At TU Graz you can obtain a doctorate in natural sciences (Doktor der Naturwissenschaften) or a doctorate in technical sciences (Doktor der technischen Wissenschaften). The doctoral programmes are organised in Doctoral Schools. You will do your research within one of the doctoral schools depending on your subject and your supervisor.
As a doctoral student you are part of the community of your doctoral school. You will discuss your research project regularly with teachers and other students. This ensures that you get perfect supervision and support in your work. At the same time you will expand your knowledge of relevant subjects in courses and lectures and in contacts with academic and industry experts.
Your doctoral programme is based on the curriculum for the Doctoral Programme in Technical Sciences (technische Wissenschaften) or Natural Sciences (Naturwissenschaften). Additionally, the statutes of your Doctoral School set out required courses in the subject, the procedures for preparing and submitting your thesis, handling of publications and other subject-specific issues.
- Duration of study: 3 years
- Academic degree: Doktorin/Doktor der technischen Wissenschaften (Dr. techn.; translation: Doctor of Technical Sciences) or Doktorin/Doktor der Naturwissenschaften (Dr.rer.nat.; translation: Doctor of Natural Sciences), equivalent to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Languages of instruction: English and German
- Admission requirements: see Requirements for doctoral programmes
- Curricula:
- Curriculum Doctoral Programme in Technical Sciences
- Curriculum Doctoral Programme in Natural Sciences
Admission Deadlines
Winter semester 2021/22:
12 July to 30 November 2021
Summer semester 2022:
10 January to 30 April 2022
Further information on the admission
International degree programme applicants: admission and application deadlines
Doctoral programme - Step by Step
1. Find a thesis subject and a supervisor
The Doctoral Schools cover a wide spectrum of research fields in which you can write a thesis. On the website of each doctoral school you can find the subject areas and contact details of potential supervisors.
If one of these people agrees to supervise your thesis, they will give you a letter of confirmation that you can submit as part of the admissions process.
You can use the template for the letter of confirmation.
2. Admission as a doctoral student
With the letter of acceptance from your supervisor, you can then go to the TU Graz Registrar's Office and complete the admission procedure. Depending on the subject area of your thesis you will register for a doctoral programme in technical sciences (technische Wissenschaften) or natural sciences (Naturwissenschaften).
If you have graduated from your master’s degree programme at TU Graz, you can be admitted to the programme in person at the Registrar's Office without any further documents. Graduates of other recognised post-secondary educational institutions will receive information on the required documents for admission in person at the TU Graz Registrar's Office or by email: study@tugraz.at.
3. Educational Agreement
When your admission procedure is complete, you make an educational agreement with your supervisor. The educational agreement contains the following points:
- which Doctoral School you belong to
- the working title of your thesis
- a short description of the thesis project
- approval of the thesis project by your supervisor and the Dean of Studies
Further details for TU Graz students in the intranet TU4U: Educational agreement
Further details for TU Graz staff in the intranet TU4U: Educational agreement, in German: Ausbildungsvereinbarung
4. Thesis work and subject-specific courses
Once your study agreement is approved, you begin work on your project and on writing your thesis. You submit a progress report each year. In addition, you will study your subject in depth in relevant lectures and courses.
For further details, visit the home page of the relevant Doctoral School.
Doctoral Schools at TU Graz
- Architecture
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical and Process Engineering
- Chemistry*
- Civil Engineering Sciences
- Computer Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Geosciences
- Information and Communications Engineering
- Mathematics and Scientific Computing*
- Mechanical Engineering
- Molecular Biosciences and Biotechnology*
- Physics*
- Techno-Economics
*Doctoral School within the framework of NAWI Graz
Joint Doctoral Programmes
- Joint Doctoral Programme Visual Computing
The degree is jointly awarded by TU Graz and Nanyang Technological University.
