Final steps

These are the final steps after having registered for the doctoral examination.

The final steps to take

The following steps must be taken before you acquire the doctoral title:

1. Take your doctoral exam.
2. Your dissertation has to be approved by the Department Conference.
3. Your dissertation has to be approved by the Study Conference.
4. Hand in your deposit copies.

What happens after the doctoral exam?

If you successfully pass your doctoral exam, your dissertation will be approved at the next Department Conference.

If you fail your doctoral exam or extra work is required on your dissertation, the examination committee’s chairperson informs you in writing about how to proceed and about the deadline for another oral exam or for submitting the revised version of the dissertation. Both deadlines should be no longer than 6 months.

Once you register fort your doctoral exam, you will be charged by invoice a global fee of CHF 1.200. 

What happens after the Department Conference?

Both the dissertation title and its contents cannot be changed once it has been approved by the Department Conference. The Study Conference, which gives the final approval for all dissertations, is usually held immediately after the Department Conference.

Please check the dates of the Department Conferences here.

What happens after the Study Conference?

Once your dissertation has been approved by the Study Conference, you receive the provisional confirmation stating that your dissertation has been approved by ETH Zurich. You are also requested to hand in the deposit copies within 6 months. You are authorised to use the Doctoral title only after submission of the dissertation deposit copies. After the Study Conference approves your dissertation, you are automatically exmatriculated.

Please check the dates of the Study Conferences here.

Submitting your Deposit Copies

You are requested to hand in the deposit copies no later than 6 months after the Study Conference has approved your dissertation, see Deposit copies.