-structured and structured doctoral studies).