Frequently asked questions

To be considered for a specific Department Conference the thesis must be handed in two weeks prior to the D-ERDW doctoral administration at the latest. You can drop it in the letterbox in the hallway to the left of NO D 51.3 or send it by post. Theses arriving later cannot be considered (or only for the next following Department Conference).

You have to submit the final version of your thesis 6 months after the defence date at the latest. This means: defence date plus 6 months. Deadline for submission of the doctoral thesis is on the next following Department Conference after the six month’s deadline (the Department Conference does not have to be within the 6 months deadline): You have to hand in the final version one week prior to the D-ERDW doctoral administration.

The final version of your thesis (please choose glue binding, no spiral binding) must be signed and dated by your supervisor.  

Chairperson (must be D-ERDW professor), supervisor, second advisor, one qualified member not involved in the doctorate and outside of the research group.

No, the chairperson must be a professor at the Department of Earth Sciences. If the independent co-examiner is a D-ERDW professor, he/she may also act as chairperson (independent co-examiner and chairperson in one person).

No, the second advisor cannot serve in the role of the chairperson.

The physical presence of the aptitude committee at the aptitude colloquium is not mandatory.

The second advisor should be someone who has a scientific advisor role, must have a doctoral degree and be an expert on a subject matter. Preferably a scientist at ETH Zurich (for purpose of proximity and accessibility).  

Register for the corresponding course in MyStudies. You can find them in the course catalogue under "doctorate/earth sciences/doctoral department of earth sciences/integration into scientific community". Please select your supervisor when registering.

Your supervisor does not receive notification when you register for a course: He/she has to select your course in eDoz under “Grades/Results/Submission” and set it to passed.

No. Doctoral students are not only students, but also employees of ETH Zurich. Teaching is considered a part of their duties as employees. Hence teaching tasks cannot be remunerated with credits in doctoral studies.

According to the new doctoral ordinance and implementation regulations, doctoral students at ETH are obliged to teach. Employment at ETH is not a prerequisite. Please clarify the details with the supervisor of your doctoral thesis.

Yes, the D-ERDW doctoral administration has to first check if the examination date is available (no two examinations may take place on the same date).

The chairperson has to be professor of D-ERDW (including adjunct professors).

Further members of the doctoral committee are: The doctoral thesis supervisor as examiner, at least one co-examiner; an additional independent co-examiner if there is any relationship of dependence between the thesis supervisor and the co-examiner(s).

External co-examiners require approval of the Department Conference. Adjunct professors and Privatdozenten of other ETH departments and all senior scientists require approval of the Department Conference as well.

Professors of ETH Zurich and adjunct professors (Titularprofessor/-innen) as well as Privatdozenten of D-ERDW are automatically eligible and do not need approval.

The deadline for submission the application form for approval of co-examiners is 10 working days prior to the Department Conference at the latest. Application forms submitted later cannot be considered.