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Faculty 4 Human Sciences

In Faculty 4 there is the possibility to do a doctorate in the fields of Health Sciences and Social Work/Social Sciences.

The main objective of the doctorate is to prove independent scientific research activity for the increase of known knowledge. After scientific work on a research topic within approximately four to five years, successful completion of the final examination and publication of the doctoral thesis, the doctoral candidate is awarded the doctoral degree.

Comprehensive Thesis

A cumulative dissertation is defined as one in which the individual publications are closely related in terms of subject matter and, taken together, meet the requirements of a monograph. This close subject-matter connection must be clearly demonstrated in the dissertation and should also be evident from the dissertation topic. The publications must be compiled into a single work, substantiated with an introduction, transitional texts between the contributions, and a placement of the research question within a broader context. In addition to these requirements, an empirically based cumulative dissertation, or the empirical parts of a cumulative dissertation, must include a methodology section and a detailed description of the underlying data.

A cumulative dissertation is subject in its entirety to the same requirements regarding independence, originality and quality as a monograph. A purely additive compilation of publications does not meet these requirements.

At least three publication manuscripts in German and/or English, authored solely or as first author, are required. These must be accepted articles in recognised peer-reviewed academic journals.

If one or more of the publications mentioned in the previous section were not authored solely by the doctoral candidate, the individual academic contribution must be presented in an appropriate manner. This declaration must be made in such a way that it is clear which other authors contributed to the work, which person worked on which part of the publication, and which person, where applicable, submitted which part elsewhere for assessment as academic achievement.

Adopted at the meeting of the faculty council of Faculty 4 on 16 December 2020.

These guidelines shall apply until Faculty 4 adopts its own Doctoral Degree Regulations.

Monographic Thesis

In the monographic format, the dissertation is submitted as a single monograph. This format is well suited to presenting broader contexts, which is important in some disciplines; furthermore, completion of the dissertation is not dependent on the peer-review processes of academic journals.

Regardless of whether you decide to pursue a traditional doctorate or a PhD program, opportunities are available at BTU to promote systematic, interdisciplinary and/or internationally networked doctoral training.