The oral examination is the final major step of a German doctorate. Depending on the university it is called a Disputation or a Rigorosum, and the two differ in structure, duration and grading. This guide explains both formats, uses the University of Göttingen as a worked example and gives tips for preparation.
Short answer: A Disputation is a defence of your dissertation: a talk of at most 20 minutes followed by questions, 90 to 120 minutes in total at Göttingen. A Rigorosum examines you in two or three subjects and lasts about 120 minutes at Göttingen. Which format applies is set out in your doctoral regulations (Promotionsordnung). Example figures come from the University of Göttingen, status October 2026.
Key points at a glance
- Disputation and Rigorosum are different forms of the oral examination. The doctoral regulations of your faculty decide which one applies to you.
- In a Disputation you give a talk of at most 20 minutes on the aims and results of your dissertation and then answer questions.
- In a Rigorosum the committee examines you in several subjects. At Göttingen it lasts about 120 minutes.
- At Göttingen the grades are summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude and rite. If you do not pass, one repetition is possible.
- Preparation pays off most for the talk and for questions on methods and neighbouring subjects.
What is the difference between a Disputation and a Rigorosum?
The Disputation focuses mainly on your dissertation. The Rigorosum also tests broader subject knowledge. Both formats show that you can defend your work and place it in its wider context. The table shows the differences using the University of Göttingen as an example:
| Feature | Disputation | Rigorosum |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Talk of at most 20 minutes, then questions on the dissertation, then questions on the wider context, methods and neighbouring fields | Examination in two or three subjects, with the dissertation subject as main subject taking about 60 minutes |
| Duration | 90 to 120 minutes | About 120 minutes |
| Public access | Open to members and staff of the university, can be excluded on request for an important reason | Doctoral candidates may attend only with the consent of the candidate, not during deliberation and the announcement of the result |
| Grading | The committee sets the grade by resolution | Overall grade as a weighted average of the subject grades |
Your doctoral regulations decide which format applies to you. A look at the section on the oral examination settles the question quickly. Ask the doctoral office if the regulations are unclear.
How does the Disputation work?
Using the University of Göttingen as an example, the Disputation has two parts. In the first, you give a talk of at most 20 minutes on the aims and results of your dissertation, and the examiners then ask questions about it. In the second part they ask about the wider scientific context, about your methods and about neighbouring subjects. The whole examination lasts 90 to 120 minutes.
The Disputation is open to the university: members and staff of the university may attend. On request, the public can be excluded for an important reason. After the questions, the committee deliberates and sets the grade. At least two thirds of the committee must be present, including at least two reviewers (Gutachtende).
How does the Rigorosum work?
In a Rigorosum you are examined in two or three subjects. The dissertation subject as main subject takes about 60 minutes. Added to it is either a second main subject of about 60 minutes or two minor subjects of about 30 minutes each. The examination lasts about 120 minutes in total. Its purpose is to show interdisciplinary education and sound judgement, not only detailed knowledge of your own work.
At Göttingen the committee consists of at least three members, at least two thirds of its members must be present, and each chosen subject must be covered by at least one examiner entitled to examine. Doctoral candidates who will soon take their own Rigorosum may attend with your consent, but not during deliberation and the announcement of the result.
How are the Disputation and Rigorosum graded?
At Göttingen the grades are summa cum laude (0), magna cum laude (1), cum laude (2) and rite (3). In a Rigorosum, steps of 0.3 are possible, and individual parts can be graded non rite. The overall grade is a weighted average of the subject grades, with the main subject counting twice. A Rigorosum counts as not passed if the average exceeds 3.50. The decision on passing is taken in a closed session directly after the examination. The examination language can be German or English, with exceptions possible.
If you do not pass, one repetition is possible at Göttingen. It may take place no earlier than six months later and must take place within one year.
How do you prepare well?
Preparation depends on your subject, but some steps help almost everywhere. Keep the talk within the time limit, so a rehearsal with a stopwatch makes sense. Reread your dissertation as if you were an outsider and mark the passages a critic could challenge.
- Give the talk aloud twice and shorten it to about 15 minutes, which leaves room for follow-up questions.
- Be able to explain the methods and the limits of your work in your own words.
- Know the neighbouring subjects and the current literature in outline.
- Run a practice Disputation with your supervisors or a colleague.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hold the Disputation in English?
At Göttingen the examination language can be German or English, with exceptions possible. Ask the doctoral office whether your faculty and committee agree, and settle the language early.
What happens if I do not pass?
The rules for a repetition are set out in the doctoral regulations. At Göttingen one repetition is possible, no earlier than six months later and within one year. Ask for the record of the examination and discuss the reasons with your supervisors.
Who may attend the examination?
The Disputation is open to the university, unless the public is excluded on request. At a Rigorosum, doctoral candidates may attend with consent, but not during deliberation. Which rule applies at your university is set out in its doctoral regulations.
How is the doctoral title affected after the examination?
The examination is part of the procedure, and the title follows a successful completion. The guide on doctoral title abbreviations (in English) explains which abbreviation is common in your field.
Do the requirements differ between subjects?
Yes, the requirements and examination areas vary by subject and doctoral regulations. For an example from law, see our guide on PhD in law (Dr. iur.).
What to do now
- Read the section on the oral examination in your doctoral regulations and note the format, duration and grading.
- Clear the date, language and rules on attendance and public access with the doctoral office.
- Practise the talk several times with a stopwatch and prepare for follow-up questions in a practice Disputation.
- Record the protocol and the result in writing after the examination before you plan the next steps.
Related guides
- PhD in Germany: routes, titles and requirements
- Dr. or Ph.D.: Which doctoral title you may use in Germany
- Doctoral title abbreviations: from Dr. rer. nat. to Dr. h. c.
- Promotion in Geisteswissenschaften
- Promotion in Jura (Dr. iur.)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
