Doctorate Degree in Medical Sciences.

Graduates of the doctorate degree program in Medical Sciences will be awarded either the title of Dr. scient. med. or PhD. The degrees differ according to the following criteria:

The Dr.scient.med requires:

• Successful completion of all courses according to curriculum
• Successful completion of the dissertation
• Passing the oral defense

The PhD requires:

• Successful completion of all courses according to curriculum
• Successful completion of the dissertation in a translational research project
• Passing the oral defense
• Publishing as the first author in an international, highly ranked peer-reviewed journal

The doctorate degree program in Medical Sciences focuses primarily on fundamentals and applying scientific research. As you complete your dissertation, you acquire expert skills in holding presentations, writing projects, writing papers.

As a graduate, you are qualified to

• independently plan and carry out internationally recognized research projects.
• publish research findings in internationally recognized journals and present them in a comprehensible way to an interested public.
• hold professional discussions with other scientists in English and to present findings at international conferences.

As part of the doctorate degree program, students are required to complete courses totaling 180 ECTS credits in the following area :

• Fundamentals of Scientific Research and General Skills
• Dissertation Topic
• Elective Courses
• Doctoral Dissertation

Please note:

• The curricular part of the doctorate degree program is part-time so professionally active students can complete their studies.
• The doctoral candidate's main supervisor must be a member of a Doctoral School at the JKU's Faculty of Medicine.
• The main supervisor must be hold a post-doctorate/habilitation diploma.
• In addition to the supervisor, the doctoral candidate must also have 2 co-supervisors.

Additional information on these points is available in the curriculum.

• A Diploma or Master's degree in human medicine/dentistry/engineering/natural or life sciences or a subject-related degree program considered equivalent in content and scope to the aforementioned degree programs
• Dissertation Agreement (including a main supervisor and 2 co-supervisors, a dissertation topic and a dissertation concept)

Please note: 

The Dissertation Agreement form is currently under revision. You can, however, still enroll in the doctoral degree program in Medical Sciences.
Instead of a signed Dissertation Agreement, you will be asked to submit a dissertation concept (exposé) for the time being.

Exposé content for admission:

• Dissertation topic
• Descriptive summary of the methods and/or milestones in German and English
• Main supervisor's signature
• Applicant's signature

Otherwise, general admission conditions apply.

Please submit an application of admission (PDF) and the required documentation to the Admissions Office, either in person or by postal service. If you have any questions, pelase do not hesitate to contact us!

During the first semester (Winter Semester 2019/2020), a course will take place in January 2020 on two Saturdays as a blocked session. Detailed information will be available in November 2019.

Still Have Questions? 

Do you still have any questions about studying or need help with admissions? The JKU Offiice of Student Information & Academic Advising  (SIBS) or the contact person for the doctorate program will be happy to talk with you!