Guide to the doctoral degree (Dr. paed.)

1. Orientation und Counselling

Your first point of contact for advice on general questions about the doctoral programme is Prof. Dr. Clauß Peter Sajak.

You can discuss specialised questions with your principal supervisor (§5). If you are coming to Münster to pursue a doctorate but do not yet have a doctoral supervisor who can assist you, Prof. Dr. Clauß Peter Sajak can help you to establish contact with a professor in your particular field of study.

Important documents:

• Doctoral Regulations

Contact:

• Prof. Dr. Clauß Peter Sajak (Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Theology)
• Simone Krause (Examinations Office I)

2. Enrolment

First, you enrol at the University of Münster for the doctoral programme. To do this, you also need the Confirmation of Doctoral Supervision. You can find all the necessary information and the link to online enrolment on the website of the Student Admissions Office.

Required documents:

• Confirmation of Doctral Supervision
• Certificate of previous university degrees (§6)

Contact:

• Student Admissions Office
• Online enrolment portal

3. Doctoral Programme (§6)

The doctoral programme has a volume of 20 ECTS and serves to acquire skills in the following areas:

a) Fundamentals of research (e.g. scientific theory, research methods, project planning)

b) Content related to the subject of the doctorate

c) Comprehensive doctoral-related skills (e.g. academic writing, foreign languages, teaching skills)

d) Presentation of your own work (e.g. posters, presentations)

The competences acquired relate to the main subject and the two chosen minor subjects. The content of the doctoral programme is determined individually and project-oriented by you and your principal supervisor. It will be set out in a Doctoral Agreement at the beginning of the doctoral programme. The credits are documented as part of the application for admission.

Required documents:

• Doctoral Agreement

4. Examination Phase (§§7-13)

a. Admission to the Examination Phase

Upon finishing your dissertation and completing the required courses of the doctoral programme, you must apply for admission to the examination phase. To apply, submit all the required documents to the Doctoral Committee and hand in the dissertation in accordance to with the submission formalities along with the Affirmation in Lieu of an Oath.

Required documents:

• Application for admission:
• Name the topic of the dissertation and the supervisors
• Name the major and minor subjects
• Suggestions for the minor subject examiners
• Documents to be attached to the application:
• Curriculum Vitae
• Certificate of completed doctoral programme (§6)
• Dissertation (two copies) and a brief summary of the contents
• List of publications, if applicable
• Declaration (§7)

b. Examination

After a review of the documents, assessment of your dissertation by two examiners (as a rule) and its public display, the Doctoral Committee decides on the final grade of the dissertation based on the examiners' recommendations.

If the dissertation is accepted, you will be granted admission to the oral examination.

After passing the oral examination, the Doctoral Committee announces the final grade.

Within one year after completing the last examination, you submit your mandatory copies (§13).

You will receive the doctoral certificate from the Joint Deciding Committee (§3) and are now authorised to use the doctoral degree (Dr. paed.).

Important documents:

• Information sheet for publication