During the Doctoral-Studies
You have been admitted to a doctoral programme at mdw and have successfully enrolled? Welcome to the mdw! Herzlich willkommen! (A warm welcome!)
To help you find the information you need, we offer a Welcome Event for new doctoral students, which you will be informed about by e-mail. If you have not received this message from us, please feel free to write to us if you are interested. In addition, we offer a doc-buddy-programme to helps you network with more experienced doctoral students. This should make settling in at the mdw a little easier.
Doctoral studies typically comprise several phases.
The first phase of the scientific doctorate is called the "Exposé-Phase". In the artistic doctorate, this is known as the "Eingangsphase". In both programmes, a proposal defence must be held in the first semesters, and a dissertation agreement must be reached. To have the proposal defence in the scientific doctorate, you must first have completed your exposé. In the structured doctoral programme, the first phase is called the "Initial Phase", and there is no proposal defence. Employees of (third-party funded) research projects who have been selected through a competitive process, as well as mdw university assistants, are not required to do a proposal defence. (see Curriculum)
The second phase, known as the 'research phase' in the scientific doctorates and the 'focus phase' in artistic doctorates, focuses on preparing the research thesis.
The final phase marks the completion of the programme with submission of the thesis.
You can find more detailed information on the academic doctorate process here.
At the mdw, various departments offer workshops und events on topics that can be helpful for doctoral students and post-docs, such as acquiring key qualifications or information about funding opportunities and even writing training. The Graduate Center bundles and updates this information here: workshops and events as well as in their newsletter.
Helpful links:
Human resources Development - Center for further education
Administrative Department of Equality, Gender Studies and Diversity
Psychosocial counseling at mdw
FAQ:
- Which courses must be completed during the programme?
See the respective curriculum.
- Where can I speak to with questions concerning the recognition of courses?
To the office of the Director of Studies.
- Can the doctoral program be completed as a distance learning programme (remote)?
No, the doctoral programme is not planned as a distance learning programme. Student attendance is compulsory in some courses.
- Scientific doctorate: Can courses from the research phase already be completed in the exposé phase?
Yes, this is possible.
- Scientific doctorate: How do I write an exposé?
You will find help for writing the exposé in the guidelines. Workshops are also offered on this topic from time to time.
- Scientific doctorate: My exposé is ready. What do I have to do next?
You can apply for the proposal defence by submitting an application at the Studies Center. Forms can be found here.
- Scientific doctorate: How long should I expect to wait between the submission of the exposé and a date for the proposal defence?
This depends on the review time, the evaluation and possible rework requests and the scheduling.
- Scientific doctorate: On which basis are the reviewers for exposé and dissertation selected?
On the basis of their professional competence.
- How often can the proposal defence be repeated in case of a negative evaluation?
According to. Statute Study Law § 32 an exam can be repeated three times.
- How strictly do I have to stick to the schedule? Is it OK if I need longer (for the exposé phase) than planned due to professional activity?
Exceeding the duration of the study is allowed. Please note that after exceeding the standard period of study, EU citizen students will start to incur tuition fees.