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Faculty of Arts and Humanitiesa.r.t.e.s. Graduate School for the Humanities Cologne

Examination and Registration

We recommend that you carefully review the doctoral regulations 2025  (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

Admission to the doctoral examination procedure: DEFENSIO

Admission to the doctoral examination procedure: DISPUTATIO
 

Exam Dates Winter Semester 2025/26

Disputatio and Defensio

  • 1st Exam Date: 22.10.2025 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 16.07.2025)
  • 2nd Exam Date: 10.12.2025 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 10.09.2025)
  • 3rd Exam Date: 28.01.2026 (Registration Deadline/Dissertation Submission: 10.10.2025)

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, 06.02.2026, 18:00 (Aula, Hauptgebäude of the University of Colgone)

 

Exam Dates Summer Semester 2026

Disputatio and Defensio

  • First examination date: April 29, 2026 (doctoral application/submission of dissertation: January 28, 2026)
  • Second examination date: June 3, 2026 (doctoral application/submission of dissertation: March 4, 2026)
  • 3rd examination day: July 8, 2026 (doctoral application/submission of dissertation: April 1, 2026)

    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

July 24, 2026, 6:00 p.m. (Aula, main building of the University of Cologne)

 

Exam Dates Winter Semester 2026/2027


Disputatio and Defensio

  •  First examination date: October 28, 2026 (registration deadline/submission of dissertation: July 16, 2026)
  • Second examination date: December 2, 2026 (registration deadline/submission of dissertation: September 2, 2026)
  • 3rd examination date: January 20, 2027 (registration deadline/submission of dissertation: October 21, 2026)
     
     
  • 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, February 5, 2027, 6:00 p.m. (Aula, Main Building of the University of Cologne)