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 propose two reviewers for your dissertation. The reviewers have a venia legendi or an equivalent qualification (usually a professor) in your field of research. As a rule, you will discuss this choice with your supervisor. Reviewers cannot be co-authors of publications in cumulative dissertations at the same time. At least one reviewer must come from outside the University of Graz. The first reviewer and the first supervisor are part of the committee for your oral examination. The second reviewer can, but does not have to, take part in your oral examination. The final decision is made by the Dean of Studies.

Contact potential reviewers well in advance (at least six months in advance) to check their availability. Officially, the reviewers have four months to submit their review. However, they usually agree to do this much more quickly. Without a positive review of your dissertation, you cannot register for the oral examination (see last 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, you have already agreed on a date for the oral examination with your main reviewer and first supervisor and made sure that they can attend. The committee for your oral examination (defensio) consists of your first supervisor, the first reviewer and the chair of the committee. The second reviewer and any other assessors and co-supervisors do not have to be members of the examination board. When registering for the oral examination (at least two weeks before the examination), you must nominate the committee members and confirm their willingness to participate.

You must book a room for two hours for your oral examination. The oral examination is a public examination - so be prepared for the possibility of other people attending and reserve a room that can accommodate at least 10-15 people. Doctoral students are often grateful if they can watch an oral exam before they take their own. Your family may also be interested in sharing this important moment with you.

The defense consists of two parts: 

(a) Your presentation of the dissertation (max. 40 minutes - without interruption)

(b) Defense of the dissertation, taking into account the expert opinions in the context of a general discussion (max. 50 minutes - anyone in the audience can ask questions, but the chair of the committee can reject questions as unfair or inappropriate)

The oral examination can be held in German or English. Ask your supervisor about his/her experience and ask the committee members if they want to agree on specific topics or literature. The committee chair ensures that the examination is conducted correctly and takes notes - even if they can ask questions.