Who is permitted to supervise a PhD.
Not every professor is permitted to supervise, and not every supervisor is permitted to act as the sole examiner. The rules are set out in the doctoral regulations and have tangible consequences for your timetable.
As a general rule, professors from the faculty where you are pursuing your PhD are permitted to act as supervisors. Depending on the regulations, this may also include professors with a habilitation, junior professors, emeritus professors or visiting professors, sometimes subject to certain conditions. Two people are usually designated to assess your thesis, one of whom is often from outside your own research group.
Who is eligible
The list follows the standard pattern of German doctoral regulations. The regulations of your faculty are binding.
Supervision and assessment are two distinct matters
The person supervising your thesis is not necessarily authorised to act as a reviewer, and the person reviewing your thesis has often not supervised you. The procedure usually requires two reviews, frequently with the stipulation that one reviewer must not belong to your own research group.
If you wait until the very end to find a second supervisor, you risk delays of several months. You should therefore clarify early on who might be suitable and establish contact before your thesis is complete. A brief discussion about the structure never does any harm and helps to build a sense of commitment.
If your supervisor is no longer available
Retirement, a move to another university, prolonged illness or a falling-out can all happen. The doctoral regulations set out how a new supervisor is appointed, and in most cases a solution can be found provided the progress of the work is documented.
This is precisely why it is worth keeping a record of your progress, meeting minutes and interim results. Anyone who, after three years, can only produce a half-finished thesis makes taking on the supervision unattractive for any new supervisor.
Changing supervisors
A change of supervisor is possible and happens more often than one might think. It requires consultation with the faculty and, depending on the regulations, a formal application. The tone is important: the academic community is small, and a change made in the midst of a dispute will have a longer-lasting impact than the research topic itself.
Before making the switch, check whether the new supervisor specialises in your topic and whether the faculty imposes the same requirements. Otherwise, you’ll be swapping one problem for two.
Frequently asked questions.
Who is authorised to supervise a PhD?+
As a rule, professors from the faculty. Other groups may be permitted depending on the doctoral regulations, often subject to certain conditions.
Do I need two supervisors?+
Two reports are usually required for the procedure. Clarifying the second supervisor at an early stage helps to avoid delays.
Can a professor at a university of applied sciences supervise a PhD?+
In the case of collaborative PhD programmes, yes, in conjunction with a supervisor from a university.
What happens if my supervisor retires?+
The regulations provide for arrangements to ensure continuity. Please sort this out in good time, not in your final year.
Can I change my supervisor?+
Yes, that is possible. It requires consultation with the faculty and a documented working basis.
Can my secondary supervisor be from another university?+
Often yes, and in some cases it is even encouraged. The regulations specify whether this is permitted and under what conditions.
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