Finishing your PhD

Most likely, you are in constant exchange with your supervisor and you early on discussed his or her expectations concerning your dissertation. In psychology, a dissertation most likely includes several empirical studies. Once you finished the data collection of what you perceive as your final study for your Ph.D. project, it is time to confirm that your supervisor agrees with your judgment. Clarify with your supervisor the following questions:

• Which studies/papers/manuscripts should be included in the dissertation?
• Is there anything else you are expected to do before submitting the dissertation (e.g., submitting a manuscript to a journal or getting a manuscript accepted)?
• What is expected from the introduction and the summary of a cumulative dissertation? Is there an expectation about the length of these sections?
• What type of feedback will be provided by the supervisor? How is the feedback organized?
• What time plan seems to be realistic for finalizing your dissertation?
• How can we schedule the final steps?

Time frame final steps:

If you are in conflict with your supervisor and you don’t know how to proceed, please don’t hesitate to consult with your mentor.

You will suggest two reviewers for your dissertation. Reviewers have a venia legendi or equivalent qualification (usually they are professors) in your research field. Usually, you will discuss this choice with your supervisor. Your supervisor can but does not need to be a reviewer. The primary reviewer will be part of the committee of your oral exam. The secondary reviewer can but does not need to be part of your oral exam. The doctoral school advises to suggest at least one external reviewer (not a member of the University Graz). The final decision will be made by the dean of studies.

Contact potential reviewers early on (at least half a year in advance) to check availability. Officially, reviewers have four months to submit their review. Usually, they agree to do this much more quickly. You cannot sign up for your oral exam without positive reviews of your dissertation (see final steps).

It is a challenge to finish a dissertation and at the same time to plan your future. But, if your current position ends shortly after or even before the envisioned date of your oral exam, you should prepare for the future. Keep in mind that it might take a while to secure a new position. Talking with your supervisor, your mentor, other Ph.D. students, Post-docs at the university, a person from the docservice, or even an external consultant might be helpful. Roughly a year before finishing your dissertation you should start exploring the following questions:

• Do I want to pursue a career in academia? If yes:
  1. What is my main research interest – in which field do I want to continue?
  2. Where are research groups working on “my” research questions?
  3. What are platforms where post-doc positions in my field of interest are announced? Can I sign up for these?
  4. How can I apply for my own funding as a post-doc? Which programs are out there? (check Förderungen - Information und Service für PostDocs (uni-graz.at)) What are the deadlines for these applications?
  5. How mobile am I? Which countries do I consider for a post-doc position?
  6. What type of positions exist after the Ph.D. (e.g. post-doc, junior professorship, scientist)? Which type is interesting for me and why?
• Do I want to continue focusing on research, but maybe outside of a university? If yes:
  1. What other research institutions are involved in research in my field of interest?
  2. Are there companies or organizations with research departments or research positions that tackle research questions I want to work on?
  3. How does research under these circumstances look like? How does it differ
• Do I want to switch to an applied field?  If yes:
  1. What type of job offerings stir my interest?
  2. Do interesting job offers mention further qualifications I need to have?
  3. Are there additional courses / certificates offered by the University Graz that might be beneficial for me (check e.g. Zentrum für soziale Kompetenz)
• Do I consider starting my own firm or to become self-employed? If yes:
  1. Check out the start-up program at unicorn (Start-up Programme - Unicorn Graz (unicorn-graz.at))

You have done it! You have written your dissertation and, hopefully, after some feedback from your supervisor and other trusted people, polished it for your submission.  Now you can submit it together with your suggestions for the reviewers (see Final theses - Information for NAWIs - Natural sciences (uni-graz.at)).
Hopefully, by now, you have already agreed with your primary reviewer on a date for your oral exam and made sure that he or she can attend. The committee of your oral exam consists of your primary reviewer, a second examinator (could be another reviewer), and the head of the committee. When you register for your oral exam (at least two weeks before the exam), you need to suggest the committee members and include the confirmation of their willingness to participate.
You need to book a room for your oral exam for two hours. The oral exam is a public exam – thus be prepared that other people might join and book a room that can seat at least 10-15 people. Often, fellow Ph.D. students are grateful to observe an oral exam before taking their own. Maybe your family is also interested in sharing this important moment with you.
The oral exam has three parts:
(a) your presentation of the dissertation (max. 40 minutes – uninterrupted)
(b) discussion of dissertation results (max. 20 minutes – everybody in the audience can ask questions, but the head of the committee can dismiss questions as unfair or inappropriate)
(c) examination of the research field (max. 30 minutes – only the committee can ask questions)
The oral exam can be in German or English. Often parts b and c are not distinguishable within the oral exam. Ask your supervisor about his or her experiences and inquire with the committee members whether they wish to agree on specific topics or literature for part c. The head of the committee will make sure of the correct procedure during the exam and take notes – even though he or she can ask questions, this might not be the case.