Thesis Advisory Committee

Your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) is a group of academic experts who provide guidance and support throughout your doctoral research and thesis writing. The TAC is typically formed within six months after starting the PhD program and is composed of your direct supervisor and two additional members from different faculties and/or from outside TU Darmstadt to ensure interdisciplinary supervision.

The TAC's primary role is to advise you on all aspects of their interdisciplinary research project, including research design, methodology, data collection, and analysis. The TAC members may also provide feedback on your thesis drafts and offer suggestions for improvement from different disciplinary perspectives. In addition, the TAC may assist the student in identifying opportunities for conference presentations and research stays abroad.

You will meet regularly with your personal TAC throughout the program, usually at least once a year, to review your progress, discuss any challenges or issues, and provide guidance and support.

Overall, the TAC plays a critical role in ensuring the success of your PhD. By providing interdisciplinary guidance and feedback throughout the process, the TAC helps you to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful researcher.

Start of the PhD program

• Students should work with their supervisor to establish specific, measurable and achievable goals for their PhD = Career development plan

1st TAC meeting scheduled within the first year

• Presentation of the individual career development plan that outlines the goals, schedules and methods for achieving the PhDs objectives

2nd TAC meeting scheduled within the second year

• Evaluation of student’s progress
• Discussion of any challenges and next steps
• Plan to attend conferences and/or pursue a research stay abroad

3rd TAC meeting scheduled within the third year

• Evaluation of student’s progress
• Discussion of any challenges and next steps
• Plan to attend conferences and/or pursue a research stay abroad
• Status of publication (manuscripts in progress or already published)
• Status of finishing the PhD

If required: 4th TAC within the fourth year

• Status of publication (manuscripts in progress or already published)
• Status of finishing the PhD

1. Each student has to submit a written progress report of max 2 DIN A4 pages to each supervisor at least one week prior to the TAC meeting.
2. The student has to give an oral presentation of 20-30 minutes on the PhD project, followed by a discussion of the project.
3. The student has the opportunity to talk to the 2nd and 3rd supervisor without the direct supervisor being present.
4. Next, the TAC members have the opportunity to discuss the candidate's progress and complete the assessment form without the student being present.
5. Finally, TAC members discuss with the student the assessment form, progress, plans for a research stay abroad and the need to attend seminars on transferable skills.
6. The signed assessment form has to be submitted to the managing director of the Graduate School LSE for documentation via the LSE Homepage.

Please upload you signed assessment form here.

• In the case of conflicts arising between the PhD student and the direct supervisor, be it related to the PhD project, supervision, or any related matters, it is recommended that these issues be addressed within the TAC as early as possible (see also no. 3 in the guidelines)
• In the event that a satisfactory resolution cannot be achieved during the TAC discussion, an independent fourth party, such as the Managing Director of GS LSE or an ombudsman from TUDa, can be brought in for consultation.
• In case of conflicts with the second or third supervisor, the PhD student is also granted the option to request a change of the TAC member, following consultation with the other two supervisors.
• Additionally, in the event of any other problems, the doctoral student may at any time confidentially contact the managing director of GS LSE and/or an ombudsman of TUDa.