Disputation

The disputation ("defense") is the oral doctoral exam and takes place after a positive assessment of the dissertation. You can find out more about the scheduling and procedure here.

Coordinate the date with the examination board in good time and deposit the scheduling form for the defense at least 1 week before the start of the examination phase in Docfile D-file. 

Inform the doctoral office of this by email (mnf-promotionen@uni-koeln.de) with "Disputation date, department (e.g. "Physics") in the subject line.

The examination committee usually consists of the two reviewers as examiners and a chair. In addition, a doctoral assessor takes part and takes the minutes. Please send your dissertation to the chair before the defense.

The disputation is open to the University’s public and can take place in person or as a video conference; hybrid formats are possible. It begins with a presentation that lasts about 20 minutes by the doctoral candidate on the dissertation. This is followed by a colloquium in which only the members of the examination committee are entitled to ask questions.

The examination committee then decides on the grading in private and informs the doctoral candidate accordingly.

The chair sends the minutes of the defense to the doctoral office within three business days.