Scheme of the programme

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If you have any questions, please email graduiertenzentrum@mdw.ac.at.


The 6-semester PhD programme consists of two phases:

  • 2-semester exposé phase

  • 4-semester research phase

The ECTS credits are divided into

  • 32 ECTS credits for the courses of the exposé phase

  • 16 ECTS credits for the courses of the research phase

  • 20 ECTS credits to be completed as part of the elective course requirements during the exposé and/or research phase

  • 6 ECTS credits for the exposé

  • 90 ECTS credits for the dissertation


Exposé phase

The exposé phase involves developing an exposé and preparing for the proposal defence as well as deepening scientific thinking and working and contextualizing the dissertation topic. This phase concludes with the so-called proposal defence of the exposé and specified subject content.

All technical and practical questions regarding the progress of the thesis are to be discussed with the supervisor.


Compulsory subjects of the exposé phase (10 semester hours per week [SWS]):

  • Colloquium, KO 2 SWS, 8 ECTS Credits

  • Privatissimum, PV 2 SWS, 8 ECTS Credits

  • Gender Studies as Critical Studies, SE 2 SWS, 8 ECTS Credits

  • Theorien und Methoden, SE 2 SWS, 8 ECTS Credits

You can find all courses of the Exposé-Phase offered in the current semester in mdwOnline (please click under standard variation on the upper line "Exposé-Phase").

The supervisor may strongly recommend attending additional courses to fill gaps in knowledge and prior learning. This should be recorded in the dissertation agreement.
 

Transfer to the research phase

Successful completion of the compulsory subjects of the exposé phase and passing the proposal defence. More information on this can be found on our page Exposé and Proposal Defence.

 

Research phase

At the beginning of the research phase, the supervisors and the topic are confirmed. The dissertation topic must be attributable to the subjects of the scientific venia docendi of the supervisors. The research phase includes the writing of the dissertation as well as the independent, in-depth and critical examination of the respective research area. At the end of the research phase, the student graduates by submitting the dissertation and undergoing a public defence.


Compulsory subjects of the research phase (8 contact hours):
At least one of the completed colloquia should be interdisciplinary.

  • Two Colloquia, je KO 2 SWS, 8 ECTS Credits

  • Two Privatissima, je PV 2 SWS, 8 ECTS Credits 

You can find all courses of the research phase offered in the current semester in mdwOnline (please click on the line "research phase").

At the beginning of the research phase, the supervisors and the topic are fixed, the form for this can be found here and on our page Forms. An abstract must be sent as a PDF to doktorat@mdw.ac.at 

The exact wording of the title must be requested from the Studies Center at least 4 weeks before uploading for the plagiarism check using the form Definitive determination of the title before plagiarism check, to be found here and on the page Forms. Should the focus of the topic and thus the working title change during the course of the study, no separate notification is necessary (e.g. slight deviations in the period to be covered). However, if the topic changes fundamentally, be sure to request this change. If you are unsure whether this is a relevant change of topic, please feel free to contact the Office of the Dean of Research Programmes at any time.

 

FAQ and more information can be found here.