Registering for Doctoral Studies

How can I register for doctoral studies?

Please complete the registration form (PDF, 171 kB) and enclose the requested documents listed in the appendix to the registration form. Your supervisor (ETH professor) must sign the registration form before you send it to the Doctoral Administration. If you will carry out your dissertation outside the ETH domain, please consult our homepage on implementing a dissertation outside the ETH domain.

Doctoral students are not bound to the official semester registration deadlines. Since there is a rolling admission policy at ETH for doctoral students, you can register at any time. Subsequently, it suffices to submit your application four weeks before commencing your doctoral studies.

Important: If you register between semesters, please note that you will be matriculated for the following semester. Example: We receive your application in June, after the official end of the spring semester. Consequently, you will be matriculated for the autumn semester.

Please note that the Doctoral Administration is not responsible for processing your visa and your employment contract. Your supervisor and Human Resources are responsible for processing these documents.

Once we receive your complete application, you will be matriculated and receive an ETH card. If you are already in possession of an ETH card, you can update it at a terminal a few days later after having submitted your complete application. (The letter “S” will then be printed on your card and you will have student status). If you are not in possession of an ETH card, the Doctoral Administration will issue you with one within approximately two weeks after having submitted your application.

Important: Under no circumstances should you register as an auditor!

Please note that it may take from 2-8 weeks before you receive your official admission letter, depending on whether you are requested to take qualifying exams.

Supervision of the Doctorate by Senior Lecturers and Honorary Professors (PDF, 64 kB)