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 areas:

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

Please note:

• The curricular section of the doctorate degree program is part-time in order to better accommodate students who work.
• The doctoral candidate's main supervisor must be a member of a Doctoral School (PDF) at the JKU's Faculty of Medicine.
• The main supervisor must be hold a post-doctorate/habilitation degree.
• In addition to a main supervisor, the doctoral candidate must also have 2 co-supervisors.
• Co-supervisors must hold a scientific doctorate degree if they have completed a Diploma degree in medicine (Dr.med.univ. is insufficient). Co-supervisors who have sucessfully completed a medical degree program that included an oral defense do not need an additional doctorate degree. Co-supervisors who hold habilitation/post-doc degrees are permitted to supervise a dissertation.
• One co-supervisor must be from a different institute, department, or clinical department where the work is to be conducted.

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)

General admission requirements apply to the doctorate degree program in Medical Sciences:

• Application form
• Diplomas and transcripts from required academic majors to meet admission requirements
• Dissertation agreement*
• Proof of C1 level of proficiency in English (certificates, if available)
• Copy of your current passport

*In order for the spokesperson at the Doctoral School to recommend your project, please send your completed dissertation agreement to: doktorat_MED@jku.at. The signed Dissertation Agreement will then be returned to you.

Please send all of the required documents the Admissions Office. General admission requirements apply.

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!