Doctoral thesis agreement and progress reports
After a positive public presentation at the faculty, the doctoral candidate, supervisor/s and the University sign an agreement comprising the following information:
- rights and obligations of all parties involved
- detailed description of the intended doctoral project
- time schedule and specification of financial aspects
- extent of supervision (frequency of feedback meetings)
- requirements that have to be fulfilled
The doctoral candidate and their supervisor/s specify in the doctoral thesis agreement how study credits will be achieved. Candidates are also encouraged to take courses that teach transferable skills, as well as other academic skills (e.g. through conference presentations). Courses should be chosen to best suit the doctoral thesis project and the candidate’s intended professional development. The Directorate of Studies must approve the thesis agreement.
The progress of the doctoral thesis project is documented in yearly annexes (annual progress reports) to the agreement. At least once a year, doctoral candidates who have completed the FÖP and concluded the doctoral thesis agreement should discuss their achievements and the next steps in the doctoral process with all members of their supervisory team. During this meeting, all participants should contribute to compiling the annual progress report that needs to be signed by the doctoral candidate and the supervisor/s and submitted to the StudiesServiceCentre for acknowledgement by the Directorate of Studies.
Doctoral candidates who have not submitted an annual progress report since October 2025 should do so by 15 June 2026. Candidates who have completed the FÖP and concluded the doctoral thesis agreement in the ongoing academic year need to start submitting progress reports to the StudiesServiceCentre as of the next academic year.
Candidates need to make sure that the supervisors named on the progress report are the persons who they have registered as their supervisors and listed on their doctoral thesis agreement.
Please submit your doctoral thesis agreement and the annual progress reports to the StudiesServiceCentre. Please note that we do not accept handwritten forms.