Legal Questions

Publication obligation

Presenting a PhD thesis is only one part of the stipulated examination requirements. Nevertheless, the dissertation fulfils a dual function: On the one hand it is an original piece of academic work, on the other it is an examination component. As an independent piece of intellectual creativity it is subject to copyright, whereas as an examination component it is subject to publication and archiving obligations.

In Germany the examination regulations stipulate compulsory publication of dissertations. To be more precise, the doctoral regulations require publication of the original or key research results. It should be possible to inspect and quote from such results. The doctorate candidates generally fulfil this requirement by submitting a given number of printed mandatory copies to the examination office and, independently of this, publishing the dissertation in one of the following ways:

• on microfiche
• through the publication of results in journals (e.g. in physics or chemistry faculties)
• through "self-printing" of the dissertation, i.e. the PhD candidate prints the required mandatory copies him/herself; generally 40 - 150 paper copies
• in a publishing house, with confirmation of a minimum number of copies
• by making the dissertation available in the Internet

Note: PhD candidates should, under all circumstances, check the actual situation at their own university. Precise information can be found in the examination regulations or obtained from the examinations office.

Institutions with electronic publications (available only in German)
Recommendations of the conference of education ministers (available only in German)
Recommendations of the German Rectors' Conference (available only in German)