FAQ
General enquiries
The aim of a doctoral programme is to acquire academic skills and to deepen one’s specialist knowledge in a particular field. Furthermore, a key aspect of the doctoral programme is integration into the academic community and demonstrating the ability to carry out independent academic work by writing a doctoral thesis. However, a doctoral degree not only serves as a qualification for an academic career, but also provides a solid foundation for research-related roles in business, public administration or international organisations. See Career Prospects.
A PhD programme usually lasts four to five years and is limited to a maximum of six years. The time limit begins with the semester of initial enrolment and ends on the date of registration for the PhD procedure. The Faculty Assembly may, upon written application and in justified cases, decide to extend the maximum duration of study. Enrolment for the entire duration of the doctoral programme is compulsory.
Employment as a research assistant at the chair is usually limited to five years, but may also be extended in justified cases.
See PhD programmes
- With a post as a research assistant at a department
(funded by the university or third-party funding, e.g. SNF); vacancies are published on the website: Vacancies – University of Lucerne - Without a post (‘independent PhD students’)
The supervisor guides and supports doctoral candidates throughout their PhD programme. They discuss the terms and conditions of their employment and the PhD programme with them and offer advice on academic and career-related matters.
When employed as a research assistant: assisting with the preparation and follow-up of teaching modules and examinations, as well as supervising students with their written assignments.
In the field of economics, this also includes: tutorials linked to and building on the supervisor’s respective courses.
There are no teaching obligations for positions within an SNSF project.
The application fee for all levels of study and faculties is CHF 100.
The tuition fees for doctoral studies are as follows per semester:
- Semester fee: CHF 225
- Fee for international students*1: CHF 100
- MOL contribution²: CHF 15
1 In education policy, students of foreign nationality who also had their legal residence abroad at the time of obtaining their university admission certificate are regarded as international students.
2 MOL = Mid-level Academic Staff Organisation of the University of Lucerne; the representative body for mid-level academic staff (e.g. doctoral candidates, postdocs, researchers, lecturers).
In addition, PhD students will be charged an examination fee of CHF 340 at the end of their PhD programme.
Credit Transfer & Admission
To be admitted to a PhD programme, you must hold a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Economics with an overall mark of at least 5.0, or an equivalent Master’s degree from another university. If you therefore meet the admission criteria set out in Section 5 of the Doctoral Regulations, you may look for a supervisor in the relevant research area. To enrol on a doctoral programme, you must have a letter of commitment from a professor confirming their supervision.
When applying for a PhD, the Student Advisory Service will assess the content of the Master’s degree submitted. If this is not equivalent, or is only partially equivalent, to a Master’s in Economics at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Lucerne, the completion of individual ECTS credits may be required as a condition of admission. For information on the admission requirements for holders of a foreign Master’s degree, please contact manuel.oechslin@unilu.ch directly.
In order to be admitted to a PhD programme, applicants must submit, in addition to a letter of commitment from a professor, copies of their university degrees and a CV in tabular form.
Enrolment is carried out via the UniPortal. The enrolment deadline is 31 August for the autumn semester and 31 January for the spring semester.
Please note that enrolment must be completed by 15 October at the latest for the autumn semester and by 15 March for the spring semester.
The following deadlines apply for enrolment on a PhD programme:
- By 31 August for the coming autumn semester
- By 31 January for the coming spring semester
However, appointment to a chair may, in principle, also take place outside these deadlines, at the beginning of each month.
There are no specific requirements for applicants holding a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Lucerne. For all other applicants, the Student Advisory Service will assess the content of the Master’s degree submitted. If this is not equivalent, or is only partially equivalent, to a Master’s in Economics from the Faculty of Economics at the University of Lucerne, the completion of individual ECTS credits may be set as a requirement. These will be determined by the Faculty Assembly in consultation with the supervisor, depending on the applicant’s qualifications and prior knowledge, and must be obtained during the PhD programme.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to gain admission to a PhD programme with a Master’s degree from a university of applied sciences. However, there are exceptions in rare cases! For information on the admission requirements for holders of a Swiss university of applied sciences Master’s degree, please contact manuel.oechslin@unilu.ch directly.
The University of Lucerne supports PhD students in gaining international experience and expanding their research networks. For example, the University of Lucerne’s Graduate Academy awards mobility grants twice a year to PhD students who wish to carry out their doctoral research abroad. PhD students with an outstanding dissertation project can apply for mobility stays abroad lasting between three and twelve months. The grant is paid as a lump sum and is intended to contribute towards living, travel and research costs.
Study Planning
It is not compulsory to draw up a research plan or proposal. However, the doctoral project must be presented twice, at least once as part of the faculty’s research seminars. It is also advisable to discuss the research objectives regularly – at least during the annual progress review with your supervisor – and to adjust them where necessary, in order to plan the structure of the thesis appropriately at an early stage.
At the start of employment, the ‘AAA’ employment and training agreement is drawn up. This agreement between the research assistant and the supervisor sets out, amongst other things, duties, working hours, training objectives, research objectives, supervision arrangements and support measures. This agreement is reviewed annually and amended where necessary.
In the case of self-funded PhD students, an equivalent ‘supervision agreement’ is concluded at the start of the PhD programme, setting out, amongst other things, research objectives, supervision arrangements and support measures. This agreement should also be reviewed annually and amended where necessary.
During the course of the PhD programme, 18 ECTS credits must be earned. In addition, the doctoral research project must be presented twice, at least once as part of the Faculty’s research seminars. If, at the start of the doctoral programme, the acquisition of specific ECTS credits was set as a requirement, these must be fulfilled by the time the doctoral programme is completed.
During the course of the PhD programme, 18 ECTS credits must be earned. In addition, the doctoral research project must be presented twice, at least once as part of the Faculty’s research seminars. If, at the start of the doctoral programme, the acquisition of specific ECTS credits was set as a requirement, these must be fulfilled by the time the doctoral programme is completed.
During the course of the PhD programme, students must earn 18 ECTS credits.
There are several ways to earn ECTS credits. These include Transferable Skills courses offered by the Graduate Academy at the University of Lucerne (registration required) or through external programmes, such as Gerzensee, GSERM and summer schools.
Teaching and supervision duties carried out by doctoral students form an integral part of their appointment and are part of the doctoral programme. However, no ECTS credits are awarded for teaching or supervision duties.
A position at the Chair is on a 50 per cent workload basis. Part of this workload is set aside for the preparation of the doctoral thesis. The remainder of the workload is filled by work and research for the Chair. In principle, the remaining 50 per cent may also be used for part-time work, provided the supervisor agrees. The amount of time spent on paid work outside the doctoral programme should be discussed with potential primary supervisors from the outset and renegotiated should life circumstances change.
Under certain conditions, PhD students may take a leave of absence from their studies. The conditions and the application procedure are described on the University of Lucerne’s page on leave of absence. In the context of employment, a so-called unpaid leave of absence must be applied for using a form. The granting of unpaid leave is discussed between the employee and their line manager.
PhD process
Once the dissertation has been submitted and approved by the Faculty Assembly, the first and second examiners are commissioned to prepare their reports. The dissertation defence takes place no later than three months after the dissertation has been approved (on the basis of the reports submitted). The date of the defence is set by mutual agreement between all parties involved and organised by the Dean’s Office. The defence consists of a presentation lasting approximately 20 minutes and a discussion lasting approximately 40 minutes, and is open to the public.
The dissertation must be published within two years of the successful defence. It may be published either by a publisher or as open access via the ZHB (LORY).
Once the dissertation has been completed, an application to commence the doctoral procedure may be submitted to the Faculty Assembly. The following documents must be attached to the application to commence the doctoral procedure:
- printed copies of the dissertation in the number corresponding to the intended number of reviews, plus one copy for display in the Dean’s Office,
- a declaration by the candidate stating that the submitted work(s) was/were written independently, that only the sources cited were used in the preparation of the work(s), and that any passages taken verbatim or in substance have been identified as such,
- a statement indicating whether the dissertation has already been submitted to a faculty in its current form or in a different version,
- evidence of academic achievements,
- proof of enrolment covering the duration of the doctoral programme.
If the documents are complete and the requirements are met, the Faculty Assembly will initiate the doctoral procedure and commission the reviews.
Information sheet on the doctoral procedure following completion of doctoral studies
Once the dissertation has been submitted, the doctoral procedure is initiated by the Faculty Assembly. The dissertation is then sent to the first and second examiners, who have been appointed in advance. The main report is drawn up by the supervisor. No later than upon registration for the doctoral procedure, the Faculty Assembly, acting on the candidate’s proposal, appoints at least one person to act as a second examiner. Members of another faculty or university who are authorised to award doctorates may also be appointed for this purpose.
Support, advice and services
The University of Lucerne’s Equal Opportunities Office is a contact and advice centre for women and men who wish to balance family and career, and is committed to promoting a family-friendly university. It offers a range of services, information and support options, for example regarding childcare or care for relatives in need of assistance, family allowances, breastfeeding on university premises, etc.
The Human Resources Department provides information on its website for people from abroad who are interested in a position at the University of Lucerne or who are already employed by the University of Lucerne.
- Psychological Counselling Service, Lucerne Campus: As well as traditional psychological counselling, the service also offers support on work-life balance, motivation strategies and so on.
- Sexual harassment: Contact point at the University of Lucerne and further information
- Human Resources Department at the University of Lucerne: For issues relating to employment at the University of Lucerne
- University of Lucerne Ombudsman’s Office: Mediates in various issues involving individuals or departments at the University of Lucerne that cannot be adequately resolved through discussions with relevant contacts in the faculties and university departments.
- University of Lucerne Whistleblowing Office: For anonymous reports (whistleblowing) in a wide range of conflict situations, should none of the contact persons or departments listed above be able to provide sufficient assistance.
- For financial difficulties: University of Lucerne Foundation – assists with applications to private foundations
- Equal Opportunities Unit: provides information, advice and support in the areas of compensating for disadvantages, protection against sexual harassment, and gender representation in language and imagery
