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General information for doctoral candidates

The new MAInz-DOC postgraduate program for doctoral students in medicine and dentistry has been launched. In addition to working on their doctoral dissertation, the program allows doctoral students to participate in an accompanying medical curriculum. The postgraduate program is organized by the Mainz Research School of Translational Biomedicine (TransMed). You can find more information here.

The doctoral thesis

The requirements for a doctoral thesis are specified in the Doctoral Degree Regulations of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz:

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).
In accordance with Section 9 para. 5 of the Doctoral Degree Regulations of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz dated 23 October 2017, it is permissible for an already published scientific paper to also be accepted as a doctoral thesis if this meets the relevant requirements as per Section 9 para. 1 or 2 in their entirety. 

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.


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  • 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).


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  • 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.


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  • The paper must have been published in a leading national peer-reviewed scientific journal.


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  • 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.


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  • 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.


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  • Final discussion of the dissertation project and a list of references must be included at the end.


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The Committee for the Advancement of Early-Career Researchers will verify compliance with the formal and material requirements stipulated in Section 9 para. 5 sentences 5 to 14. 


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In accordance with Section 9 para. 5 of the Doctoral Degree Regulations of the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz dated 23 October 2017, candidates are permitted to obtain a doctorate on the basis of a cumulative dissertation. The doctoral thesis must comply with the relevant requirements as per Section 9 para. 1 or 2 in their entirety. What other requirements are there for the award of a doctorate on the basis of a cumulative dissertation? 
  • 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.

The Committee for the Advancement of Early-Career Researchers will verify compliance with the formal and material requirements stipulated in Section 9 para. 5 sentences 5 to 14. 
To view a sample document, click on this link 
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
Recommendations:
  • 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
When completing the bibliography, it is essential that you ensure that, on the one hand, all cited material in the text is detailed in the bibliography and, on the other hand, that all bibliographic references also feature in the text.

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.
The doctoral candidate and the supervisor must notify the Committee for the Advancement of Early-Career Researchers, in writing, if the candidate intends to publish results from the doctoral thesis before completion of the doctoral project, specifying the subject of the thesis. The intended paper must clearly indicate (as a footnote) that its findings form the basis of your doctoral thesis, and your name must be specified in the paper as the author.

Sample document for notification of the intention to pre-publish dissertation results (updated PromoO) (Pdf, 23,7 KB)
To view a sample document, click on this link 
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
Recommendations:
  • 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

After completion of the doctoral thesis, the doctoral candidate must submit it to their supervisor for review and correction. Once the final version has been agreed upon, the supervisor will give their written consent for submission.

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)

Finally, the doctoral candidate must submit their doctoral thesis along with the following documents to the Department of Research and Teaching. The doctoral thesis must be submitted as two hard-bound copies in A4 format. The dissertation must be perfect bound (no spiral binding, clamp folders or loose-leaf binders). The title page of the work must be externally discernible, either by printing this page additionally (!) on the cardboard cover of the dissertation or by having it bound with transparent plastic instead of a cardboard cover. Dissertations with a leather/cloth book binding are no longer accepted!

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:


   Recipient(s):          University Medical Center Mainz
                 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

Without stating reasons, the applicant may withdraw their application for admission submitted in accordance with Section 5 para. 1 sentence 1 before the point in time when a marksheet has been received.

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

According to the Unfallkasse Rheinland-Pfalz as the responsible body for statutory accident insurance, Section 3 para. 1 no. 2 SGB VII applies in this case in conjunction with Section 5 para. 2 no. 7 of the statutes of the Unfallkasse Rheinland-Pfalz, according to which persons who, as either diploma or doctoral candidates of state or private universities for which the Unfallkasse Rheinland-Pfalz is responsible, are on site at these universities or at institutions collaborating academically with them, without being enrolled, are insured against the consequences of accidents at work and occupational diseases while on site as delegated by or with the consent of the contractor, if they are not already covered by insurance under other provisions.

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

You can access the homepage of the docotral candidate representation via the following link
The doctoral studies office is responsible for providing



  • 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


   Mr. Fatos Berisha               
   Department of Research and Teaching        
   Building 907 1. UPPER FLOOR             
   Tel.:  +49 (0)6131 17-9691                       
   Fax: +49 (0)6131 17-9669                                


   Email    

              
           

The Department of Research and Teaching is closed to visitors until further notice. The best way to contact our staff is by email.