Aptitude colloquium
Passing the aptitude colloquium is a prerequisite for definitive admission to the doctorate at ETH Zurich.
Before the end of the first year, all doctoral students defend their research project in an aptitude colloquium. They present their research area in the current context of scientific research. Passing the aptitude colloquium is a prerequisite for definitive admission to the doctorate.
The employment contract may only be extended after the aptitude colloquium has been passed.
- Use the first year specifically as a trial period
- Maintain an active and regular dialogue with your doctoral students.
- Check in detail whether the candidate has the potential to carry out independent research work as part of the doctorate and whether the joint work on it is promising
- If you have strong doubts about a successful collaboration, communicate this early on and, if necessary, withdraw from the supervision of the doctoral thesis (Withdrawal during the first year).
The doctoral students themselves are responsible for organising the aptitude colloquium.
Contact the departmental doctoral administrations to discuss the details of the organisation of the aptitude colloquium.
The aptitude colloquium is conducted by the aptitude committee, which is composed as follows
- a member of the doctoral committee or another person appointed by the doctoral committee as chairperson
- the supervisor of the doctoral thesis
- the second advisor
The doctoral committee may add further persons to the aptitude committee in individual cases or in general. These persons are also authorised to conduct examinations. Details can be found in the detailed stipulations regarding the doctorate of the departments.
Please note that the deadline for taking the aptitude colloquium is binding.
Extensions to this deadline are only granted in justified exceptional cases and must be authorised by the Vice-Rector (Download request for extension of deadline (PDF, 149 KB)).