Doctoral programme

Please note the University's call for applications for doctoral scholarships. Current calls for applications from the University of Erfurt can be found here.

The University of Erfurt educates around 300 students per year on teacher training Master's programmes. In order to utilise the academic potential of these graduates, to promote school and teaching research as a whole, to provide the Thuringian school system with academically qualified teachers and to increase the University of Erfurt's performance, a doctoral college was established at the University of Erfurt School of Education. On the basis of interdisciplinary research fields, teacher trainees (or graduates from neighbouring disciplines such as Educational Science, Psychology or Sociology) are guided in their academic studies and supported in acquiring subject and methodological expertise.

The programme is aimed at graduates of teacher training programmes with very good university degrees who have already gained an academic interest in researching schools and teaching during their studies. However, it is also aimed at graduates of related degree programmes such as Educational Science, Psychology, etc. who wish to do a doctorate in the field of empirical educational research. Doctoral students must be supervised by a member of theresearch group.

Above all, writing a doctoral dissertation requires openness to scientific thinking, an examination of theories and methods, intensive discussion with like-minded people and the ability to carry out your own scientific research and present it in writing. In the graduate centre, many doctoral candidates work together and are supervised by professors in a structured manner. Both the structured supervision and the exchange among other doctoral candidates offer good conditions for a successful doctorate.

You may also be able to find out whether you are the right type for a doctorate by taking a test. Link to the doctorate test fromAcademics.de.

You want to teach well, you want to carry out projects to help your pupils progress and you want to keep developing and modernising your school. Knowledge of scientific studies, but also the ability to proceed methodically and evaluate your own projects will help you to do this. You will acquire such knowledge and skills as part of a doctorate. A doctorate also offers you the opportunity to pursue an academic career.

In principle, everything related to school and education can be scientifically investigated, from the structure of the school system and its effects on participation in education to the motivation and motivation of learners.

If you already have an idea for a doctoral topic - perhaps one that you are already working on in your master's thesis - you should present this idea to one of the lecturers involved. If you do not yet have a concrete idea, find out about ongoing research projects by members of the graduate centre.

If you decide to do a doctorate and if the graduate centre lecturers accept you, you will receive regular advice and further training. These include weekly colloquiums in which you discuss your current projects or method workshops. You will regularly exchange ideas with other doctoral candidates, discuss with experts and have constant contact with your supervisor.

The following formalities are part of the doctorate:

An individualised supervision relationship

The first step towards a doctorate is to find a supervisor for your dissertation. Professors and, as a rule, habilitated persons are eligible for examination. This search is carried out individually. If you wish to take advantage of the graduate centre's services, the supervisor must be a member of the graduate centre. Prior participation in a colloquium or a block event can be helpful in the search.

The topic is determined in consultation with the supervisor. Once you have decided on a supervisor and a topic, you must prepare an exposé. This usually contains the scientific question, the research relevance of the topic, the current state of research, a theoretical approach and a preliminary idea of the methodological approach. Finally, you draw up a concrete time and work plan.

Acceptance as a doctoral candidate at a faculty

Once you have found a supervisor and a topic, you should apply to a faculty to be accepted as a doctoral candidate. What this application involves depends on the doctorate-degree regulations of the respective faculty (see box on the right). Please read the regulations carefully.

You are doing your doctorate at the faculty of which your supervisor is a member. With regard to the members of the graduate centre, the Faculty of Education or the Faculty of Philosophy are currently eligible.

Matriculation and registration as a doctoral student

As a doctoral candidate, you have the option of enrolling as a full-time or part-time doctoral student. You can enrol for the first time or change your existing matriculation and registration.

You can download an enrolment form from Studies and Teaching. It contains all the information you need for your application. Among other things, you will need a declaration from a supervisor and notification of acceptance as a doctoral candidate at a faculty.

If you are doing your doctorate on the topics mentioned with one of the supervisors, you can be accepted as a doctoral candidate at the graduate centre. The prerequisite is an application and the obligation to actively participate in the weekly colloquia. In return, you can benefit from the support services of the graduate centre.

You can find information about funding options for a doctorate here.