The evaluation process and the defense

The following criteria must be met to supervise doctoral candidates aiming for:

3 members
The 1st TAC member is usually the main supervisor
All TAC members must be habilitated, have been accepted for habilitation, hold a professorship, hold their own ERC-grant, be Emmy Noether junior research group leader or have an Max-Eder-fellowship
At least two TAC members must be active employees of the LMU medical faculty or the LMU hospital
At least one TAC member has to be from a different institution than the 1st TAC member (independence)
One TAC member should belong to a clinical institution

at least 3 members
The 1^st TAC member is usually your main supervisor
The 1^st and 2^nd TAC members must be habilitated, have been accepted for habilitation, hold a professorship, hold their own ERC-grant, be Emmy Noether junior research group leader or have an Max-Eder-fellowship
The 2^nd TAC member must belong to a different institution than your 1st TAC member (independence).
The 3^rd TAC member must at least be the head of an independent working group, i.e. be a PI.
At least two TAC members must belong to the LMU Faculty of Medicine
For doctoral students in the individual PhD: The 1st TAC member must be a member of the LMU Medical Faculty, TAC member 2 OR 3 can be from outside the Medical Faculty (e.g. another LMU faculty or another university)
A helpful list of faculty members can be found in the LMU Directory of Persons and Institutions.

Doctorate in natural sciences (Dr. rer. nat. or equivalent)
Habilitation or professorship or hold your own ERC-grant, be Emmy Noether junior research group leader or have an Max-Eder-fellowship

Upon accepting the applicant, the doctoral committee will appoint a supervisor based on the doctoral candidate's proposal.

The evaluation and defenses for the various degrees

Submission of the dissertation
The supervisor prepares the Votum informativum and sends it directly to the doctoral office or gives it to the doctoral candidate in a sealed envelope so that it can be submitted together with the dissertation. Deadline: max. 4 weeks after submission of the thesis.evaluation template (DOCX, 183 KB)
Depending on the grade of the dissertation, up to three additional evaluations or opinions are obtained in succession. Deadline: 4 weeks each, evaluation template (DOCX, 183 KB)
Grading: summa (1), magna (2), cum laude (3), rite (4), insufficienter (5)
Defense for Dr. med. and Dr. med. dent.: as a group examination, the examination committee is appointed by the doctoral committee, the date is set by the doctoral committee and the invitations are sent out by the doctoral office.
Defense for Dr. rer. biol. hum.: as an individual examination, the examination committee is appointed by the doctoral committee, the date is organized by the doctoral candidates, the official invitations are sent out by the doctoral office.

Submission of the dissertation
1st TAC member AND 2nd OR 3rd TAC member are simultaneously commissioned by the Doctoral Committee to review the thesis. At the same time, another independent review is commissioned by the Doctoral Committee. Deadline: 2 months.evaluation template (DOCX, 181 KB)
The doctoral committee can then request a additional review if required. Deadline: 2 months, evaluation template (DOCX, 181 KB)
Grading with: summa (1), magna (2), cum laude (3), rite (4), insufficienter (5)
Defense: individual defense, doctoral candidates organize the date, all reviewers of the dissertation are automatically members of the examination committee. Invitations are sent out by the doctoral office.

Submission of the dissertation
1st and 2nd TAC member receive the invitation to review the dissertation at the same time Deadline: 8 weeks. evaluation template (DOCX, 174 KB)
Subsequently, two reviewers are simultaneously asked to comment on the dissertation. The doctoral committee selects the reviewers. Deadline: 4 weeks
Grading: as a number, between 1.0 and 4.0 ( increments of 0.3 or 0.7)
Defense: individual defense, the doctoral candidates organize the date, all reviewers of the dissertation are automatically members of the examination committee. The official invitations are sent out by the MMRS.

Submission of the dissertation (suggestions for reviewers are welcome, preferably members of the Faculty of Medicine with the title Dr. rer. nat. who are authorized to conduct examinations)
The supervisor receives a request to review the dissertation. At the same time, the doctoral committee requests a 2nd evaluation. Deadline for the 1st and 2nd evaluation: 2 months. evaluation template (DOCX, 173 KB)
Afterwards, the doctoral committee commissions four additional reviews or statements. Deadline: 4 weeks
Grading: summa (1*), magna (1), cum laude (2), rite (3), insufficienter (4 or worse)
Defense: individual defense, examination committee consists of the supervisor and three other examiners appointed by the doctoral committee. The doctoral candidates organize the date. The official invitations are sent out by the doctoral office.

An overview of the special features of the new doctoral regulations

The most important procedures (registration of a dissertation, composition of the supervisory committee, agreement on objectives, interim and final evaluation, submission and assessment of a dissertation, defense) are explained briefly and concisely in a video .

The role of supervisors and TAC members in the new doctoral regulations

video player — Here you will find a brief summary of the doctoral process under the new regulations. We answer the most important questions about the supervisory committee, the agreement on objectives, the interim and final evaluation as well as the assessment of the dissertation and defense.

11min | 2 May 2024 | ©Antje Hentrich

General information on the procedure for individual defenses

The defense can be held in German or English, only for Ph.D. medical research defenses must be held in English.
Video or audio recordings of the defense are not permitted.
Guests may only participate in the defense if all examiners and the doctoral candidate are present in person. Who is admitted as a guest depends on the degree pursued:
- Dr. med./ Dr. med. dent./ Dr. rer. biol. hum. according to the new study regulations: doctoral candidates may be admitted as listeners in limited numbers if the examinee has no objections.
- Dr. rer. biol. hum. according to the old study regulations: authorized members of the teaching staff may be present and may ask questions, doctoral candidates who have already passed the preliminary doctoral examination may be admitted as listeners in limited numbers if the examinee has no objections.
- Dr. rer. nat.: authorized members of the teaching staff may be present and may ask questions; a limited number of doctoral candidates who have already passed the preliminary doctoral examination may be admitted as listeners if the examinee has no objections.
- Ph.D. medical research: The disputation consists of a public presentation followed by an oral examination by the examination committee.
In general, at least one of the examiners and the doctoral candidate should be in the same room.
The doctoral candidate arranges the date and time of the examination with the members of the examination committee. It must be agreed in advance who (if anyone) will participate via video conference.
The doctoral candidate books a suitable room and informs the doctoral office or the MMRS at least 3-4 weeks before the planned examination of the: date, time, address, room number and who (if anyone) will participate via video conference.
The official invitation is issued by the responsible doctoral committee. The doctoral office or the MMRS sends out the invitations to the defense.

Guests are unfortunately not permitted for examinations with video conferencing
All examiners require an internet-enabled device (computer/tablet/mobile phone) equipped with a camera and microphone.
Doctoral candidates need a computer that meets the above requirements and is capable of playing the presentation.
All participants need a stable and sufficiently fast internet connection.
Please test your equipment in advance and familiarize yourself with the required software before the appointment.
We recommend headphones with a microphone for hybrid exams.
The members of the examination committee should decide among themselves who will host the video conference. The doctoral candidate must not be the host of the video conference.
If you are using Zoom, please select "Video on" for moderators and participants, "Activate waiting room" and deactivate "Require authentication to join". Please send the link with the invitation to the video conference to all members of the examination committee and the doctoral candidate.
Start the session a few minutes before the official start of the examination in order to be able to resolve any technical problems that may arise.
If you have any further questions, please contact the doctoral office or the MMRS.

Overview of the most important key facts of individual defenses:

	Duration of the presentation	Questions	total duration	Guests (only possible if all examiners and the candidate are present in person)	Language
Dr. med., Dr. med. dent. and Dr. rer. biol. hum. (new doctoral regulations)	15 min	15-45 min	30-60 min	A limited number of doctoral candidates may be admitted as listeners if the examinee has no objections	German or English
Dr. rer. biol. hum. (old doctoral regulations)	max. 20 min		ca. 60 min	Authorized members of the teaching staff may be present and may ask questions; a limited number of doctoral candidates who have already passed the preliminary examination may be admitted as listeners if the examinee has no objections	German or English
Dr. rer. nat.	max. 30 min		ca. 60 min	Authorized members of the teaching staff may be present and may ask questions; a limited number of doctoral candidates who have already passed the preliminary examination may be admitted as listeners if the examinee has no objections	German or English
Ph.D. Medical Research	45 min	30-60 min	75 – 105 min	The disputation consists of a public presentation followed by an oral examination by the examination committee	English