Doctoral studies

General information about doctoral studies at the Faculty of Science of the University of Zurich can be found here.

Typically doctoral studies are completed in a PhD program of the Life Science Zurich Graduate School. Before submitting the thesis, PhD students must obtain 12 ECTS credits (refer to the homepage of individual PhD programs for details) and fulfill teaching requirements.

The  PhD regulations of the Faculty of Science require that all PhD students contribute to teaching for a minimum of 100 hours and maximum of 420 hours.

In the Division of Biology, rules and procedures regarding teaching activities of PhD students associated with this Division are defined in more detail (see "Background information and guidelines (PDF, 60 KB)", Nov. 27, 2015. If you started your PhD before Nov. 27, 2015, see below).

All necessary information is given in the form "Planning Teaching Activities (PDF, 476 KB)" (updated November 2019).

Current opportunities for teaching in the basic studies modules, including exam supervisions, are listed in the form "Teaching Opportunities in Biology". (PDF, 396 KB)

If you have questions, please contact the Academic Support Office (phd.teaching@biol.uzh.ch, Dr. Sabine Jacob).

(A) PhD students who started their PhD in Spring semester 2017 (Feb. 1, 2017) or later

1) Plan

Read the information in the form Planning teaching activities (PDF, 476 KB).

Upload the form Planning teaching activities (PDF, 476 KB) to the MNF student admin tool https://studentadmin.mnf.uzh.ch within 6 months of starting your PhD. Upload the form in any case (even if it is still incomplete).

The plan will be examined by the Academic Support Office (ASO, Studienkoordination Fachbereich Biologie).

For incomplete or unclear planning teaching forms, the ASO will give feedback within one month. If required by ASO, upload a revised planning teaching form as soon as possible, latest within 6 months. Note whether the revised form is the final version.

If the planning teaching form is accepted, it will be confirmed by ASO in the MNF student admin tool.

2) Teach and collect confirmations

Teach according to your approved plan.

Any modification of your approved plan must be accepted by ASO. Teaching hours without approval might not be counted.

Collect confirmations for your teaching activities on the form Confirmation of teaching activities (PDF, 125 KB). Check on the form whose signature you need: the organizer of the practicals for basic studies modules, or the Head of your PhD committee (official supervisor MNF) for all other modules.

3) Get confirmation of ASO

After having fulfilled your teaching contributions and at least two months before registering for the thesis defense, upload the filled out and signed form Confirmation of teaching activities (PDF, 125 KB) to the MNF student admin tool https://studentadmin.mnf.uzh.ch. If your teaching is ok, the ASO will confirm the completion of your teaching requirements within the MNF student admin tool.

(B) PhD students who started their PhD after Nov. 27, 2015 and before Feb. 1, 2017

1) Plan

If not done yet, send the form Planning teaching activities (PDF, 476 KB) as soon as possible to the Academic Support Office of Biology (ASO, phd.teaching@biol.uzh.ch).

The plan will be examined by ASO and you get feedback within one month: Either OK (approved) or, for incomplete or unclear planning teaching forms, individual recommendations.

If necessary, send an updated planning teaching form as soon as possible, latest within 3 months. Note whether the updated form is the final version.

2) Teach and collect confirmations

Teach according to your approved plan (OK).

Any modification of your approved plan must be accepted by ASO. Teaching hours without approval might not be counted.

Collect confirmation for your teaching activities on the form Confirmation of teaching activities (PDF, 125 KB). Check on the form whose signature you need: the organizer of the practicals for basic studies modules, or the Head of your PhD committee (official supervisor MNF) for all other modules.

3) Get confirmation of ASO

After having fulfilled your teaching contributions and at least two months before registering for the thesis defense, upload the filled out and signed form Confirmation of teaching activities (PDF, 125 KB) to the MNF student admin tool https://studentadmin.mnf.uzh.ch. If your teaching is ok, the ASO will confirm the completion of your teaching requirements within the MNF student admin tool.

(C) PhD students who started their PhD before Nov. 27, 2015

1) Plan

If not done yet, send the form Planning teaching activities (PDF, 476 KB)  as soon as possible to the Academic Support Office of Biology (ASO, phd.teaching@biol.uzh.ch).

The plan will be examined by ASO and you get feedback within one month: Either OK (approved) or, for incomplete or unclear planning teaching forms, individual recommendations.

If necessary, send an updated planning teaching form, within 3 months. Note, if the updated form should be the final version.

2) Teach and collect confirmations

Teach according to your approved plan (OK).

Any modification of your approved plan must be accepted by ASO. Teaching hours without approval might not be counted.

3) Get confirmation of ASO

As soon as you have fulfilled your planned teaching or additional teaching (at least 100 hours), fill out the form Summary of teaching activities (PDF, 116 KB) and get it signed by the Head of your PhD committee (official supervisor MNF). Upload the signed form to the MNF student admin tool https://studentadmin.mnf.uzh.ch at least two months before registering for the thesis defense. If your teaching is ok, the ASO will confirm the completion of your teaching requirements within the MNF student admin tool.