Cumulative Dissertation

Introduction

The guidelines for cumulative dissertations were published on the 3rd July 2013 in the Bulletin of the TU Wien. They are the result of discussions between the curricular commission for the doctoral studies and the vice rector for academic affairs with substantial contributions by the Fachschaft Doktorat.

A modification of the guidelines for cumulative dissertations were published on the 2nd July 2014 in the Bulletin of the TU Wien.

Here you can find the guidelines for cumulative dissertations (only in German).

Procedure

At the beginning of your studies, you should ask yourself whether you want to write a cumulative dissertation or a monograph. When doing so, the following should be kept in mind:

  • Does it make sense to produce a cumulative dissertation in my field of study or for my specific topic?
  • Can the obligatory number of publications (three, see below) be reached within the available period of time?
  • Does the supervisor and the dean of studies agree in producing a cumulative dissertation?

One doesn’t have to ultimately decide what type of thesis to create at the very beginning of the studies, but rather when it is time to write down the thesis. Furthermore, the type can be changed at any given time in a mutal agreement of student and supervisor.

It is highly recommended to gather some information about the customs at the department to avoid trouble when submitting the thesis.

Guidelines

The following text is a summary of the current guidelines. It is hereby clarified that the only valid text is the German one, published in the above mentioned Bulletin.

§ 1 Agreement on a cumulative dissertation

Normally, a dissertation is written as a monograph. By mutual agreement between student and supervisor and after approval by the dean of studies, a cumulative dissertation may be composed.

§ 2 Composition of the thesis

At least three scientific peer-reviewed publications have to be included. If the student is a co-author, his/ her contribution to the paper must be made clear in the introductory chapter. The context of the publications used themselves as well as the relation to the field must also be presented there.

§ 3 Structure of the thesis

 (1) The cumulative dissertation consists of

  1. an introductory chapter
  2. the scientific publications

(2) The introductory chapter has to cover

  1. the investigated problem
  2. the aims
  3. the methodology
  4. a short summary of the scientific publications
  5. and the scientific contribution to the field of study.

​§ 4 Evaluation and submission

The same rules apply as for monographic theses.

§ 5 Legal validity

(1) These guidelines come into effect on 1st October 2013.
(2) § 1 as published in the Mitteilungsblatt 2014, 15. Stück, Nr. 165, comes into effect on 1st October 2014.