The degree of Dr.philos (dr.philosophiae) is awarded to academics who have qualified for a doctoral degree without formal supervision and participation in a doctoral programme. The degree has no nominal timeframe, and you are not attached to the university as a doctoral candidate until your application for a doctoral examination has been approved.
To be accepted as a doctoral candidate, you need first of all to have completed the Dr. philos thesis. You need to submit the thesis if you are going to apply to be admitted to the doctoral examination. Only if and when the application is approved will you formally be registered as a doctoral candidate and an assessment committee appointed.
The Dr. philos degree is awarded on the basis of:
An approved scientific thesis
Two approved trial lectures, one on a theme assigned to you and one on a theme of your own choice
A satisfactory defence of the thesis (disputation)
Please be aware that the Dr. philos thesis is an independent work. The university does not offer funding, supervision, or other assistance in connection with your work with the thesis.