Doctoral Thesis Preparation

The requirements and formatting of the doctoral thesis are described in the BayNAT doctoral regulations. The PEER executive board created a guideline for the thesis form, formatting and the own contribution declaration (see below) additional to the BayNAT regulations.
In general, the doctoral thesis has to be an independent scientific achievement of the doctoral candidate with new insights that help to find answers to scientific questions.

Thesis Formats

A doctoral thesis may be designed in two different formats:

1. Monograph
   In this case the thesis is a continuously written act.
   
   
2. Cumulative Thesis
   Several scientific papers of a candidate are combined for the thesis. A detailed summary (synopsis) presents the relation between the single papers as well as the candidate's own contribution. Within PEER this format is willingly accepted and no further agreement of the executive board is needed (see BayNAT regulations and below the instructions for completion of a doctoral thesis).
   The single papers (manuscripts) have to be at least in a state that is appropriate for submission.
   
   For later publication of a cumulative thesis the appropriate legitimations have to be obtained.

The date of submission of the thesis has to be arranged with the mentoring committee.

Instructions for Structure and Completion:

Instruction for completion of the doctoral thesis and recommendation on how to declare the own contribution (PDF)

Language: German or English, the abstract has to be written in both languages.

Contents: The literature used as well as other resources have to be listed completely; sections that were taken literally or almost literally from literature (citations) have to be marked. The pagination has to be continuous.

Printing: The details to the thesis form, formatting and the requirements for the publication of the thesis are described in the BayNAT regulations as well as in the instructions for completion of a doctoral thesis below. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended to contact the Dean's office to obtain the information about the current state of the regulations.

Signature: Do not forget to sign the statutory declaration!

Links

• Writing Centre at the University of Bayreuth
• Plagiarism checker - an external automatic scanning tool provided by the University of Bayreuth for students to review their written documents for plagiarism (University email address needed)