Technische Universität Dresden
School of Science
Doctorate Regulations

dated 23rd February 2011

Conformant with §§ 40 and 88 para. 1 no. 2 of the Law on Universities and Colleges in the Free State of Saxony (Saxon University and College Law - SächsHSG) of 10th December 2008 (Saxon Gazette of Laws and Ordinances, p. 900), last amended by Article 1 of the law of

18th October 2012 (Saxon Gazette of Laws and Ordinances, p. 568), the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of the Technische Universität Dresden has passed the Doctorate Regulations below as statutes, last amended by resolutions of the Faculty Council dated 15th June 2011 and 18th June 2014 as well as of the School Committee dated 23^rd May 2018.

Contents:

§ 1         Doctorate degrees

§ 2         Doctorate proceedings

§ 3         Conditions for admission for a doctorate

§ 4         Doctorate Committee of the School of Science

§ 5         Application for the opening of doctorate proceedings

§ 6         Opening of the doctorate proceedings and the assessors

§ 7         Doctorate Commission

§ 8         The thesis, its assessment and acceptance

§ 9         Rigorosum (oral examination) and disputation (defence)

§ 10        Overall grade

§ 11        Conclusion of the doctorate proceedings

§ 12        Repetition of components not passed

§ 13        Publication of the thesis

§ 14        Withdrawal of the academic title

§ 15        Rights of appeal

§ 16        Honorary doctorate

§ 17        Bi-national doctorate proceedings

§ 18        General procedural rules

§ 19        Effective date, transitional provisions and publication

Where masculine titles or functions are used in these Regulations, they shall be considered to apply equally to both male and female persons.

Annex

§ 1
Doctorate degrees

• On behalf of the Technische Universität Dresden and on the basis of proper doctorate proceedings, the School of Science  confers the academic degree of
  
  Doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.).
• Alternatively, upon request by the candidate, the School of Science may on behalf of the Technische Universität Dresden and on the basis of  proper doctorate proceedings confer the academic degree of
  
  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.).
• On behalf of the Technische Universität Dresden, on the basis of a resolution passed by its School Committee, and following confirmation by the Senate of the Technische Universität Dresden, the School of Science may confer the academic degree of
  
  Doctor rerum naturalium honoris causa (Dr. rer. nat. h. c.).

§ 2
Doctorate proceedings

• By completing the doctorate proceedings, the candidate is to demonstrate scientific knowledge in the chosen discipline beyond that required by a university examination leading to a Master degree or an equivalent academic degree, alongside a particular ability to work independently in accordance with scientific methods.
  The required scientific thesis is to provide results which further the development of the special scientific field, its theories, methods and procedures.
• Successful completion of the doctorate proceedings is recognised by awarding the candidate the academic degree of “Dr.rer.nat.” or “Ph. D.”.

§ 3
Conditions for admission for a doctorate

• Admission for a doctorate is granted to graduates who have obtained a Diploma, Master or Magister degree from a university or else a certificate of state examination, in each case generally with at least the grade “good”, after a course of academic study in a mathematical or natural science discipline – including also a teaching qualification for advanced secondary schools (Gymnasium) – and have generally also achieved at least the grade “good” for the corresponding Master dissertation, state examination paper or another equivalent examination paper. In all cases, the Doctorate Committee is to verify that the candidate possesses the required knowledge in the scientific field of the thesis. Admission may be made subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions.
  Graduates of a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) may be granted admission by way of a cooperative procedure. In such cases, one lecturer each from the School of Science and from the university of applied sciences act jointly as scientific supervisors for the candidate.
• In exceptional cases, candidates who do not meet the requirements of Para. 1 may still be admitted for a doctorate. In this case, the Doctorate Committee passes a decision, in accordance with a relevant proposal by the supervising lecturer and where necessary subject to consultation of the appropriate specialist Examination Committee, as to whether and to which extent proof of additional studies is to be presented before acceptance. If examinations are required, then these must be passed with at least the grade “good”.
• Holders of a Bachelor degree from a university may also be admitted for a doctorate without being required to obtain a further postgraduate degree, namely by way of a pre-qualification procedure in accordance with sentences 2 to 5 below, provided they have completed a course of academic study in a mathematical or natural science discipline with outstanding results, generally with at least the overall grade “very good” (1.3).
  In the case of a previous Bachelor course with a duration of eight semesters, the pre- qualification procedure requires 20 study credit points to be obtained in the main study component of a Diploma programme, in a Master programme or from a graduate school. In the case of a Bachelor course with a duration of six semesters, 40 credit points must be obtained. The credit points are generally to be earned within two semesters. The study results achieved in this context must have been awarded an average grade of at least “good”.
• Holders of a Bachelor degree from a university of applied sciences may similarly be admitted for a doctorate without being required to obtain a further postgraduate degree, namely by way of a pre-qualification procedure in accordance with sentences 2 to 4 below and in a cooperative procedure in accordance with Para. 1, sentences 2 to 3, provided they have completed a course of academic study in a mathematical or natural science discipline with outstanding results, generally with at least the overall grade “very good” (1.3). The pre- qualification procedure requires 60 study credit points to be obtained in the main study component of a Diploma programme, in a Master programme or from a graduate school. The credit points are generally to be earned within two semesters. The study results achieved in this context must have been awarded an average grade of at least “good”.
  The study subjects in which the credit points are to be obtained must be approved by the Doctorate Committee.
• Decisions regarding recognition of the equivalence of foreign qualifications are made by the Doctorate Committee on the basis of relevant equivalence treaties. In case of doubt regarding the equivalence, the opinion of the Saxon State Ministry for Science and Art or the Central Office for Foreign Education Affairs at the Conference of Ministers of Education is to be obtained. In cases in which regulations governing higher education permit German and foreign candidates to use an academic degree obtained abroad in the form of a German degree entitling the holder to admission for a doctorate, this degree is to be recognised as a prerequisite for admission.
• A thesis may be produced with or in exceptional cases without the scientific supervision of a lecturer of the School of Science. In the first case, the Doctorate Committee already verifies fulfilment of the conditions for admission for a doctorate at the beginning of the period of supervision (acceptance as a doctorate candidate). A supervision agreement based on the recommendations of the DFG and the Graduate Academy of the TU Dresden is to be concluded between the scientific supervisor and the candidate.If the thesis is to be produced without the supervision of a lecturer of the School of Science, the candidate must register his/her doctorate project with the Doctorate Committee in writing at least one year before the planned date of submission, enclosing a declaration from an appointed lecturer of the School of Science prepared to provide an assessment in accordance with § 6 para. 1 (acceptance as a doctorate candidate).
  Following acceptance as a doctorate candidate, the candidate must acknowledge the obligation to observe the “Guidelines on the safeguarding of good scientific practice, the prevention of scientific misconduct and the handling of violations”.
• Admission for a doctorate will not be granted to a candidate who has already twice failed to successfully complete the doctorate proceedings in the discipline concerned.

§ 4
Doctorate Committee of the School of Science

• The School Committee appoints a Doctorate Committee with a term of office of two years. The committee comprises the Chairperson of the School of Science, five lecturers and a member of the academic staff holding a doctorate. The Chairperson of the School of Science is the chairperson of Doctorate Committee. The members of the Doctorate Committee may be confirmed for a further term in office at the end of the two- year period.
• The Doctorate Committee performs the following duties:
  • Determination of the prerequisites for the doctorate proceedings and decisions on the admission of candidates in accordance with § 3;
  • Opening or rejection of doctorate proceedings in accordance with § 6, including appointment of the assessors and of the Doctorate Commission after consultation with the Dean of the relevant faculty;
  • Decisions regarding special cases during the doctorate proceedings;
  • Decisions regarding admission to repeat sections of the doctorate proceedings not completed successfully in accordance with § 12.
    Upon request, the Doctorate Committee must report to the School Committee on its activities.
• The meetings of the Doctorate Committee are not public. The members of the committee are required to maintain confidentiality.
• The chairperson of the Doctorate Committee must notify the candidate in writing within four weeks regarding negative decisions or negative assessments of the performance during the doctorate proceedings, specifying the grounds and including advice on available means of legal redress.
• The Doctorate Committee may charge its chairperson with the performance of duties in accordance with Para. 2 no. 2.

§ 5
Application for the opening of doctorate proceedings

• The candidate's application for the opening of doctorate proceedings is to be addressed in writing to the Chairperson of the School of Science. The candidate must propose the discipline to which the thesis is to be allocated, e.g. mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics or psychology. The application must be accompanied by:
  • A personal data sheet indicating the candidate's personal, education and vocational background;
  • Proof of fulfilment of the prerequisites specified in § 3;
  • Four copies of a typed and bound thesis, along with 15 copies of a summary (maximum three pages) in an electronic form to be specified by the Doctorate Committee;
  • A list of the candidate's scientific publications;
  • A declaration by the candidate stating:
    • his confirmation in accordance with Annex 1;
    • where and under whose scientific supervision the thesis was produced;
    • where, when, on which topic and with which result any previous unsuccessful doctorate proceedings have been undertaken;
    • that these Doctorate Regulations are recognised;
  • A declaration that an application has been submitted to the appropriate registration authorities for a certificate of good conduct in accordance with § 30 para. 5 of the Federal Central Registry Act, which must not be older than three months, to be sent to the School of Science of the Technische Universität Dresden;
  • Proposals for the assessors, where applicable;
  • Applications or approvals in accordance with § 8 para. 1 sentence 6 and § 9 para. 1 sentence 6, where applicable.
    All documents in accordance with Nos. 1 - 8 are to be submitted in written form and must be authorised by the candidate or officially authenticated. The declarations in accordance with No. 5. a) and b) are to be added to the end of the thesis on an extra page and incorporated into the binding.
• When applying for the opening of doctorate proceedings, the candidate must make a written proposal regarding the two subject areas to be examined in the rigorosum and the lecturers who are to examine these subject areas. The subject areas must not be narrowed down excessively and must be related to the scientific field or topic of the thesis, e.g. they should be examination subjects of university Master study courses. At least one subject area must be represented in the School of Science. The Doctorate Committee decides which subjects are to be accepted after consultation with the Dean of the relevant faculty. These subject areas are not specified on the doctorate certificate.
• The candidate is permitted to withdraw the application for opening of doctorate proceedings, provided the proceedings have not yet been opened by the Doctorate Committee. Later applications for withdrawal result in termination of the doctorate proceedings.
• All documents pertaining to the doctorate proceedings become the property of the Technische Universität Dresden, irrespective of the outcome of the doctorate proceedings. The candidate is only entitled to demand the return of submitted documents, with the exception of the formal application, if the application is withdrawn in accordance with Para. 3.

§ 6
Opening of the doctorate proceedings and the assessors

• The Doctorate Committee opens doctorate proceedings when a written application for the opening of doctorate proceedings is received from the candidate, the documents to be submitted with such an application (cf. § 5 para. 1) are complete, and a lecturer of the School of Science has stated his/her readiness to provide an assessment (cf. § 3 para. 6); exceptions in respect of the assessment rules are decided by the Doctorate Committee. The doctorate proceedings must be opened within a period of two months after receipt of the application. At the time of opening, the Doctorate Commission and the assessors are to be appointed and the two subject areas for the rigorosum are to be determined, as is also the scientific field to which the thesis is to be allocated. After consultation with the Dean of the relevant faculty, the order of the oral examination components (disputation and rigorosum) is also to be determined at the time of opening.
• Two assessors are to be appointed; a third assessor may be appointed in justified cases. The majority of the assessors should generally be university lecturers. In the case of cooperative doctorate proceedings for graduates of a university of applied sciences in accordance with § 3 para. 1 sentences 4 and 5 or para. 4, a lecturer of the university of applied sciences is to be appointed as an assessor. The chairperson of the Doctorate Commission cannot be appointed as an assessor in the same doctorate proceedings.
• After opening the doctorate proceedings, the chairperson of the Doctorate Committee transfers further responsibility for the doctorate proceedings to the Doctorate Commission. The candidate receives written notification of the opening of the doctorate proceedings without delay. This notification contains the scientific field, the subject areas for the rigorosum, the order of the required oral examination components (disputation and rigorosum), and the appointed assessors and members of the Doctorate Commission.
• If the doctorate application and the submitted documents do not satisfy the prerequisites (cf. § 3) and demands (§ 5 para. 1) and the candidate fails to remedy this shortcoming despite being called upon to do so, or if there are grounds in applicable law which exclude later conferment of an academic degree, then the doctorate proceedings are not opened. The chairperson of the Doctorate Committee notifies the candidate of the rejection in writing without delay, specifying the grounds and including advice on available means of legal redress.

§ 7
The Doctorate Commission

• The Doctorate Commission comprises at least four members, including the chairperson and at least one assessor. The members appointed to the Doctorate Commission are generally university lecturers of the Technische Universität Dresden. In the case of doctorate proceedings for graduates of a university of applied sciences in accordance with § 3 para. 1 sentences 4 and 5 or para. 4, a lecturer of the university of applied sciences must be appointed to the Doctorate Commission. The chairperson of the Doctorate Commission must possess the membership rights of a lecturer at the School of Science.
• The Doctorate Commission makes a decision regarding the acceptance of the thesis, taking into consideration the reports of the assessors and the votes of those entitled, at the end of the specified period (cf. § 8 para. 3). It sets the dates for the rigorosum and the disputation, informs the candidate of these dates in writing at least 14 days in advance and issues invitations to the disputation (cf. § 9 para. 1). The Doctorate Commission holds the rigorosum (cf. § 9). It evaluates the thesis, the rigorosum and the disputation and sets the overall grade to be awarded for the doctorate.
• The meetings of the Doctorate Commission are not public. Its members are required to maintain confidentiality.

§ 8
The thesis, its assessment and acceptance

• The thesis is to provide proof of the ability to conduct independent scientific work. It should generally represent a significant contribution to research work in the relevant scientific discipline. It must contain new scientific findings and must satisfy the demands of science in respect of the methods used and the form of presentation. The thesis is generally the self- contained individual work of one author. It should normally be written in the German or English language and presented in a form suitable for publication. The Doctorate Committee makes a decision on exceptions on the basis of requests received in good time from the candidate. The source material and any other aids used in producing the thesis must be specified in full. In the case of joint research work, the individual contribution of the candidate must be documented by way of his/her own thesis. The question of authorship is subject to § 6 para. 1 and 2 of the “Guidelines on the safeguarding of good scientific practice, the prevention of scientific misconduct and the handling of violations”. Papers produced in connection with earlier examinations or graduations may not be used as theses.
• The assessors recommend the Doctorate Commission to accept or reject the paper as a thesis in a personal, independent, substantiated and written expertise. The expertises are to be presented to the Doctorate Commission at the latest 8 weeks after handing over of the thesis to the assessors. The expertises are to be treated confidentially by the Doctorate Commission. If an expertise recommends acceptance of the thesis, then the assessor is to award the results one of the grades “sufficient” (3.0), “good” (2.0) or “very good” (1.0). To permit more differentiated evaluation, intermediate values may be specified by increasing or decreasing the mark by 0.3. The marks 0.7 and 3.3 are not permitted. One expertise, generally that of the scientific supervisor, is to contain a statement on compliance with the “Guidelines on the safeguarding of good scientific practice, the prevention of scientific misconduct and the handling of violations” and, where the thesis contains experimental or empirical results, statements on the acquisition and quality of the data. If the recommendation is to reject the thesis, then the grade “not sufficient” (4.0) is to be awarded. If an assessor recommends that the thesis be returned to the candidate for amendment or revision, then a decision in this respect is made by the Doctorate Commission. The Doctorate Commission may set a reasonable deadline of up to six months for renewed submission. Following amendment or revision of the thesis, the Doctorate Commission makes a decision on continuation of the proceedings as laid down in Para. 3 after consultation with the assessors. A returned thesis may only be re-submitted once.
• After all expertises have been received, the thesis is presented for inspection by the lecturers and professors of the School of Science for a period of two weeks and this presentation is announced. The lecturers and professors are entitled to reserve a vote for or against acceptance of the thesis during the period of inspection. This vote must be addressed to the chairperson of the Doctorate Commission in writing within 14 days and must be substantiated. The members of the School Committee, the lecturers and the candidate are entitled to view the expertises, including the grade recommendations, for which case the anonymity of the assessors is to be maintained.
• At the end of the inspection period, the Doctorate Commission makes a decision on acceptance or rejection of the thesis during a closed meeting and on the basis of the expertises and received opinions. The Doctorate Commission may instruct its chairperson to accept the thesis if exclusively positive expertises and votes have been received. In the case of acceptance, the Doctorate Commission determines the final evaluation of the thesis by averaging the marks awarded by the assessors, for which purpose only the first decimal place is taken into account. An assessor grading of “insufficient” is entered into the calculation of the average with the mark 4.0. Once accepted, the thesis may not be amended or revised, with the exception of orthographic or grammatical corrections. If the thesis is rejected, then it is awarded the grade “insufficient” and the doctorate proceedings are terminated. A rejection must be confirmed by the Doctorate Committee. One copy of the rejected thesis remains in the records of the doctorate proceedings together with the expertises.
• In the case of a rejection, the chairperson of the Doctorate Committee notifies the candidate of the rejection of the thesis and the termination of the doctorate proceedings in writing, specifying the grounds and including advice on available means of legal redress and the possibility of a renewed submission in accordance with §12 para. 1.

§ 9
Rigorosum (oral examination) and disputation (defence)

• Following acceptance of the thesis, the chairperson of the Doctorate Commission sets the earliest possible dates for the rigorosum and disputation. He notifies these dates to the candidate at least two weeks in advance, invites the Doctorate Commission and informs the assessors. The date of the disputation is to be announced publicly in the School of Science. At the same time, a recorder, normally a member of the scientific staff, is to be appointed for the rigorosum and disputation and charged with producing records. The rigorosum and disputation are generally held in the German or English language. The Doctorate Committee makes a decision on exceptions on the basis of requests received in good time from the candidate.
• The rigorosum is an oral examination on selected topics in the two subject fields selected in accordance with § 5 para. 2.
• The rigorosum is not public. It is held by the members of the Doctorate Commission and chaired by the chairperson. It should normally not exceed 45 minutes.
• The disputation is public and is chaired by the chairperson of the Doctorate Commission. It consists of a lecture by the candidate not exceeding 30 minutes in duration on the topic of the thesis, followed by a scientific discussion. All those present are entitled to ask questions, though the chairperson may reject questions which do not address the scientific subject of the discussion. The disputation should normally not exceed 60 minutes.
• Immediately following the rigorosum or disputation, the Doctorate Commission decides in a closed meeting whether the candidate has passed and evaluates the performance in similar manner to that defined in § 8 para. 2, sentences 4 to 7. Admission to the second oral component of the proceedings requires that the first component has been passed. If the rigorosum or the disputation is not passed, then it is to be awarded the grade “not sufficient”. The possibility for the candidate to repeat the rigorosum or disputation is described under § 12 para. 2. The results attained in the rigorosum and disputation are to be notified to the candidate immediately behind closed doors.
• The rigorosum may be substituted upon application under the following conditions:
  • Proof of participation in the programme of doctoral studies in mathematics and natural sciences in accordance with the Regulations on Doctoral Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences.
  • Completion of the course of advanced study in accordance with § 6 para. 1 (a) of the Regulations on Doctoral Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences with corresponding examinations; a grade of at least “satisfactory” (3.0) must be achieved at the first attempt in each case. The basis for the assessment of examination performances and calculation of an equivalent mark for the rigorosum is described in § 7 of the Regulations on Doctoral Studies in Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

§ 10
Overall grade

• In the case of positive assessments and evaluations of the components of the doctorate proceedings – thesis, rigorosum and disputation – the Doctorate Commission reaches a decision on the overall grade for the doctorate. Particular weight is to be accorded to the thesis when determining this grade. The possible grades are: “rite” (sufficient), “cum laude” (good), “magna cum laude” (very good), “summa cum laude” (with distinction).
• The grade “summa cum laude” (with distinction) may only be awarded as a unanimous decision, provided that all components of the proceedings have been awarded the mark 1.0 and the candidate has demonstrated exceptional scientific achievements.

§ 11
Conclusion of the doctorate proceedings

• The decision of the Doctorate Commission regarding the overall grade must be confirmed by the chairperson of the Doctorate Committee.
• Following confirmation of the decision of the Doctorate Commission, the Chairperson of the School of Science decrees that a certificate be issued. The certificate contains the academic degree, name, first name(s), date of birth and place of birth of the successful candidate, the scientific field to which the thesis belongs, the awarded academic degree in Latin and as an abbreviation, the topic of the thesis, the overall grade and as the date the day of the final oral component of the proceedings. It is signed by the Rector of the Technische Universität Dresden and by the Chairperson of the School of Science.
• The Chairperson of the School of Science hands over the certificate to the candidate as soon as proof is received that the presentation copies in accordance with § 13 have been supplied. The handing over of the certificate represents completion of the doctorate, by which the candidate becomes entitled to use the academic title of a doctor and the doctorate proceedings are concluded.

 § 12
Repetition of components not passed

• If a thesis is rejected, then the doctorate proceedings are terminated (cf. § 8 para. 4). Upon application, the candidate may be permitted to submit a new paper or a substantially revised version of the original paper on the same topic at the earliest after six months. Decisions on such applications are made by the Doctorate Committee of the School of Science. If a second rejection follows, then no further doctorate proceedings are permitted at the School of Science of the TU Dresden.
• If the rigorosum or disputation are not passed, the candidate may apply once to repeat the rigorosum or disputation as part of the same doctorate proceedings within a period of 12 months, but at the earliest after three months. The Doctorate Committee makes a decision regarding acceptance of the application on the basis of a recommendation from the Doctorate Commission and sets the date for the repetition. The rigorosum or disputation is repeated before the same Doctorate Commission. If the repetition is not passed, then the doctorate proceedings are to be terminated with the grade “not sufficient”.

§ 13
Publication of the thesis

• The candidate is required, within a period of one year after the date of the final oral component of the proceedings, to make the accepted thesis accessible to the academic public. To this end, the candidate hands over free copies of the thesis in bound form or in another prescribed form to the Saxon State Library – State and University Library Dresden and to the relevant scientific institute or faculty. Additional publication in electronic form is possible. The number of copies is specified by the Saxon State Library – State and University Library Dresden and the relevant scientific institute or faculty. The maximum number of copies which may be demanded is 25. The candidate may apply for special provisions to be laid down by the Doctorate Committee in justified cases.
• In exceptional cases, which are to be justified specifically, the Chairperson of the School of Science may grant an extension of the delivery deadline upon application by the candidate. If the deadline is exceeded culpably, then all rights acquired through performances during the doctorate proceedings are nullified and the doctorate proceedings are terminated without the awarding of the doctorate degree.

§ 14
Withdrawal of the academic title

• The doctor title may be withdrawn if the candidate has knowingly made use of dishonest means to acquire the degree. The doctor title may be withdrawn if it is revealed at a later date that the candidate culpably contributed to incorrect decisions by the relevant bodies, and that the candidate thus obtained an advantage leading to awarding of the doctor title. The title may also be withdrawn on the basis of rulings under criminal law.
• The evidence founding the withdrawal must withstand legal scrutiny. The candidate is to be given the opportunity to make a statement before withdrawal of the degree.
• The School Committee of the School of Science passes decisions on such withdrawal with a two-thirds majority of its members.
• In cases of suspected scientific misconduct, the corresponding investigation proceedings are to be conducted in accordance with the stipulations of the “Guidelines on the safeguarding of good scientific practice, the prevention of scientific misconduct and the handling of violations”.

§ 15
Rights of appeal

• The candidate is entitled to appeal against
  • a decision not to open doctorate proceedings (cf. § 6 para. 4);
  • the rejection of a thesis (cf. § 8 para. 4);
  • the evaluation of his/her performance in the rigorosum or disputation as “not sufficient” (cf. § 9 para. 5);
  • the rejection of an application to repeat components of the proceedings (cf. § 12).
• The candidate may appeal against withdrawal of his/her doctor title in accordance with § 14.
• Appeals can be entered in writing to the Chairperson of the School of Science within one month after receipt of the corresponding decision.
• When an appeal is received by the Chairperson of the School of Science, the School Committee is to make a decision on the appeal within three months, for which purposes it is to hear the candidate concerned and, in the case of appeals in accordance with Para. 1, also the Doctorate Commission.

§ 16
Honorary doctorate

• By conferring the honorary doctorate
  
  Doctor rerum naturalium honoris causa (Dr. rer. nat. h. c.).

the School of Science is able to honour persons who have made particular contributions to the fields of mathematics and the natural sciences. The person to be honoured must not be active full- time at the Technische Universität Dresden.

02.  A proposal to confer an honorary doctorate may be submitted to the School Committee by at least two professors, specifying sufficient grounds and with the approval of a three-quarters majority of all lecturers of the faculty concerned. A Doctorate Commission appointed by the council, to which the persons submitting the proposal may not belong, obtains at least two external expertises and after examining the merits of the person to be honoured recommends a decision to the School Committee. The School Committee reaches a decision on the proposal by secret ballot. All lecturers of the School of Science are to be invited to the corresponding council meeting. All members of the School Committee and additionally those invited lecturers actually attending the meeting are eligible to vote. School Committee members unable to be present at the meeting are given the opportunity to cast their vote in writing before the meeting. A three-quarters majority of those eligible to vote is required for acceptance of a proposal. The decision of the School Committee regarding conferment of an honorary doctorate is to be confirmed by the Senate of the Technische Universität Dresden.

03. The honorary doctorate is to be conferred in a manner worthy of the occasion by handing over a certificate signed by the Rector and the Chairperson of the School of Science. The certificate is to contain a brief summary of the grounds for the conferment and the merits of the recipient.

04. The conferring of an honorary doctorate is to be notified to the Saxon State Minister for Science and Art.

§ 17
Bi-national doctorate proceedings

• On the basis of a cooperation agreement with a foreign college or university, which must itself possess the right to grant doctorate degrees in its own country, the School of Science of the Technische Universität Dresden may conduct bi-national doctorate proceedings. Bi-national doctorate proceedings lead to the granting of a doctorate degree on the basis of a doctorate thesis. The cooperation agreement is to contain provisions regarding the joint supervision of the candidate by a lecturer from each institution, as well as details of the proceedings to be followed and the grading criteria; it requires the confirmation of the Doctorate Committee.
• The provisions of these Doctorate Regulations apply accordingly for bi-national doctorate proceedings, subject to the following exceptions:
  • The thesis is to be written in one language and is to incorporate a summary in English and in the relevant national languages.
  • The Doctorate Commission comprises at least two lecturers from each of the two universities. The members are to be appointed by the responsible bodies of the university concerned. The two supervisors from the two universities are to be members of the Doctorate Commission.
  • The assessors are appointed by the Doctorate Commission. One assessor must be a lecturer of the School of Science of the Technische Universität Dresden.
  • The oral examinations (rigorosum and disputation) are conducted at one of the two universities concerned. In cases where these examinations are conducted at the foreign university, the candidate is to hold a public, scientific lecture on the thesis at the Technische Universität Dresden.
• The doctorate certificate must make it evident that the doctorate proceedings were conducted in cooperation with a partner university abroad. The universities concerned are to be named. Special cases provided for by the applicable national laws in the country of the partner university are to be approved by the Doctorate Committee.

§ 18
General procedural rules

• Unless specified otherwise in these regulations, decisions of the School Committee, the Doctorate Committee and the Doctorate Commission are passed with a simple majority. In case of an equal division of votes, the chairperson shall have a casting vote. Abstentions are not permitted in votes on resolutions of the Doctorate Commission.
• Every decision specified in these regulations in connection with the doctorate proceedings and any part or component thereof is to be recorded and signed by the chairperson of the relevant body, either separately or on the appropriate forms. These records are to be added to the individual doctorate file. The doctorate file is to remain accessible for a period of two years and is then to be archived.
• Decisions of the School of Science or those bodies acting on its behalf which pertain to rejection of an application for admission for a doctorate, rejection of performances in components of the doctorate proceedings, rejection of the conferment of an academic degree, rejection of an application to repeat components of the doctorate proceedings or withdrawal of the doctor title must be accompanied by written grounds and must be shown to have been delivered to the candidate concerned. The notification must include advice on available means of legal redress.

§ 19
Effective date, transitional provisions and publication

• These regulations come into effect one day after publication in the Official Gazette of the Technische Universität Dresden. After this date, the previous Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences dated 20th March 2000 are deemed no longer effective.
• All doctorate proceedings to be opened after the aforementioned effective date are to be conducted on the basis of these regulations. Doctorate proceedings already opened at the time at which these regulations come into effect are to be completed on the basis of the provisions of the Doctorate Regulations of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences dated 20th March 2000.

Executed on the basis of the resolutions of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of 15th July 2009 and 19th January 2011 and the approval of the Rector's Office of 1st February 2011.

Dresden, 23rd February 2011

The Rector of the Technische Universität Dresden

Annex 1:

Confirmation

I herewith declare that I have produced this paper without the prohibited assistance of third parties and without making use of aids other than those specified; notions taken over directly or indirectly from other sources have been identified as such. This paper has not previously been presented in identical or similar form to any other German or foreign examination board.

​​​​​​​Date, signature: