Doctoral studies
All doctoral students must complete regular doctoral studies comprising at least 12 ECTS credits.
In addition, individual doctoral students are required to complete additional courses in extended doctoral studies to close any gaps in their research area.
While the doctoral ordinance defines the basic elements, the details are the responsibility of the individual departments. Depending on which department you belong to, the required scope and other provisions for the regular doctoral studies may therefore be regulated differently. The relevant details can be found in the departmental detailed stipulations regarding the doctorate.
The following areas must be covered within the regular doctoral studies:
- Consolidation of knowledge in the research area of the doctoral thesis and the extension of knowledge beyond the original discipline
- Acquisition of transferable skills, incl. ethics and good scientific practice (min 1 ECTS credit point)
- Integration into the scientific community
The following should also be noted:
- The departmental doctoral administration coordinates the doctoral studies and must therefore be integrated into this process at an early stage
- For each of the specified ECTS credit points, either a performance assessment must be passed or an active, verifiable contribution must be made
- As a general rule, 1 ECTS credit point corresponds to 25 to 30 hours of work.
- There are clear guidelines for courses and performance assessments that may be credited, which are set out in the document "Download Doctoral studies - Quality of creditable coursework (PDF, 177 KB)"
- Externally offered courses and performance assessments must be checked against these standards to ensure that they can be recognised
Coordinate the courses to be completed individually with your doctoral students, taking into account their individual interests, strengths and career goals.
Under certain circumstances, admission to the doctorate may be linked to the requirement of extended doctoral studies. This is the case if the evaluation of the application dossier by the Vice-Rector Doctorate and the doctoral committee of the department leads to the conclusion that gaps in the field of research need to be closed or knowledge should be expanded in order to ensure successful completion of the doctorate. A recommendation will be made upon admission. You coordinate the details of the extended doctoral studies together with your doctoral students.
Any extended doctoral programme will be included in the official letter of admission at the time of provisional admission.
For doctoral students who started their doctorate before 1 January 2022, transitional provisions for doctoral studies still apply.
Doctoral students have both the right and the duty to continue their education. The primary objective of doctoral studies is to increase the knowledge and skills in the field of the doctoral thesis project. However, it should also serve to broaden education in associated and interdisciplinary fields and lead to closer integration in the scientific community.
Recognition for doctoral studies is in the form of credits. One credit corresponds to a period of study of 25-?30 working hours. Credits are only awarded for student's work.
A total of at least 12 credits is required, of which at least one third have to be acquired outside the field of research. Credits can be awarded for active participation in ETH Zurich committees and working groups. The department responsible for you decides on the awarding of credits. If you have any questions, please contact the relevant department.
Note:
- Despite certain similarities, these are not ECTS points, but specific separate credits for doctoral studies. These often do not correspond to the ECTS credit points given in the Course Catalogue. Each department regulates in its detailed requirements for individual doctoral study how many credits are awarded for how much work.
- 12 is the minimum number of credits, as prescribed in the Regulations for Doctoral Studies. The departments determine for themselves the exact number of credits that have to be accumulated. Please find out from the department in question how many credit points they require, or check the detailed requirements for individual doctoral study.