Examination and Registration
We recommend that all doctoral students consider changing to the doctoral regulations of 2020 and apply for this at the latest when registering for their exam (by e-mail to promotionsbuero-phil-fak(at)uni-koeln.de). Please note that it is not possible to change regulations after exam registration. The new doctoral regulations fix certain shortcomings in earlier doctoral regulations, i.e. the certificate of completion of the doctorate issued immediately after passing the examination and the explicit possibility of applying for permission to temporarily use the doctor title before publishing the dissertation (cf. §18), and therefore offer you clear advantages in the course of completing your doctoral studies. We recommend that you carefully review the new regulations before you apply for the change (download area).
If you have any further questions, the staff of the doctoral office will be happy to help you.
Upon submission of your dissertation, you will be registered for the oral examination. Please note the registration deadlines as specified below. In order to register, you are required to submit a specific number of copies of the dissertation, as well as a number of additional documents, depending on the requested form of the oral examination.
Please note:
- Applications for the examination procedure are made via a.r.t.e.s. access by entering the relevant information and submitting the application in the "Examination process" tab
- All registration documents as well as the required printed copies of the dissertation must be submitted in paper form to the doctoral office. The documents can either be handed in personally without appointment during our hours of operation at reception at the a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School or sent by post to:
University of Cologne
a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne
Albertus-Magnus-Platz
50923 Cologne
- Please let us know upon registering for the exam if your examination will take place in person, online, or as a hybrid exam.
For all questions in this regard, please contact the doctoral office: promotionsbuero-phil-fak(at)uni-koeln.de
Application documents
Exam Dates Summer Semester 2024
Disputatio and Defensio
- 1st Exam Date: 16.04.2025 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 15.01.2025)
- 2nd Exam Date: 04.06.2025 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 05.03.2025)
- 3rd Exam Date: 02.07.2025 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 02.04.2025)
Please note:
- Due to reviewing times and administrative procedures, a period of 13 weeks must be planned between the examination registration (submission of the dissertation) and the oral examination. If the period is shorter, it cannot be guaranteed that the examination dates will be met.
- The specific 90-minute time slot for a defensio / disputatio on the above-mentioned examination days will be coordinated by the first supervisors with all parties involved (committee members and candidate) and must be communicated in writing to the Promotionsbüro at promotionsbuero-phil-fak(at)uni-koeln.de no later than three weeks after the receipt of the doctoral application.
Graduation Ceremony
Friday, 18.07.2025, 18:00 (Aula, Hauptgebäude of the University of Colgone)
Exam Dates Winter Semester 2024/25
Disputatio and Defensio
- 1st Exam Date: 16.10.2024 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 17.07.2024)
- 2nd Exam Date: 04.12.2024 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 04.09.2024)
- 3rd Exam Date: 22.01.2025 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 23.10.2024)
Please note:
- Due to reviewing times and administrative procedures, a period of 13 weeks must be planned between the examination registration (submission of the dissertation) and the oral examination. If the period is shorter, it cannot be guaranteed that the examination dates will be met.
- The specific 90-minute time slot for a defensio / disputatio on the above-mentioned examination days will be coordinated by the first supervisors with all parties involved (committee members and candidate) and must be communicated in writing to the Promotionsbüro at promotionsbuero-phil-fak(at)uni-koeln.de no later than three weeks after the receipt of the doctoral application.
Graduation Ceremony
Friday, 31.01.2025, 18:00 (Aula, Hauptgebäude of the University of Colgone)