Supervising theses
As supervisor of a doctoral thesis, you have the main responsibility for doctoral students, academically and for personnel issues.
The relationship between the doctoral candidate and the supervisor of the doctoral thesis is a partnership in which the supervisor supports the doctoral candidate in the development of his/her career. The two parties share and develop ideas in an atmosphere that is respectful in every respect and in scrupulous compliance with the applicable guidelines for research integrity.
Ordinance on Doctoral Studies ETH Zurich (Art. 5) / Rector's Implementation Provisions (Art. 7)
A doctoral thesis project is normally supervised by a professor within the meaning of Article 1 of the ETH external page Professors’ Ordinance or by an SNSF-sponsored professor.
Privatdozentinnen resp. Privatdozenten and adjunct professors working at ETH Zurich or within the ETH Domain may also supervise doctoral thesis projects. However, they require approval from the department in question (Download Supervision of the Doctorate by a Privatdozent or an Adjunct Professor (PDF, 236 KB)).
If a doctoral thesis project is to be supervised by a Privatdozent resp. a Privatdozentin or an adjunct professor at ETH Zurich, the following conditions must be met:
- the supervisor’s main work at ETH Zurich, at a research institute of the ETH-domain or in a joint professorship with another Swiss university
- there must be a post for the doctoral student and
- guaranteed funding and equipment for the doctoral student
- written approval of the relevant department
(Download Supervision of the Doctorate by a Privatdozent or an Adjunct Professor (PDF, 236 KB))
Ordinance on Doctoral Studies ETH Zurich (Art. 5) / Rector's Implementation Provisions (Art. 7.2)
If professors newly appointed to ETH Zurich wish to bring doctoral students with them, these students must fulfil the basic requirements for admission set out in Art. 7 of the Ordinance on Doctoral Studies. If they do, the doctoral committee of the respective department must decide whether their previous achievements can be recognised towards the doctoral degree (e.g. waiver of the aptitude colloquium or accreditation of previous achievements).
Please note:
- Contact the Doctoral Administration to discuss the process (doktorat@ethz.ch)
- Plan an appropriate lead time for the transfer of doctoral students to ETH Zurich.
- Do not make a commitment until the doctoral administration has reviewed the admission and the department has approved it.
- The candidates concerned should submit their application dossiers to the Doctoral Administration as early as possible.
- Employment at ETH Zurich is only possible once admission has been approved.
Ordinance on Doctoral Studies ETH Zurich (Art. 5) / Rector's Implementation Provisions (Art. 7.3)
According to the Regulations for Doctoral Studies, only professors who are in post at ETH Zurich may supervise theses. If supervisors take on doctoral students less than three years before they retire, the following points must be clarified in agreement with the department, then confirmed in writing and brought to the attention of the Vice-Rector for Doctoral Studies:
- a successor as thesis supervisor where applicable,
- the necessary infrastructure until the thesis is completed and
- financial support for the doctoral students who are affected, should the thesis not yet be completed when the supervisor retires.
Responsibility for adherence to these arrangements lies with the department. The arrangements apply if the doctoral thesis is not completed by the time the supervisor leaves.
Ordinance on Doctoral Studies ETH Zurich (Art. 5) / Rector's Implementation Provisions (Art. 7.4)
Doctoral thesis supervisors may be appointed as examiners in doctoral examinations for up to one year after assuming emeritus status, retiring or leaving the university. The department is responsible for the appointment. In such cases it must be ensured that at least one ETH Zurich professor according to external page Professors’ Ordinance is also appointed as co-examiner.