Step-By-Step Guide for PhD-Students
Notice
This summary is intended to help doctoral students plan and structure their studies. For official information, please consult the curriculum, the website of the StudyServiceCenter and the Center for Doctoral Studies of the University of Vienna (especially the FAQs for doctoral students).
Step 1
Choose a dissertation topic and find a supervisor
You are expected to submit a brief abstract of your intended dissertation (approximately 2-4 pages) as part of your application. It is okay, however, if your research topic shifts throughout the writing process.
You also need to secure a supervisor before you can apply to a doctoral program. Depending on the research topic, one or two supervisors can be chosen, given that both agree to the arrangement.
Step 2
Choose the right PhD program
The Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna offers two PhD programmes. Depending on your academic background and the proposed dissertation project, you can choose to enrol in either the Doctoral Studies in Law (UA 783 101) or the PhD in Interdisciplinary Legal Studies (UA 794 242 101). The former is typically aimed at students who have completed a diploma or master's degree in law (in Austria or other countries with an equivalent degree). The latter is more geared towards students who have obtained their master's degree in a field other than law.
Step 3a
Apply for admission to a doctoral programme
Once you have decided on a dissertation project and found a supervisor (or supervisors), you can apply for admission to your chosen doctoral programme. Please follow the guidelines of the Center for Doctoral Studies at the University of Vienna.
Step 4
Complete the FÖP
You must present your dissertation project ("Public Faculty Presentation" – FÖP) within one year of having been successfully admitted into your doctoral programme. Depending on the procedure of your department, you will either participate in a seminar specifically dedicated to dissertation presentations, or you will present in a regular seminar conducted by your (main) supervisor. After completing your presentation, you must send the SSC an exposé based on the presentation and a dissertation agreement. Your exposé (approximately 4-5 pages, maximum 10 pages) should describe your dissertation project and research questions. It should also provide an overview of the current state of research and key literature. You may also include a timeline and an outline.
A list of the documents that need to be submitted after the FÖP can be found on our "FÖP" subpage.
Step 5a
Write your dissertation
After successfully presenting your dissertation project, you can continue your research. You must submit annual updates on your progress ("Fortschrittsbericht"). If you and your advisor have agreed that you will complete additional qualifications (e.g., courses or workshops) during the writing process, you can also document this using the 'Anhang Fortschrittsbericht' form.
Step 5b
Complete courses
According to the curriculum of the doctoral programme, you are required to complete three seminars and one lecture on methodology during your doctoral studies. These courses can be started immediately after enrolment in the programme.
The Socratics seminars and the lecture on Applied Methodology (offered every summer semester) both count towards these requirements and are exclusively for Ars Iuris Fellows.