Letter of support and supervision agreement

A confirmation of supervision is a short confirmation from a professor stating that he/she is willing to supervise your doctoral thesis. Such a confirmation of supervision is usually required by the Faculties for admission as a doctoral candidate.

In most graduate schools and doctoral programmes, the conclusion of a further written supervision agreement between the supervisory team and the doctoral candidate is mandatory. This is also recommended for individual doctoral candidates. Please clarify with your Faculty or graduate institution whether there is a specific requirement for a supervision agreement. Supervision agreements set out the jointly agreed rights and obligations of doctoral candidates and supervisors. They clarify expectations on both sides and help to make the supervisory relationship transparent in terms of subject and time.

Supervision agreements can vary greatly in scope, depending on how many points are regulated in them. However, they should at least contain the working title of the doctoral thesis, the doctoral candidate's commitment to report regularly on the progress of the doctoral project and, conversely, the supervisor's commitment to ask for regular reports on the progress of the doctoral project. An appropriate frequency for these progress reports should also be included.

In addition, supervision agreements can stipulate further details on the rights and obligations of doctoral candidates and supervisors, contain a detailed work plan and timetable for the doctorate and regulate participation in further training and working conditions (workplace, internet access, laboratory access, other resources). All agreements are based on the fact that good and regular supervision is essential for a successful and high-quality doctoral thesis.