Doctoral plan + aptitude colloquium
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The most important component of the doctorate is the research project and thesis carried out under the supervision of a professor.
You can find information regarding formal thesis' aspects here.
Doctoral Plan
Each doctoral student must compile their own doctoral plan. It forms the basis for the aptitude colloquium - scientific works includes the ability to formulate and defend research ideas and to plan their possible realization. The doctoral plan helps to attain and practice this ability.
In agreement with the doctoral student, the supervisor must appoint the second advisor, preferable as early as possible.
An electronic copy of the doctoral plan must be sumitted four weeks before the aptitude colloquium or at the latest within 11 months after provisional admission to the supervisor, the second advisor and the D-INFK doctoral administration .
Detailed information regarding the structure and content of the doctorale plan is available in the Download D-INFK Guidelines for Doctoral Plan (PDF, 91 KB). A LaTeX template is availabe external page here.
Aptitude Colloquium
All doctoral students must subject themselves to a discussion in an aptitude colloquium within 12 months of provisional admission.
The aptitude committee comprises the supervisor, the second advisor, and a representative of the doctoral committee, or another person named by the doctoral committee who must be a member of the D-INFK Professors' Conference as chair of the aptitude committee. One of the aptitude committee members must be full or associated professor.
Six months after the provisional admission, the D-INFK doctoral administration assigns a chair for the aptitude colloquium and informs the doctoral student accordingly. The doctoral student sets the date of the colloquium in agreement with the supervisor, the second advisor and the chair and informs the D-INFK doctoral administration.
The aptitude colloquium consists of a presentation of 20 minutes by the doctoral student of their research proposal, followed by a discussion session during which the aptitude committee asks questions. The aptitude colloquium lasts at least 45 minutes.
The committee assesses the suitabilty of the doctoral student for conducting independent research and writing a doctoral thesis. The focus is on the proposed research area described in the doctoral plan. During the colloqium, the aptitude committee may also interrogate on the other points in the doctoral plan.
Further information can be found in the Download D-INFK aptitude colloquium guidelines (PDF, 117 KB) and here.
The VMI attended some aptitude colloquia and summarized their impressions.
Doctoral students are admitted definitively to the docotrate if they pass the aptitude colloquium.
Research Plan
Writing a research plan helps doctoral students structure and plan their work and also the thesis they will write. The research plan must be submitted within the first 12 months after completing the master's programme. It will also help doctoral students gain valuable experience in writing research proposals.
The research plan must be submitted, together with the approval form to the D-INFK doctoral administration .
Detailed information regarding the content and the structure of the research plan is available in the Download D-INFK guidelines for research plan (PDF, 141 KB).