UH 784 Doctoral studies of Social and Economic Sciences

The doctoral programme in Social and Economic Sciences at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, develops the ability to carry out independent scientific work as well as to train and promote young scientists in the field of social and economic sciences with reference to natural resources and life sciences.

Graduates of the Doctoral Studies of Social and Economic Sciences are awarded the academic degree of "Doctor of Social and Economic Sciences" or "Doctor^x of Social and Economic Sciences", in Latin "Doctor rerum socialium oeconomicarumque", abbreviated to "Dr.rer.soc.oec", "Dr.ⁱⁿrer.soc.oec" or "Dr.^xrer.soc.oec".

Admission requirement

(1) Prerequisite for admission to the doctoral programme in Social and Economic Sciences at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, is:

• the completion of an engineering diploma or Master’s degree programme at BOKU, or an individual diploma or Master’s degree programme with major subject at BOKU or
• the completion of a study programme at e recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution that is equivalent to the diploma or Master's degree programmes mentioned in the bullet point above or
• the completion of a domestic degree programme at a "Fachhochschule" [University of Applied Sciences] determined by ordinance to be subject-relevant or
• the completion of a social and economic science¹⁾ diploma or Master's degree programme

¹⁾ Social sciences are the subjects listed in point 5 of the ÖSTAT branches of science.

(2) If equivalence is basically given and only individual supplements to the full equivalence are missing, the Rectorate is entitled to combine the determination of equivalence with the specification of examinations to be taken during the respective doctoral programme in addition to the oral part of the doctoral examination.

(3) The admission according to § 2 section 1 lit. b) of the curriculum of graduates of foreign post-secondary educational institutions shall require the proof of direct admission to doctoral studies in the country of issue of the certificate by which the general university entrance qualification is proven.
 
(4) The admission is granted by the Rector of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna. Application is to be made at the Study Services.

Doctoral project

(1) The doctoral programme of Social and Economic Sciences comprises at least 180 ECTS, of which 162 ECTS points are for the dissertation and at least 18 ECTS points are doctoral courses (including the compulsory 4 ECTS course "Principles and challenges of research in socio-economics, natural resources and life sciences"). The topic of the dissertation shall be selected from a social science or economics subject which is represented at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna by a university lecturer with a major authorisation to teach.

(2) After admission to the doctoral programme, the student must register the doctoral project with the Dean of Studies within one year. The doctoral project must be presented to the university before registration (e.g. in seminars at the institute/department or on the website). The registration of the doctoral project includes the following points:

• a supervisor with a major authorisation to teach in a social science or economics subject,
• a synopsis approved by the supervisor (must contain the working title and a description of the content of the dissertation as well as a time, work and resource plan),
• a plan on the form and scope of the dissertation, drawn up by the student together with the supervisor,
• an Advisory Team consisting of at least two people,
• optionally one or two co-supervisors,
• proposal for courses (must be applied for in consultation with the supervisor).

Registration of the doctoral project

Additional registration