Dissertation and defense

The doctoral thesis is the central element of all doctoral programs at the University of Vienna. The doctoral thesis proves the ability of the doctoral candidate to conduct independent scientific work on a high academic level. It shows the capability to comprehend and reflect the latest state of art in the field of research and extends this through methodologically founded contributions. 

Due to the differences in scientific customs of the various disciplines there are no strict guidelines concerning length and form of a doctoral thesis. For the humanities the thesis might be written in form of a monograph,  for many other disciplines a cumulative dissertation might be the preferred format. This is a compilation of several articles touching a similar topic. Crucial is to follow the standards of the own discipline, also with regard to the language, in which the thesis is written. The decision how the thesis will look like (language, form, ect.) should be discussed with the supervisor. In any case, the doctoral thesis has to comply with the international standards of the discipline. Before completing the thesis, please read the information on formal requirements for academic theses.