How Does a Doctorate Work?

The first step is to contact a professor at the Faculty of Agriculture who is willing to supervise your work.

You can often find current vacancies with the opportunity to do a doctorate on the institutes' websites. Check regularly to see if there is something suitable for you.

Perhaps you have an idea of your own? Approach potential supervisors directly. Explain your planned research project as precisely as possible and give reasons why the professor is suitable as a supervisor.

Check the required language skills (doctorate in German or English).

In principle, you can enroll as a student during your doctorate. Enrolment takes place at the Student Registry of the University of Bonn.

As a student, you can enjoy a number of benefits:

Your doctoral project is finished and your dissertation is almost complete? Now there are further procedural steps to take: First of all, you must apply for admission to the doctoral procedure. In this you must state the exact title of your thesis and make a proposal for the composition of your examination board. Please note § 3 (1) and (2) of the doctoral regulations of the Faculty of Agriculture, which you can find under Downloads.

It is advisable to involve the second reviewer as early as possible so that you can discuss your thesis with them from a subject-specific point of view before submitting it. Your application must be approved by the Faculty Council (which meets three times a semester during the lecture period). Only then can you submit your dissertation with the documents listed in the application for review to the doctoral office.

Once all the formalities have been completed, you will be admitted to the doctorate and receive a corresponding confirmation. Now you should concentrate on executing your doctorate. In addition to the traditional doctorate, the Faculty of Agriculture also offers participation in a structured doctoral program as part of the Bonn International Graduate School (BIGS) - Land and Food.

With the Argelander Program, the University of Bonn has created a comprehensive support system to promote the development of young researchers at all academic levels. Here, for example, you can participate in the Promotion-Plus funding program.

Your doctoral procedure is considered complete when your dissertation has been published. You have a maximum of one year to do this. You will receive more detailed information after the examination, where you will receive a letter from the chair.

The doctoral certificate will be issued as soon as the documents required for completion have been submitted. You will receive two certified copies. The doctorate is considered completed and the title may be used. The original certificate will be presented by the Dean at the doctorate award ceremony - on the Friday before the Unifest.