Thesis Defense Preparation - Compact Course

Date
11. Jun 2025, 10.00 am - 12.00 pm
Location
online
Organizer
Academic Skills Training
Speaker(s)
Dr. Alexander Egeling
Event type
Workshop
Event Language(s)
English
  • Target group:
    Advanced doctoral candidates shortly before the defense
  • Date/Time:
    11.06.2025, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Total seats:
    12
  • Deadline of registration:
    28.05.2025

As this offer is a short format with less than four hours, it is unfortunately not possible to be recognised as part of a doctoral or material cost scholarship from the University of Erfurt.


Area of competence: Presentation and communication

Workshop content

After submitting your doctoral thesis, you need to prepare the defense of it. The course aims to help you with all the questions related to this: What’s expected of me? Which content should I focus on? How do I best present it? What can I do to be prepared for the questioning? And what are the dos and dont´s for the thesis defence?
This two-hour compact course will give you an overview of the most important answers to the above questions. You will also have the opportunity to talk about your concerns and have your questions answered by the trainer and other participants. The aim is for everyone to leave the course feeling more confident about defending their own dissertation.

The following points, for example, can be addressed in the course:

  • Know the basics: the regulations, commission, procedure, technology/room, wardrobe
  • Choose what to show: identify the target group, narrow down your content and develop your story
  • Make it shine: presentation planning, slide design, and rhetorical tips
  • Stay cool: attitude and self-image, dealing with stress, answering difficult questions

The compact course consists of approximately 30 minutes of input from the trainer and 90 minutes to answer questions and exchange ideas.
Please note that not all topics relevant to the defence can be addressed in the compact course.
You should therefore consider in advance which topics or questions are most important to you.
 

Another compact course in German will take place on 16.10.2025. You will find this on the website soon.

About the coach

Dr. Alexander Egeling

Dr. Alexander Egeling is a certified trainer and coach for scientists. He studied and worked at uni-versities in Germany, Australia, and Canada. Specializing in research management, career planning and communication, he has more than 10 years of experience in higher education training. You can also book individual coaching sessions with him.

Learn more on www.alexander-egeling.de

Registration

You can find the registration form here.

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Contact

Employee, a.o. Competence-Oriented Personnel Development for Academics
(President's Office and Staff Unit University Development)
C02 | C02.01.59
Office hours
on appointment
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