Choosing between a monograph (Monografie) and a cumulative dissertation (kumulative Dissertation) affects your timetable, your publication strategy and the review. Both formats are accepted as a doctorate in Germany, but they require different ways of working. This guide explains what each format involves, where faculties set different requirements and which questions to settle before you decide.
Short answer: A monograph is one coherent written work. A cumulative dissertation consists of several journal articles plus a framing text. Which format is allowed and how many articles are required is set by each faculty. At Faculty II of the University of Wuppertal, political science requires at least five thematically related publications with sole authorship (as of June 2024).
The most important points
- A monograph is one coherent work. A cumulative dissertation consists of articles and a framing text.
- The number of articles and the permitted authorship differ strongly between disciplines.
- Co-authors are often restricted from reviewing your work. Check who can be a reviewer in your field.
- At Hohenheim, the report on a cumulative thesis must quantify your share of the work.
- The format belongs on the title page of the Exposé (research proposal), so decide early.
What distinguishes the two formats?
A monograph is a continuously written work with a single line of argument. In a cumulative dissertation you write several journal articles that relate to one theme, and you add an introductory and integrating text. The faculty determines how many articles are needed, whether they must be accepted or published and which authorship arrangements are allowed.
The difference lies less in content than in structure and process. A monograph needs one arc of argument across several chapters. A cumulative thesis needs each article to stand on its own while the articles together answer a recognisable research question.
What do faculties require for cumulative theses?
The rules of Faculty II at the University of Wuppertal show how varied the requirements are. For the number and quality of articles, the faculty refers to the recommendations of the scholarly associations, and the doctoral committee specifies them. The table lists some of the subjects covered.
| Subject | Number and type | Own contribution | Framing text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology and social sciences | Three thematically related journal articles that together equal a monograph | Two articles accepted at submission; one sole-authored, one first-authored | Not regulated |
| Educational science | Option 1: at least five sole-authored essays. Option 2: one published monograph plus two essays | Option 1 sole-authored | Option 1: introductory text of about 30 pages |
| Political science | At least five thematically related publications | Sole authorship | Overarching introduction and conclusion, no page limit given |
| Geography (field I) | At least three publications in peer-reviewed journals | Co-authorship permitted | Introductory, integrating and summarising parts |
Source of the table: Regelungen zu den Anforderungen für die kumulative Promotion (in German), Faculty II, University of Wuppertal (as of 5 June 2024). The rules apply only there and may have changed since.
When does a monograph fit, and when a cumulative thesis?
A monograph tends to suit you if your topic needs one large, connected argument and you can set aside time for a longer writing project. You deliver the result at the end, so you do not depend on journal decisions along the way.
A cumulative thesis tends to suit you if you want to publish during the doctorate, if articles are the main publication route in your field and if you work with co-authors whose roles are clear from the start. It does, however, require early decisions about journals and review processes, over which you have limited influence.
The decision should not rest on a feeling about time alone. Ask your supervisor which format is customary in your field and how reviewing works in practice. They know the habits of your faculty better than any general text.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take for an article to be accepted?
That varies from journal to journal and cannot be stated as one figure. Plan for review rounds and revisions. An article is rarely accepted unchanged at the first submission, which is why the publication plan should come before the Exposé.
Do I have to be published before I submit?
That depends on the regulations. At Wuppertal, the social sciences require two articles to be accepted at submission. Other rules require publication or submission. Read exactly which status is demanded, and plan for the review times of journals.
Can I work with co-authors?
Yes, but not without limits. At Wuppertal, co-authorship is permitted in geography, while in the social sciences it is provided for one article only. At Hohenheim you must carry at least 80 percent of the lead contribution for each article, and only one lead author is allowed per article. The co-author declarations are submitted there through a faculty form.
Who reviews a cumulative thesis?
The rules differ here too. In educational science, co-authors may not review. In psychology, at most one reviewer may be a co-author, otherwise a third report is obtained. Which rule applies to you is set out in your faculty’s regulations.
How is my own share assessed?
At Hohenheim the report must quantify the share of the doctoral candidate. If that share is below 30 percent for two or more articles, the regulations require a more detailed statement in the report. Document your contributions cleanly while you write.
When should I decide?
Early, ideally together with your supervisor, because publication planning and the framing text depend on it. The format belongs on the title page of the Exposé, as the Koblenz-Landau guidance shows. A later change is therefore costly, even where it is formally possible.
It also helps to look at supervision. If your supervisor works mainly in monograph form, or guides doctoral candidates mainly through articles, this changes your route considerably. Raise it openly before you commit.
What to do next
- Ask your supervisor which format is customary in your field and what they expect.
- Check the doctoral regulations for the number of articles, authorship and publication status required.
- Clarify whether you already have co-authorships and how the roles are set.
- Decide before the Exposé and enter the format on the title page.
Related guides
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- PhD Funding: Position, Scholarship or Own Savings
- Exposé für die Promotion schreiben: Aufbau und Beispiel
- Promotionsordnung verstehen: Die wichtigsten Regeln
Sources: Regelungen zu den Anforderungen für die kumulative Promotion (in German), University of Wuppertal, Faculty II (as of 5 June 2024); Durchführungsbestimmungen 2023 (in German), University of Hohenheim (as of 13 January 2025); Handreichung für das Exposé zur Dissertation (in German), University of Koblenz-Landau (no date in the document).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
