The Doctorate at the University of Konstanz

The Doctorate at the University of Konstanz

.... Contents 1. The doctorate. 1 2. Eligibility requirements. 1 3. Admission into the doctoral program. 2 4. Dissertation. 3 5. Doctoral examination procedures 3 6. Academic status of doctoral students 4 7. Financial assistance / Funding of doctoral studies. 4 7.1. Scholarships 5 7.1.1. Graduate funding through Research Training Groups and graduate schools. 5 7.1.2. Individual Scholarships according to State Law on graduate funding (LGFG). 5 7.2. Additional scholarships and funding opportunities 6

1. The doctorate The doctorate is a research-oriented elaboration or extension of an already completed tertiary degree with the goal of making an independent contribution to a particular field of research in the form of a thesis (Dissertation/Doctoral Work). It also aims to reach a higher level of academic reasoning and argumentation. This research contribution is presented and documented as a written doctoral thesis (Dissertation). After an application for the acceptance of the thesis has been filed, it must be published within a specific timeframe either in form of a book, a microfiche or online publication (s. Obligation to publish). The oral component of the doctorate comprises of a Disputation, in which the thesis is defended or a Rigorosum, in which other disciplines or subject areas are examined. Principally it must be differentiated between the following types of doctorates: Individual Doctorate / Doctorate by research Doctorate undertaken within a research training group Doctorate by research and coursework Doctorate undertaken within a graduate school or an excellence cluster. Detailed information about the various doctoral degree programs are described online at: www.forschung.uni-konstanz.de/promotion/formen Information and counseling related to doctoral studies Academic Staff Development Room V 607, Phone 07531/88-43 29 asd@uni-konstanz.de www.asd.uni-konstanz.de 2. Admission requirements The admission for entrance into doctoral studies requires the following degrees: 1. A successfully completed Master Study Course at a German university 2. A four year study program at a university of education (Pädagogische Hochschule) a school of the arts or 3. A postgraduate study program at a German university, university of education or any other university accredited with the right to confer doctorates. A degree program completed at foreign universities must be equivalent to the German examination in terms of the requirements for the preparatory training and the course of studies. The decision about the equivalence of such an exam or degree will be made by the university. Some departments at the University of Konstanz have specific requirements, such as specific examination results within the completed study course, a final exam in the specific degree program of the individual discipline or in a doctoral study course or a graduate school. In addition, particularly well qualified graduates of universities of applied acience or others with Diploma or Bachelor s degrees from a vocational college 1

(Berufsakademie) may be eligible for doctoral studies. Before admission to doctoral studies, such candidates must demonstrate aptitude and qualification as determined by an assessment procedure, which is regulated by the individual disciplines/departments. Should an applicant not satisfy the requirements for the acceptance into the doctoral program, he/she can only be accepted as an exception and when the decision is well justified. In such case, he/she must demonstrate a current state of knowledge in a qualifying examination which is equivalent to the knowledge necessary to pass the respective final exam. Details, in particular about the examination procedures, are specified in the doctorate regulations for the individual disciplines. The doctorate regulations of the University of Konstanz outline all regulations for the acceptance and the sequences of the doctoral examination procedures as well as the specific regulations for the respective disciplines and/or departments. The doctorate regulations are published online at: www.studium.uni-konstanz.de/pruefungen/pruefungsordnungen/promotion 3. Admission into the doctoral program /Acceptance as a doctoral student Applicants, who fulfill all requirements for the entrance into the doctoral program, may after having specified the title of the research topic and the appropriate supervisor, apply for acceptance as a doctoral student in the respective department. The application procedure does not depend on the type of doctorate or doctoral program (e.g. graduate school or special research project). However, a prerequisite is that both the applicant and the supervisor have agreed upon the research topic. The application must include all documents listed on the application form for the acceptance as a doctoral student. The decision about being accepted as a doctoral student into the respective department is made by the Head of the Department (FachbereichsprecherIn). Academic counseling by the departmental administrator (FachbereichsreferentIn) of the department in which the doctoral research will be undertaken, has been proven to be beneficial when it takes place prior to the submission of the application for the acceptance as a doctoral student. Departmental Administrators in the Internet: www.einrichtungen.uni-konstanz.de/en/departments The application for the acceptance as a doctoral student is available online at: www.studium.uni-konstanz.de/pruefungen/wichtige-mitteilungen-des-zentralenpruefungsamtes After the department administrator has decided about the application, the decision will be forwarded to you in writing. 2

4. Dissertation With the acceptance as a doctoral student into the doctoral program and the assigning of a supervisor, the respective department explicitly expresses its commitment to supervise the planned dissertation. 5. Doctoral examination procedure After the dissertation has been completed, the doctoral student files an application for admission to the doctoral exams with the Central Office of Examinations (Zentrales Prüfungsamt) of the University. All forms and information may be obtained from that office. Further important information can be found online at: www.studium.uni-konstanz.de/pruefungen/wichtige-mitteilungen-des-zentralenpruefungsamtes Contact Person at the Central Office of Examinations (Zentrales Prüfungsamt) Edelgard Matzner Room C 401, Phone 0 75 31/88-31 14 Office Hours: Mo Fr 9.00 12.00 noon edelgard.matzner@uni-konstanz.de www.studium.uni-konstanz.de/pruefungen/zentrales-pruefungsamt Following the official opening of the doctoral examination procedures by the assigned Head of the Department (FachbereichssprecherIn), the dissertation will be reviewed by the committee selected for the respective doctoral examination procedures. The acceptance of the dissertation by the committee is followed by the oral doctoral examinations. These are conducted in either the format of a colloquium about three subjects or special disciplines or about the dissertation and two thesis topics or special areas. After the candidate has passed the oral examinations, the university will award the following academic degree, which, depending on the academic field, will be Doctor of Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat.) Doctor of Social Sciences (Dr. rer. soc.) Doctor of Economic Sciences (Dr. rer. pol.) Doctor of Jurisprudence (Dr. jur.) Doctor of Philosophy (Dr. phil.) Doctor of Engineering Sciences (Dr. ing.) Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) 3

6. Academic status of doctoral students Doctoral students may enroll as a doctoral student and thereby receive student status. For doctoral students in a structured doctoral program or a Research Training Group (Graduiertenkolleg) this matriculation is mandatory. Enrollment will take place for the duration of the doctoral studies, but not for more than five years. After a period of five years, the doctoral student will be exmatriculated. If the completion of the dissertation depends on the doctoral student having to use the facilities of the university, he/she may receive the right to use the facilities within the scope necessary to complete the doctorate. Matriculated doctoral students are exempt from the general tuition of 500 per semester. However, they are not exempt from other mandatory fees, such as Seezeit Association for Student Services (Studentenwerk Seezeit ) and administrative costs, which currently amount to about 98 per semester. Matriculation takes place at Student Affairs (Studentische Abteilung) of the University of Konstanz: Contact Person for German doctoral students : Student Affairs (Studentische Abteilung): Volker Brecht, Room D 415, Phone 0 75 31/88-52 12 Office hours: Mo Fr 9.00 12.00 noon Volker.Brecht@uni-konstanz.de www.studium.uni-konstanz.de/en/programs-of-study/doctoral-studies Contact Persons for doctoral students from abroad: Student Affairs (Studentische Abteilung): Irina Stecher, Sarah Arnoldi, Room D 439, Phone 0 75 31/88-24 68 Office hours: Mo Fr 10.00 12.00 noon Iinterstudis@uni-konstanz.de www.studium.uni-konstanz.de/en/admission/applying-from-abroad/applying-tostudy-for-a-phd-doctorate-studies 7. Financial Assistance / Funding of doctoral studies There are several ways to finance doctoral studies. One possibility is an academic position that allows working on a doctorate while being employed at the university. It must be distinguished between positions allocated and financed by the university (Haushaltsstellen) and positions emerging out of project work and depending on third party funding. These qualifying positions are generally associated with a certain amount of teaching, working for the respective department, and participation in the University s self-administration. Available positions at the University of Konstanz are listed in the internet at: www.service.uni-konstanz.de/en/jobs-and-vacancies 4

Scholarships: Available are individual scholarships as well as stipend within the framework of structured doctoral programs, such as the Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs) or graduate schools (Graduiertenschulen). Jobs outside of the university: Jobs that are not necessarily connected to or only partially associated with scientific work. 7.1. Scholarships Many institutions, including the University, various foundations and other organizations are supporting doctoral studies through scholarships. The goal is to help young scholars to pursue a career in science in a less cumbersome way. 7.1.1. Graduate funding through Research Training Groups and graduate schools These institutions at the University of Konstanz offer university graduates the opportunity to prepare their doctorate within a systematically structured program while working in a comprehensive research context. Doctoral students in the Research Training Groups may be granted a scholarship or stipend for the course of their studies. The membership in a graduate research group or a graduate school is generally associated with a scholarship. The duration of such a scholarship runs usually 24 plus 12 months. More detailed information about the structured doctoral programs at the University of Konstanz is available at: www.promovierenden-portal.uni-konstanz.de/en/funding/doctoral-programs 7.1.2. Individual Scholarships according to State Law on graduate funding (LGFG) According to state law on graduate funding (LGFG), funding may be granted to highly qualified junior scientists. Prerequisite for being granted a scholarship in currently the amount of 940 per month, are outstanding qualifications and an academic research project that promises to result in an important contribution to research or the continuing development of artistic forms and means of expression. In general, this scholarship is granted for the duration of three years. Dates and current information are available at: www.forschung.uni-konstanz.de/en/promotion/finanzierung/lgfg Contact person for the Scholarship Program in accordance with State Law: Academic and International Affairs (Abteilung für Akademische und Internationale Angelegenheiten) Sabine Schieß Room V 606, Phone 0 75 31/88-52 64 sabine.schiess@uni-konstanz.de www.forschung.uni-konstanz.de/promotion/finanzierung/lgfg 5

7.2. Additional scholarships and funding opportunities Additional funding organizations, research possibilities, and financial resources are available at: www.forschung.uni-konstanz.de/promotion/finanzierung www.promovierenden-portal.uni-konstanz.de/en/funding 6

Imprint Publisher : University of Konstanz Academic Staff Development Box 227 78457 Konstanz www.asd.uni-konstanz.de University of Konstanz Central student advisory service Box 64 78457 Konstanz www.zsk.uni-konstanz.de Project Coordinatior : Dipl.-Psych. Silke Hell, Academic Staff Development, Universiy of Konstanz Tel.: 0 75 31/88-43 29 silke.hell@uni-konstanz.de Layout : WWA-Grafikdesign, University of Konstanz Photo Credits : Uniarchiv und Michael Latz, Stuttgart Druck : WWA-Druck, University of Konstanz October 2011 7