Before defending her dissertation that completes the doctoral study, the doctoral student has to pass the State doctoral examination (the members of the committee are nominated by the Dean of the Faculty after them being nominated by the programme guarantor and approved by the Subject Advisory Board). The examination consists of the presentation and defence of the so-called "Argument theses": As material for the examination, the candidate submits beforehand three argument theses that he or she prepared on the basis of his or her previous study requirements. The student submits the written theses (3 to 4 standard pages and accompanied by relevant bibliography) to the programme guarantor (or to a person entrusted by the guarantor). Only after all the theses are approved, can the student register for the state final examination. Each thesis forms a structured philosophical text that states a clear thesis (claim) and presents an argument in its favour. During the public examination, the exam committee chooses two of the argument theses for the exam (state exam subjects: Philosophy Thesis 1 and Philosophy Thesis 2). The candidate then presents each thesis within 15 to 20 minutes, followed by a discussion in which she defends the thesis and its argument. The committee decides the examination outcome after a non-public discussion by vote.
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