Doctoral studies at the D-ARCH
Information on Doctoral Studies at D-ARCH
The individual doctorate is based on an agreement between the candidate and the supervisor of the doctoral thesis. With the approval of the doctoral plan by the aptitude colloquium within one year of starting the doctorate, the candidate is definitely admitted to the doctorate. The aptitude colloquium is taken in the institute to which the supervisor of the doctoral thesis belongs (if he or she belongs to the IEA institute, doctoral students can, in consultation with their supervisor, choose the aptitude colloquium of any other institute at D-ARCH).
In addition to applying for an individual doctorate, it is also possible to apply for admission to a doctoral program. The application for a doctoral program precedes the admission procedure stipulated in the doctoral ordinance (for details, see the regulations of the relevant doctoral programs). A doctoral candidate can only be enrolled in one doctoral program. If you participate in more than one doctoral program, the doctoral program in which a substantial part of the doctoral studies is completed will be selected.
The deadlines for submitting the doctoral plan, for appointing the second supervisor, for completing the aptitude colloquium, for reporting co-examiners and the over all period for the doctorate can be viewed by the students in their myStudies account.
After registration, applicants are provisionally enrolled.
Within 12 months of prov. admission, the candidate must pass an aptitude colloquium. These take place in week 5, 23 and 37.
Candidates must register online for the aptitude colloquium by the specified registration deadline.
The aptitude committee examines whether the candidate is qualified to independently carry out a research project and write a doctoral thesis. The subject of the examination is the research project described in the doctoral plan.
For the aptitude colloquium, a doctoral plan (Art. 11 Doctoral Ordinance ETH Zurich) must be prepared and submitted in advance to the Study Secretariate in until Friday in the weeks 2, 20 or 34.
If the aptitude colloquium takes place in a video conference, two-way communication in image and sound must be guaranteed. If this is not the case, the chairperson is obliged to break off the colloquium and agree on a new date.
The aptitude committee (of the institutes ITA, GTA, IDB, LUS) consists of a member of the doctoral committee, the supervisor of the doctoral thesis and the second advisor. Their tasks are:
• Examination of the candidate's aptitude ("passed" / "failed");
• Written submission of the result to the head of the doctoral committee
(possibly with additional remarks to the research project);
• Written justification of the evaluation in case of disagreement between
the members of the committee;
• Statement on the participation of the doctoral candidate in teaching and
on other tasks;
• Statement on the schedule in the case of an extended doctoral program.
If the aptitude colloquium cannot be completed within the first year, a request for extension of the deadline must be submitted.
Please note the Principles of the Vice Rector Doctorate for deadline extensions for the aptitude colloquium.
If the deadline for the aptitude colloquium is not met, the candidate will be exmatriculated based on Art. 22 para. 2 let. b Doctoral Ordinance ETH Zurich.
The Introductory Programme is for students who recently started their doctorate at ETH Zurich.
The doctoral plan must be submitted at least 1 year after entry, until Friday in calendar weeks 2, 20 or 34.
For the doctoral plan, following Download template (PDF, 619 KB) must be used and a curriculum vitae must be attached.
Length
- Template (2 A4-pages)
- Abstract (max. 1 A4-page)
- CV (max. 2 A4-pages)
- Formulation of research objective and research questions, presentation of the planned methodology and brief description of the expected gain in knowledge. (max. 20 A4-pages);
The font size must not be smaller than 10pt.
Submission of all documents electronically, in a single PDF file (max. 10MB), to .
The second advisor must be reported with the doctoral plan. The second advisor is appointed by the supervisor, in agreement with the doctoral candidate.
A second advisor has at least the level of a post-doc or equivalent or is an ETH-internal or ETH-external expert in the relevant research area.
A second advoisor who is not a professor of ETH can also take part in the doctoral examination as a co-examiner later - with the appropriate approval of the doctoral committee. If so, he or she does also have to write a report on the thesis. Second advisors without permission are admitted as guests to the doctoral examination.
Doctoral students are strongly encouraged to nominate an additional (independent) advisor, next to the supervisor, the internal second advisor and co-examiner, throughout their studies (see Art. 28 of the Doctoral ordinance). This can be useful if the supervising team stems from the same chair or if doctoral students feel the wish to have another accompanying person of their choice. In any case, note that an external co-examiner will be necessary for the doctoral examination.
This further advisor must be reported to the Central Doctoral Administration Office using this Download Download (PDF, 232 KB).
A co-examiner may be appointed at any time during your doctoral studies, but no later than when you register for your doctoral examination.
According to the Doctorate Ordinance ETH Zurich co-examiners who are not professors of ETH Zurich must be approved by the responsible doctoral committee.
Once you have decided on your co-examiners with your supervisor, please send a completed and signed Download form (PDF, 437 KB) by email to . This applies to both internal and external co-examiners.
For all doctoral examinations taken after 1.1.2024 the following applies:
- At least one co-examiner is from outside ETH Zurich and is an expert in the candidate's research field.
- If there is a relationship of dependence between the doctoral thesis supervisor and the co-examiners, another independent and expert person must be appointed.
Attention!
The following are eligible for election as external co-examiners:
- Active professors from other universities
- Persons who are proven experts in the area of the doctoral thesis and are equivalent to professors in this
(example: a research director from a research institution in the ETH domain, a Max-Planck institute or a Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)
Not included are persons from universities of applied sciences or private industry with the corresponding expertise. They may, however, be appointed as additional members of the examina-tion committee.
Supervisors of doctoral theses are confirmed as examiners in doctoral examinations for up to one year after their retirement. The department is responsible for this confirmation. In this case, it must be ensured that at least one professor from ETH Zurich is involved as a co-examiner.
Definitely admitted doctoral students submit an annual progress report to their supervisor on the status and planned progress of their research work as well as any significant deviations from the doctoral plan.
In addition, the supervisor conducts an on-site interview with the doctoral candidate at least once a year. It is recommended to also invite the second advisor. The annual status conversation determines the doctoral student's position, supports in all relevant matters and evaluates the candidate's performance.
The result of the conversation is recorded in writing in a template (see website) in the following points:
- Assessment of the research based on the progress report;
- Determination of the next steps;
- work situation in the research group;
- Status in doctoral studies;
- Personal development opportunities and, if necessary, appropriate measures.
The supervisor confirms in a template that the on-site interview has taken place and that the progress report has been submitted (date, time, place and signatures of the head and the doctoral candidate).
The supervisor and the doctoral candidate are obliged to keep all progress reports and protocols of the annual status conversations until the candidate is exmatriculated from the doctorate!
Doctoral students are encouraged to continue their education. In this respect, doctoral studies allow students to deepen their knowledge in their research field, to improve their skills in related research areas as general education and to facilitate their integration into the scientific community.
Within the doctoral studies ("Doktoratsverordnung of ETH Zurich"), the students have not only the right but also a commitment to widen their knowledge.
As a prerequisite for taking a doctoral exam, candidates must provide evidence of 12 ECTS acquired during their regular doctoral studies, whereof at least one third has to be acquired outside of their research area.
If, based on the decision of the supervisor at the beginning of the doctorate, a so-called extended doctoral program is ordered, an individual study plan is created as part of the doctoral plan. In the extended doctoral program, coursework can be ordered up to a maximum of 30 ECTS. They are to be acquired in addition to the ECTS in the regular doctoral program.
ECTS credit points are only awarded if
- when completing a course unit, the associated performance assessment
was passed;
- the doctoral candidate has made an active, verifiable contribution when
participating in other scientific events (conferences, conventions);
- the performance from a course at Master’s level was achieved;
- the performance was not provided in a course held by the own leader.
1 ECTS is equivalent to 30 working hours.
Credits are issued for a doctoral student’s personal contribution only.
Doctoral students always find an adequate, extensive range of courses: specially designed courses, seminars and colloquia at the ETH, at the University of Zurich or at other universities. Credits outside the research area can be acquired at D-GESS, among others. Active participation in committees and working groups at ETH Zurich, the organization and/or active participation in conferences and workshops at home or abroad can also be credited with ECTS.
The study achievements can be documented accordingly in mystudies.
Applications for credits from approved study achievements (participation in committees and working groups of ETH Zurich, organization and/or active participation in conferences and workshops in Switzerland and abroad) can be submitted in mystudies -> Functions -> Requests together with the form " Confirmation of course attendance" as well as papers, course certificates, etc.
Creditable achievements
The doctoral exam has to take place 6 years after the temporary admission at the latest.
From 1.3.2024, possible defence dates will only be offered if 12 credits have been achieved.
For further information visit: Acquiring ECTS and Extended Doctoral Studies.
The Study Secretariate (doctoral office) proposes one or more dates in consultation with the chairperson of the examination committee.
The doctoral candidate coordinates these appointments with the supervisor and the co-examiners. The doctoral candidate confirms the chosen appointment bindingly to the Doctoral Office D-ARCH .
No doctoral exams are held in July and August.
No later than 10 weeks before the planned doctoral examination date:
- Handover of the doctoral thesis to the supervisor, the co-examiner
and the second advisor. They submit their reports on the doctoral thesis
no later than 7 days before the examination to
- The title page is part of the final version of every dissertation.
- The number of ECTS required in the doctoral plan must be shown
in the transcript of records.
If these requirements are met, the doctoral office suggests one or more dates in consultation with the chairperson of the examination board. The doctoral student coordinates this appointment(s) with the supervisor, the co-examiners and possibly the second supervisor. The doctoral student reports the chosen date to the D-ARCH doctoral office.
Registering for the doctoral exam
The doctoral student registers for the doctoral examination at least 1 month before the doctoral examination takes place.
- For doctoral students who started their doctorate after 1.1.2022 or who started before this date and have decided to complete their doctoral studies in accordance with the new ordinance of 1.1.2022: Registration for doctoral examination 22
- For doctoral students who started their doctorate before 1.1.2022 and have decided to complete their doctoral studies in accordance with the old ordinance in force before 1.1.2022: Registration for doctoral examination
If you do not remember which case applies to you, you can check this in your myStudies profile.
If you see the button "Request completion of doctoral studies" (see below) under the tab "functions", this means that you are completing your doctoral studies in accordance with the new ordinance of 1.1.2022 and that therefore you must use Registration for doctoral examination 22 (PDF, 1.5 MB).
After receiving the confirmation of registration
- the doctoral office invites the candidate and all members of the examination committee to the doctoral examination (email)
and informs them of this to all official bodies. - the doctoral office requests to the supervisor and all co-examiners to send in their reports at least 7 calendar days before the examination (letterhead, date, original signature, scanned PDF).
- the doctoral office publishes the doctoral examination in the event calendar of the department.
Form of doctoral examination and examination committee:
A doctoral examination is generally public and can take place both physically and virtually (VideoZoom). The D-ARCH can restrict the public of the examination.
If the doctoral examination takes place virtually (VideoZoom), it is hosted by MMS technology.
The candidate contacts the MMS technician in good time before the exam (according to the contact details in the invitation).
If an examination cannot be carried out properly for technical reasons, it must be canceled or postponed.
For the implementation of doctoral examinations, the current instructions of the school management apply. The candidate is responsible for organizing a Zoom Link for hybrid exams.
Composition of the examination committee:
- A chairperson appointed by the head of department; (Professor)
- Supervisor (called the examiner);
- At least one co-examiner, whereas for doctoral examinations after 1.1.2024 the following applies:
1) At least one co-examiner must be from outside ETH Zurich;
2) In the event of a dependent relationship between the head of department and the co-examiners, another independent and expert person must be added.
Procedure for the doctoral examination:
- Candidate's presentation and interrogation by the examination board: 60 minutes;
- Questions from guests: 10 minutes;
- Decision and announcement of the expert committee's result: 20 minutes;
- Issuing the examination report by the chairperson of the examination committee and delivery of the same to ;
After the doctoral exam important final steps have to be taken before you receive your doctor’s title:
- Approval of the thesis by the Department Conference (this is the date of the dematriculation from the doctorate)
- Submission of deposit copies (3 months at the latest after the dematriculation date) as per personal letter of the central doctoral administration office.
If you decide to change the supervisor, you need the agreement of the new supervisor and, if possible, also the agreement of the former supervisor. Please hand in or send the corresponding form to the Doctoral Administration Office, main building, FO 23.4, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich.
If you feel not to be able to finish your doctorate within the maximum period of 6 years, a well-founded request for extension is to be handed in to the Doctoral Administration Office, main building, FO 23.4, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zurich within due time.
If you withdraw from your doctorate early, it is not enough simply not to enrol for any more semesters. Your withdrawal must be officially reported to the Doctoral Administration Office using the form "Withdrawal declaration for doctoral students". Only when you have submitted this, together with your ETH card, will you be de-matriculated.