Information about the PhD exam
1. Registration
The PhD topic needs to be registrated with the university. This should be done at the main university building at Innrain 52 in Innsbruck. The title of the dissertation and the signature of the supervisor are required. The title of the dissertation can be changed later on.
2. Un-official reivew
Once the thesis is written the un-official review process begins. At least one external reviewer, apart from the supervisor, is needed. Depending on the topic, a supervisor may request that two external reviewers are required.
3. Printouts
Four copies of the thesis should be made. These copies can be made at the Studia in the Technik. Usually the printing process takes under one week.
4. Abstract
A short abstract of the thesis should be provided to the supervisor.
5. Official review I
Once the un-official review process has been completed, the official review process starts. This is only administrative and no further corrections to the thesis are required. Two external reviewers + the official supervisor need to be appointed. Normally, the un-official reviewers will be those chose, in order to keep the process as short as possible. In order to chose the external reviewer ta form has to be filled in and handed in to the Prüfungsreferat. The Prüfungsreferat is located in the Technik, in the same building of the Mensa, on the second floor. The four copies of the thesis and the short abstract, created in 3 and 4 respectively, need to be given to the Prüfungsreferat with the form.
6. Official review II
Out of the three named reviewers, the head of the computer science department will choose two. This is usually the students supervisor and one of the two external reviewers. The chosen reviewers will received the printout of the thesis and a form, which should be completed such that it provides a small report of the thesis. The reviewers will also provide a grade for the thesis. Notice that STI Innsbruck requires at least two full professors as external reviewers, but again this varies from case to case and can depend on the supervisor.
7. Official review III
External reviewers have 3 months in which to hand in their reports. If this is not the case the Prüfungsreferat will notify them again and should there be further delays, new external reviewers may need to be appointed.
8. Rigorosum
Upon receiving the evaluation of the thesis, the registration for the rigorosum can be filed. Students need to choose two examiners and a president. Normally one of the examiners will be the supervisor plus an additional one professor, from the University of Innsbruck or from another university. Each of the members of the tribunal have to sign the registration for the rigorosum, plus the student and the Prüfungsreferat. The registration contains all the information related to the exam, including when it will be held and the topics that it will cover. The structure of the rigorosum is as follows:
a. First part of the exam: 45 minutes presentation and questions from the examiners about the topic of the thesis.
b. Second part: Another 30-45 minutes of questions regarding the second topic of the exam. The topic for this session has been agreed upon previously with the examiners and documented in the rigorosum registration form. This is a special requirement for natural science students. In both cases the president does not ask questions.
9. The pain is over
Be happy you have done it!!
See the "Links" page for more details and forms etc.