External thesis project

External doctoral thesis projects are those conducted at private institutions or at universities outside the ETH domain. Doctoral thesis projects conducted outside the ETH domain are only approved on condition that the external institution imposes no requirements which may hinder the supervision of the doctoral student by the ETH doctoral supervisor or the timely publication of research results.

With the application to ETH, the candidate must submit:

• a concept for the planned doctoral thesis with explanations why the doctoral thesis project should be conducted outside the ETH domain
• a confirmation that the external institution agrees to abide by ETH Zurich stipulations 

D-MAVT defines the following procedure and additional Downloaddocuments (PDF, 132 KB)vertical_align_bottom for the final decision in DK about an external thesis project:

• Declaration of the company that the doctoral student is working for the doctoral thesis (definition of the time available for the research and courses) and declaration of the duties. 
• The supervisor must provide in writing for the doctoral committee and the PK/DK:

1. the reasons why the doctoral thesis should be pursued outside ETH,
2. the name and function of an experienced and qualified person at the external institution who supervises the student at the external institution,
3. a plan of the activities at ETH Zurich (credits, discussions, meetings with the doctoral thesis supervisor, milestones, etc.),
4. the name of an independent professor, not involved in the research, acting as second advisor,
5. information about the timeline and finances of the doctoral studies.  

Approval is granted, if the thesis topic requires that the project be pursued at an external institution and if all prerequisites are fulfilled.