Doctoral Studies: The Doctoral Committee (Promotionskommission)

The doctoral committee supports the dean of studies in doctoral matters and reports to the Faculty Council regularly on the finished and on-going procedures. [§ 3 III doctoral degree regulations (PromO)]

Decisions on applications for acceptance as a doctoral candidate in a doctoral programme, as an individual doctoral candidate or for the doctoral programme Behavior and Cognition (fulfilment of admission requirements, subject relevance of previous studies, equivalence of foreign degrees, imposition of conditions, decisions on special aptitude, exceptions to the fulfilment of language requirements, etc.) [§ 4 PromO]

Decisions according to the programme regulations of the doctoral programme Behavior and Cognition are made by the doctoral committee after receiving the opinion of the programme committee formed for the doctoral programme Behavior and Cognition. [§ 1 III regulations for the doctoral programme Behavior and Cognition (BeCog-ProgrammO)]

Appointment of two reviewers for the evaluation of the thesis. In exceptional cases, additional reviewers are appointed, especially in the case of interdisciplinary or cross-faculty work. [§ 12 I PromO]

In the event that performances which are components of the doctoral programmes as well as of the doctoral programme Behavior and Cognition are not provided due to reasons for which the doctoral student does not bear any responsibility, or if the provision of said performances shall be associated with undue severity, the doctoral committee may forego the demand to provide proof of individual performances by no later than admission to the doctoral examination, subject to application by the doctoral student. [§ 7 Ib PromO]

Decisions on the recognition of academic achievements. [§ 7 III PromO]

Decision on the doctoral agreement to be concluded between Graduate School of Humanities Göttingen (GSGG) and the doctoral candidate, in the event of a dissent. [§ 6 III 3 PromO]

Decision on a possible extension of the doctoral phase beyond 6 years if the thesis committee has not approved the candidate's application. If the doctoral studies are not completed, a new thesis committee should be appointed. [§ 7 IV 1-3 PromO]

Decisions on a possible exemption from the obligation to enrol (only for individual doctoral students and for doctoral students within the Behavior and Cognition programme). [§ 7 V PromO]

Decisions on attempts to deceive. [§§ 7 III c), d), 8 IV PromO]

Decisions on revocation, withdrawal or termination of the doctoral studies programme and withdrawal or revocation of admission to the doctoral examination. [§§ 7 VII, 9 III PromO].

Decisions on the suspension of the doctoral procedure if it becomes known that proceedings for violation of good scientific practice or investigative or criminal proceedings in connection with the doctorate are pending against the doctoral candidate. [§ 8 III PromO]

Decisions on applications for admission to the doctoral examination and opening of the doctoral procedure. [§ 10 III 1 PromO]

Decisions on exceptions to the languages of the thesis permitted in annex I of the doctoral degree regulations. [§ 11 III PromO]

Decisions on exceptions to the languages of the oral examination permitted in annex I of the doctoral degree regulations. [§ 17 II PromO]

Decisions on waiving the requirement of sole authorship of a contribution in the case of a cumulative dissertation on the proposal of the thesis committee. [§ 11 VI 5-6 PromO]

Decisions on the participation of retired professors or professors granted leave of access in the doctoral process. [§ 12 III PromO]

Decisions on examination authorisations in exceptional cases. [§ 13 III PromO] The faculty council is responsible for the appointment of the person entitled to examine. Notwithstanding this, the doctoral committee may, by way of exception, grant examination entitlement limited to a specific doctoral procedure (individual examination entitlement) to a person who has at least been awarded a doctorate, insofar as their participation in the doctoral examination is necessary or advantageous.

Decisions on bringing forward the oral examination before the end of the inspection period. [§ 17 III PromO]

Decisions on the cancellation of an examination attempt if there is an important reason. If the decision is positive, a new examination date will be scheduled. [§ 21 I PromO]

Decisions within the framework of safeguarding provisions. [§ 22 PromO]

Decisions on objections. [§ 23 PromO]

Decisions on extensions of the deadline for delivery of the mandatory copies. [§ 24 V PromO]

Decisions on deviations from the formalities for the publication of the deposit copies. [§ 24 VI PromO]

In the case of doctoral procedures conducted jointly with a foreign university or faculty: Appointment of an examination board to be composed of academics from both universities. [§ 31 I PromO] Continuation of the doctoral procedure, if the dissertation was rejected at the foreign university or faculty but accepted in Göttingen, with a new examination board. [§ 32 III PromO]

Members

• Chair: Dean of studies
• 4 members of the professoral group. Of these, 1 member shall be a member of the GSGG management board.
• 2 postdoctorate research assistants
• 2 doctoral candidates

Click here for the current list of members.

The members of the doctoral committee are appointed by the group representatives in the faculty council of the Faculty of Humanities. [§ 3 I 4 PromO]

Each member also has a deputy. [§ 3 I 4 PromO]

In the event that a member shall depart prematurely, a successor shall be appointed for the remaining period of office. [§ 3 I 5 PromO]

It is chaired by the dean of studies. [§ 3 II 1 PromO]

The doctoral committee shall select from its members of the professoral group a deputy chairperson. [§ 3 II 2 PromO]

One member of the examination office is entitled to attend the meetings of the doctoral committee, acting in an advisory capacity. [§ 3 VIII 3 PromO]

The meetings of the doctoral committee are not public. [§ 3 IV 1 PromO]

The doctoral committee decides by simple majority; resolutions are not passed if there is a tied vote. The doctoral committee shall have a quorum insofar as the majority of its members, including the majority of members from the professoral group, are in attendance. If the dean of studies belongs to a group of professors, he or she is included in this group in view of this assessment as well. Doctoral candidates have only an advisory vote in the assessment and transfer of credits of study and examination components. [§ 3 V PromO]

The doctoral committee may, until further notice, transfer powers as concerns matters of ongoing management to the dean of studies. This shall not apply to rulings on objections. Minutes are kept of the meetings of the doctoral committee. [§ 3 VI PromO]