Doctoral Program
in Medical Science

In this course in the extent of 2 semester-hours, students of all Doctoral Schools are made familiar with the course of their doctoral studies and all research-relevant ethical principles and rules. This will give them essential information about the quality criteria that apply to scientific research. The course will also show how the work on the dissertation project is supported by technological and organizational facilities at the Medical University of Graz.  

In this course each Doctoral Schools introduces itself to its own candidates and provides information on its research field, the research topics pusued and the working methods used (total - 1 semester-hour)

The students need to attend courses in the extent of 4 semester-hours in which they can choose among topics such as scientific theory, ethics, use of statistical methods, methods for planning, documentation, evaluation, and (meta) analysis of medical research studies and experiments, writing of scientific papers, presentation skills, university didactics, scientific English, management of scientific projects, etc.

The students shall complete seminars and workshops (total - 6 semester-hours) in the field of the dissertation topic or in a sub-discipline.  

During these seminars, (total - 4 semester-hours), the scientific literature relevant to the field of the dissertations is critically presented and discussed. The confirmation of participation in literature clubs, and guest lectures  is to be forwarded to the Dean of Doctoral Studies.   

The dissertation topic and the work plan shall be presented to the Dissertation Committee (total - 0.5 semester-hours) in the first semester. The doctoral candidate and the Dissertation Committee agree on the courses to be taken in accordance with the curriculum. The spokesperson of the Doctoral School will forward the presentation and a written assessment by the Dissertation Committee to the Dean of Doctoral Studies.  

In the extent of 0,5 semester-hours, the students present reports of their current dissertation project to fellow students and faculty members of the respective Doctoral School for critical discussion. Confirmation of completed project presentations need be sent to the Dean of Doctoral Studies.

In the third and fifth semester, written interim reports shall be prepared and presented to the dissertation committee (total - 0.5 semester-hours each). The spokesperson of the Doctoral School will forward the interim report and a written assessment by the Dissertation Committee to the Dean of Doctoral Studies.  

During the course of the program, two public presentation, each worth 0,5 semester-hours, shall be prepared and presented at the Docotral Day of the Medical University of Graz or at a scientific congress. Active participation in at least one Doctoral Day during the docotral program is mandatory.

Courses (Dissertation Seminars; Literature Clubs, Project Presentations and Guest Lectures; Fundamentals of scientific research and general skills) may be completed as electives, taking into consideration the thematic connection with the doctoral thesis and a scientific depth appropriate to the doctoral degree program, and shall be approved by the Rector of Studies in a recognition procedure after a positive statement has been obtained from the spokesperson of the Doctoral School. In total, a maximum of 4 semester week hours may be completed as electives.