Some manage it in two years, most take much longer. No two doctorates are the same. Factors such as specialisation, type of doctorate, topic, supervision and, of course, the personality of the doctoral candidate make every doctorate an individual course. However, there are key dates and milestones for all doctoral candidates. At Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences, your doctoral programme could look like this:
Would you like to do a doctorate? A good decision, but there is a lot to consider. We will guide you step by step.
1. central counselling by Dr Olaf Strauß
You have developed an interest in a doctorate from your studies or your professional practice. Starting a doctorate is probably associated with many questions for you.
Contact Dr Olaf Strauß for a general initial consultation.
He will advise you on:
- Types of cooperative doctorates
- organisational procedure and time planning
- possible funding options
- partner universities and supervision models
- Internal processes at Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences
2. coordination with the faculty
Do you already have a concrete idea for a research topic, but not yet a supervisor? You will find a contact person for doctoral programmes in each of the university's four departments, with whom you can develop your research topic in the university's field of application. After the counselling interview, an in-depth consultation will take place with the department in order to anchor the project in terms of form, content and personnel.
3. create an exposé
Draw up an exposé in which you describe the topic, objectives, methodology and timetable. You will use this exposé to introduce yourself to your supervisors and apply for a doctoral position. Dr Strauß will be happy to assist you with the preparation of your proposal.
4. find a university supervisor
As a reminder: Doctoral programmes at universities of applied sciences are carried out in cooperation with a university. Together with your supervisor at the university, find auniversitysupervisor at a university authorised to award doctorates. We also have access to a pool of supervisors from numerous disciplines at German and international universities.
5. clarify funding
Writing a dissertation is usually a life-long process and can take several years. It is important that you take care of funding and security in advance. There are various ways to secure your livelihood and the costs incurred by your doctorate, for example through a scholarship or a project position. We will be happy to advise you on this and support you with the application process.
6 Conclude a supervision agreement
As soon as your supervision has been finalised and you are financially secure, the supervision agreement can be completed and signed by all parties involved. Please then send it back to Dr Olaf Strauß - for internal recording and further coordination at the university.
7 Enrolment as a doctoral student
Even if you are primarily doing research at the University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg, the doctoral regulations of the cooperating university are decisive for you. You must officially enrol as a doctoral student at the university.
You are now officially a doctoral student; you've made it! You now have a busy road ahead of you. Neubrandenburg University of Applied Sciences offers you a supportive environment.
The dissertation
The centrepiece of your doctorate is the dissertation. It is proof that you are able to work methodically and publish scientifically. Whether you are writing a monograph or a cumulative dissertation, you will research, collect and scientifically analyse a large amount of data. You will summarise your theses, research findings and conclusions in your dissertation and publish this as a single paper (cumulative) or monograph. Good planning will help you to write and publish your dissertation in the allotted time. Use your synopsis as a basis for concretising your planning and defining work packages and milestones.
Supervision & support
As a rule, you only do your doctorate once in your life. This makes it all the more important to take advantage of the support and advice of experienced experts in this field. These are, of course, your supervisors. It is also helpful to exchange ideas with other doctoral candidates. Please note these tips:
- Ideally, the supervisors at our university and the cooperating university work "hand-in-hand" when it comes to academic supervision. Proactively seek contact with your supervisors and, if possible, arrange a regular exchange.
- Involve yourself in the colloquia, doctoral forums and specialist conferences of your departments/specialisms.
- Take advantage of access to collegial formats such as doctoral workshops or research workshops at both supervising institutions.
- Network with the doctoral candidates at your university. There are often doctoral student meetings, regulars' tables and themed events.
- Take advantage of the opportunities offered for further training. In addition to our own continuing education programme, you have access to the events of the Graduate Academy of the University of Greifswald.
Structure and development
- Opportunity to participate in research projects
- Access to further training programmes (academic writing, teaching, practice)?
- Documentation of progress and integration into the Graduate Forum
Networking
The cooperative doctorate takes place in co-operation with a university with the right to award doctorates. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern there are close relationships with, among others
Co-operations with other universities in Germany and abroad are also possible.
Overall grade
The doctoral procedure is concluded with an overall grade, which is determined by the doctoral committee. The overall grade is the average of the grade for the dissertation and the grade for the oral examination. The grade for the dissertation is usually weighted more heavily. The traditional Latin or the corresponding German terms are used for the evaluation of the dissertation and the performance in the oral examination as well as for the calculation of the overall grade of the doctorate. As a rule, the following grading scale is used:
Latin German Explanation
summa cum laude excellent a very outstanding achievement
magna cum laude very good a particularly commendable achievement
cum laude gooda performance above average
rite sufficient passed a performance that meets average requirements
insufficienter unsatisfactory not passed, overall performance no longer usable
Doctoral degree
The doctoral degree is the highest academic degree in Germany. It is based on the discipline in which the dissertation specialises. The academic field is characterised by additions to the doctorate, such as "Dr. phil." (mainly in the humanities and social sciences), "Dr. rer. nat." (in the natural sciences). The doctoral degree is the highest academic degree, regardless of the scientific field in which it was awarded.
Click here for the research map: Map search - A service of the German Rectors' Conference
Publication of the dissertation
You may only use the awarded doctoral degree once you have published your dissertation and received the doctoral certificate. Doctoral candidates are obliged to make their dissertation accessible to the academic public within a certain period of time and in an appropriate manner. The dissertation must be published as a book, journal article, contribution to an anthology, reproduced manuscript or in electronic form. Doctoral students can usually decide for themselves whether they want to publish their dissertation independently or with the support of a publisher and whether they want to publish the dissertation in electronic or print form.
Mandatory copies
The deposit copies must be submitted to the university library within a certain period of time, usually one to two years after the oral examination. Only proof of publication and submission of the required deposit copies entitles the holder to receive the doctoral certificate and ultimately the doctoral degree.
Editorial changes to your dissertation are often necessary for publication, but you must have these approved in advance, e.g. by the examination board or the faculty.
The research map allows you to search for research topics at German universities that particularly characterise their institutional profile.
International co-operations
Information on international cooperation between German universities and foreign partner institutions can be found on this HRK website.
