In addition to the preparation of a doctoral thesis (monographic or cumulative), doctoral requirements also include an oral examination, known as defence, disputation or colloquium, depending on the regulations and procedures governing the doctorate. The result of the oral examination and the grade for the thesis are included in the overall grade.
Clarify formal and organisational issues
The formal doctoral degree assessment procedure is regulated by the respective regulations and procedures governing the doctorate (in German). Questions on this and on organisational preparation (date of the oral examination, room reservation, etc.) should be clarified with the supervisor and the examination office responsible at an early stage.
Participation in oral examinations of other doctoral candidates
In many cases, doctoral candidates can choose whether to admit the internal public to the oral exam (disputation). If you have the opportunity to take part in the disputations of other doctoral candidates, you should take advantage of this – especially if examiners who will also be sitting on your board of examiners are involved. Although you are not usually allowed to ask questions there, you can get a good feel for how disputations work, what questions to expect and also what strategies your fellow students use to respond to unexpected or difficult questions.
Gain experience in presenting your own project
You can only learn to speak by speaking! This is why you should take the opportunity to present your project to a specialist audience, but also to a non-specialist audience (e.g. at a science slam) during your doctoral studies.
Don’t be afraid of critical questions! In the disputation – but also in many other academic and non-academic contexts – you will be confronted with critical questions or negative feedback. However, trying to design a flawless presentation that anticipates all possible questions is not necessarily the best strategy. With increasing experience, you will learn that even questions that you did not expect can open the door to presenting yourself and your research from a new perspective.
Attend a presentation or rhetoric workshop
Presenting and engaging in critical discussion is a key academic skill that you will need again and again in your professional life. Workshops can help you to test and develop your skills in small groups.
Calendar of events GSHS partners
Offers from the RMU partner universities (in German)
