Dissertations
A dissertation, or doctoral thesis, is an academic paper in which the candidate demonstrates his or her ability to independently conduct original research and contribute to existing knowledge on a scientific topic. This means that in terms of length, literature research, systematic treatment, and analysis of the topic, a dissertation is much more demanding than a master or diploma thesis. In particular, the candidate must show a profound knowledge of the most important theories and methods in the chosen field, and make a significant contribution to scientific progress.
The dissertation is the main focus of the doctoral program, and is worked on throughout the program in close cooperation with the candidate’s supervisor. Cumulative dissertations are possible. However, requirements and criteria vary widely and should be discussed with your supervisor.
Department requirements for cumulative/article-based dissertations
| Department Finance, Accounting and Statistics (01.10.2024) |
| Department Management (2018, German) |
| Department Marketing (30.11.2016) |
| Department Socioeconomics (26.6.2024) |
| Department Strategy & Innovation (01.07.2024; in German, English version will follow soon) |
| Department Economics (for Doctoral program, 2024); for the PhD Label Economics, please see here |
| Department Information Systems and Operations Management (22.06.2010) |
| Department Business Communication (17.04.2024) |
| Department Global Trade (16.01.2019) |
Submitting your dissertation (applies until February 28, 2025
Dissertations are submitted electronically using the LEARN learning and information portal. For more information on the submission process, please see the MyLEARN-Guide. All dissertations submitted are subjected to plagiarism detection. Two bound copies of the Dissertation have to be submitted to the Doctoral Office. Your examiners may also request one hard copy each. The examiners have four months to evaluate and grade the dissertation (counted from the date when the bound copies were submitted to the Doctoral Office). Once the dissertation has been evaluated, the examiners are required to submit the completed grading protocol and written appraisals to the Doctoral Office.
Submitting your dissertation (effective from March 2025 onwards)
Starting March 1, 2025, dissertations must be submitted electronically only. This means that from this date onward, you no longer need to submit a hardcover copy!
Submit your dissertation in PDF/A format via myWU. Follow the step-by-step guide for instructions. Remember to create a list of aids used that includes all the tools you used in your work. A template can be found here.
After submission, your dissertation will undergo a mandatory plagiarism detection check. More information on plagiarism is available here.
From the date of submission, reviewers have four months to assess your dissertation. After completing their evaluation, they will submit the evaluation form and a written report to the Doctoral Office.
Abstracts
Abstracts in German and English have to be included in the dissertation.
What is an abstract?
An abstract is an objective, complete and condensed description, summarising the contents of the document/work in question. Its purpose is that the reader can assess the relevance and content of the work without having to read the entire text.
What is part of an abstract?
Topic (not only a repetition of the title)
Subject area and objectives
Hypotheses and applied methods
Results
Deductions/outlook
What is important?
Objectivity: refrain from judgements.
Completeness: For experts in the field, it has to be comprehensible without consulting the original document.
Shortness: It should be as short as possible.
Intelligibility: Used technical terms should be widely used. Abbrevations should not be used or at least explained.
Accuracy: Contents, opinions and emphasis of the document should not be changed. Do not list topics/questions that are not part of the work.
Withholding access to a dissertation
In exceptional cases, authors of a dissertation may request a temporary withholding of access, restricting access to the dissertation in the university library. This is only possible if economic or legal interests are at risk. The embargo must be approved by the program director. The standard embargo period is one year, with a legally defined maximum duration of five years.
Plagiarism
All dissertations submitted for evaluation are subjected to plagiarism detection.
A work is considered to be plagiarized if it incorporates texts, contents, or ideas produced by someone else and passes them off as the author’s own. This is the case especially when another person’s intellectual property is incorporated into a work without marking the elements in question as quotations and referencing the original sources and authors. In particular, plagiarism includes:
Quoting passages from other works without referencing the sources
Downloading texts (or parts of texts) from the internet and passing them off as one’s own
Passing off other people’s work (or parts of other people’s work) as one’s own (ghostwriting)
Using translations of works (or parts of works) written in another language in one’s own text without referencing the sources
Handing in the same text (or parts of the same text) more than once in different seminars or for different papers or theses (self-plagiarism)
Plagiarism can entail a range of consequences, depending on the severity of the misconduct and on the time at which the suspicions arise: detailed information
If you have any questions on plagiarism or if you have detected a case of plagiarism, please contact the Study Information office by email.
- Regulations for the bound dissertation (pdf, 94 KB)