General information for doctoral candidates
The doctoral thesis
Section 9 para. 1 of the Doctoral Degree Regulations of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
The doctoral thesis must represent a contribution to science and to the advancement of medical knowledge or understanding. This may include addressing didactic problems in the field of medicine.
The candidate’s doctoral thesis must provide evidence that they are able to identify and address scientific problems through observation, experimentation or review of the literature.
The doctoral thesis should critically comment on the main viewpoints expressed in the literature on the dissertation’s subject matter. A doctoral thesis that merely presents a summary of views already expressed in the literature without itself evaluating and criticizing these views will not meet the requirements.
Supervisors should strive towards publication of the doctoral thesis, either in its entirety or in substantial excerpts, in supra-regional scientific journals (peer review). Previously published papers or manuscripts must be submitted along with the doctoral thesis.
If a research project has been worked on jointly by several doctoral candidates, each must submit as a doctoral thesis their own personal account of their part in the research project and its significance for science. The thesis must clearly delineate and identify the candidate’s own specific contribution to the research topic.
Jointly prepared doctoral theses are not permissible.
Section 9 para. of the Doctoral Degree Regulations of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Papers that have already been rejected by a university in a procedure to obtain a doctoral degree are ineligible as doctoral theses.
Section 4 para. 1 d of theDoctoral Degree Regulations of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
If the doctoral thesis is to be written in English, sufficient knowledge of English must also be demonstrated if the applicant has not earned a university entrance qualification at an English-language institution or a degree in an English-language degree course. Candidates must provide proof of proficiency in English by submitting a certificate that they have achieved a score of at least 60 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT Test).
What other requirements are there to acquire a doctorate based on a published paper?
- As a rule, the papers must have been prepared after the author has graduated from university as specified in Section 4 para. 1 lit. a or has met the admission requirements as specified in Section 4 para. 2 or Section 4 para. 3.
- Since a doctoral thesis of this kind takes the form of a single paper, the doctoral candidate must be the sole first author.
- The paper must be an academic, high-quality original paper prepared by the doctoral candidate themselves that has already been published (sole authorship).
- At the time of publication, the paper must have presented findings that are significant in light of the current state of research, and these must stem from the doctoral candidate’s own research.
- The paper must have been published in a leading national peer-reviewed scientific journal.
- The publication should have been produced at a Medical Unit, a medical institution of the University Medical Center Mainz, a co-opted research institution or an affiliated academic teaching hospital.
- A joint German-language summary must precede it, clarifying, in particular, the content of the paper or, in the case of multiple papers, the thematic context of these papers.
- Final discussion of the dissertation project and a list of references must be included at the end.
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- As a rule, the papers must have been prepared after the author has graduated from university as specified in Section 4 para. 1 lit. a or has met the admission requirements as specified in Section 4 para. 2 or Section 4 para. 3.
- At least two original papers that the candidate has written themselves, which are considered to be of equal value and which are thematically related (cumulative doctoral thesis).
- At the time of publication, the papers must present findings that are significant in light of the current state of research, and these must stem from the doctoral candidate’s own research.
- The papers must have been published in leading national peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- The publications should have been produced at a Medical Unit, a medical institution of the University Medical Center Mainz, a co-opted research institution or an affiliated academic teaching hospital.
A joint German-language summary must precede it, clarifying, in particular, the content of the paper or, in the case of multiple papers, the thematic context of these papers.
Final discussion of the dissertation project and a list of references must be included at the end.
The doctoral candidate must be the first author of at least one of these original papers.
Papers on which the cumulative doctoral thesis is based must not be included, or must not have been included, as written work in another doctorate assessment procedure or a postdoctoral lecturing qualification assessment procedure or for obtaining any other academic title.
The content and scope of the work contributed by all of the involved authors must be described in detail in a written disclosure. This disclosure must be confirmed and signed separately by all involved co-authors.
In addition, the disclosure must also contain a declaration, duly signed by all co-authors, that each co-author is aware of the regulations stipulated in Section 9 para. 5 sentence 10 PromO, in its currently valid version, and that they consent to its implications.
The doctoral candidate must describe in writing their own contribution to the implementation and writing up of the papers, and this description must be confirmed by the lead author of the papers (supervisor), allowing the individual work performed by the doctoral candidate to be unequivocally attributed.
Please note that this represents a suggested sample template.
The dissertation must consist of and comply with the following:
- Title page (page I)
- Date sheet (page II)
- A4 format
- Double-sided printing
- Font size 10–12, Arial or related font, default: Arial 11
- Single to 1.5 line spacing, default: single
- Margin: recommendation 2.5 cm on both sides for double-sided printing and electronic publication
- The book cover can also be printed with the details of the title page
Please discuss citation style guidelines with your habilitated supervisor:
- use either the “Harvard system” (number-date)
- or the “Vancouver system” (author-number)
You will find detailed examples and references by clicking on the following link.
Sample document for notification of the intention to pre-publish dissertation results (updated PromoO) (PDF 23,7 KB)
Please note that this represents a suggested sample template.
The dissertation must consist of and comply with the following:
- Title page (page I)
- Date sheet (page II)
- A4 format
- Double-sided printing
- Font size 10–12, Arial or related font, default: Arial 11
- Single to 1.5 line spacing, default: single
- Margin: recommendation 2.5 cm on both sides for double-sided printing and electronic publication
- The book cover can also be printed with the details of the title page
Submission of the doctoral thesis
When nominating examiners, it must be ensured that no conflicts of interest exist. If the first and second marksheets are to be prepared by staff members of the University Medical Center Mainz, they must be written independently of each other and by staff from different institutes or departments.
Sample consent document (PDF 48,4 KB)
Please send us two securely-bound copies of the doctoral thesis by mail only.
For the first time it is possible to instead submit your doctoral thesis in digital form, after prior consultation with your supervisor. Files will only be accepted in PDF format.
To allow a doctoral thesis to be rapidly identified, designate the document using the following format:
Surname_Forename_DD_MM_YYYY.pdf
DD_MM_YYYY – date of electronic submission
Please make sure you send us by post the additional documents that would have been enclosed with your doctoral thesis had you submitted it by mail.
You can upload your doctoral thesis via the following link.
The dissertation cannot be sent out to be examined until all the following documents have been submitted. Incomplete submissions will no longer be processed, and all submitted documents in such cases will be returned.
- A certified declaration (PDF 48,4 KB) of the habilitated supervisor(s) that they endorse the submitted version.
- A formless application (PDF 117,6 KB) (with address, date, telephone no., if applicable mobile no., email address, matriculation no., signature) for admission to doctoral studies to the Chief Scientific Officer of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Department of Research and Teaching.A personally signed
- curriculum vitae (corresponding to the last page of the doctoral thesis) – please include all forenames in addition to your surname.
- A declaration in lieu of an oath (PDF 80,9 KB) that the applicant has completed the submitted doctoral thesis independently, has accurately identified all publications, unprinted materials, other aids, and other support utilized by them, and has identified text passages that they have adopted verbatim, nearly verbatim, or in terms of content from printed or unprinted works, and has provided the necessary bibliographical references, etc.
- An official certified photocopy of the diploma indicating they have passed the state examination in medicine or in dentistry.
- In the case of married applicants who have changed their name, a copy of the marriage certificate or similar documents. The same applies in the event of a name change.
- A savings bank or bank receipt confirming the doctoral fee has been paid in the amount of €170.00* The doctoral fee is payable to:
Bank: Sparkasse Mainz
´ BLZ.: 550 501 20 (BIC: MALADE51MNZ)
Account no.: 75 (IBAN: DE83 5505 0120 0000 0000 75)
*Effective from April 18th, 2023.
Under intended purpose (mandatory): “57900/9724780 /Doctorate/surname/forename –please be sure to include your surname and forename -
After notification of disclosure of the doctoral thesis, you must obtain and submit the following documents yourself; you will not be advised separately that these documents are required!
- A formless declaration concerning any (PDF 77,0 KB) criminal proceedings that may be pending against the applicant.Declaration no more than three months old at the time of the applicable doctoral graduation date (if no proceedings are pending a declaration is still required).
- A certificate of good conduct issued by the relevant police authority, no more than three months old at the time of the applicable doctoral graduation date (document code 0 for “authority”) – must be sent directly from the authority to the Department of Research and Teaching.
Withdrawal of an application for admission to a doctoral degree assessment procedure
If the application for admission is withdrawn at a later point in time, the doctoral degree assessment procedure will be considered to have ended unsuccessfully.
Insurance coverage
If doctoral candidates who are not enrolled are thus present on the premises of the University Medical Center Mainz with the consent of University Medical Center Mainz, they are covered by the statutory accident insurance.
Please be aware, however, that the Unfallkasse Rheinland-Pfalz reserves the right to review accidents on a case-by-case basis, i.e. should an accident occur, the Unfallkasse Rheinland-Pfalz will verify whether insurance coverage is valid for the incident in question.
Responsible office and contacts
- information and advice on the topic of doctoral studies at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
- Information and advice for supervisors of doctoral candidates
- Assistance in filling out forms in JOGU-StINe and information on the documents that need to be submitted during the doctoral degree assessment procedure
- Implementation of the doctoral degree regulations
- Formal conduct of the doctoral degree assessment procedure on behalf of the Committee for the Advancement of Early-Career Researchers
- Admission to doctoral studies on the authority of the Committee for the Advancement of Early-Career Researchers
Department of Research and Teaching
Building 907 1. UPPER FLOOR
Tel.: +49 (0)6131 17-9691
Fax: +49 (0)6131 17-9669
The Department of Research and Teaching is closed to visitors until further notice. The best way to contact our staff is by email.