Doctoral degree

Program of study

The program of study for the structured doctoral degree is embedded within the research framework of Texts.Signs.Media and consists of the following components: 

(1) The biweekly Colloquium Texts.Signs.Media;participation is mandatory in each semester of study. The colloquium invites scholars from other universities to present their current research; guests often come from abroad and work in all areas of literary and cultural studies. The colloquium also discusses projects from literary studies at the University of Erfurt. In order to ensure that the colloquium maintains its interphilological approach, it is supervised by at least two colleagues from different literary disciplines. 

Two further fixed components of the programme offer additional structural support to students in obtaining academic qualifications. 

(2) A foundational seminar (offered and attended once per academic year) in which doctoral students work through basic terms and concepts. Topics and paradigms that are particularly relevant for students’ respective work are primarily studied in block seminars. The doctoral students in the programme decide on the topics together with the faculty responsible for the programme. 

(3) A writing workshop. This mandatory biweekly meeting of all doctoral students specifically supports dissertation writing by providing discipline-specific engagement with terms, methodological questions, implications related to the history of theory, and theoretical design.

By working with sections of dissertations being written by participating students, members of the workshop develop concrete strategies that these students can productively apply as they continue working on their thesis. 

Among the additional mandatory and optional events and offerings for all doctoral students:

• Workshops are offered that doctoral students thematically design and organize themselves, and to which outside speakers are invited. Funds are available for the workshops, and such a workshop takes place at least once per academic year. Participation in at least two such workshops is mandatory for all doctoral candidates.
• Support is also available for students to participate in national and international symposia. Travel grants are available to cover expenses.
• Doctoral students take their firsts steps in the field of university teaching (in the BA programme) under the academic supervision and advising of university faculty. In the course of the structured doctoral programme, this is expected to take place once (but not more than once per academic year). 
• Studying abroad: all students should spend at least one period abroad during their studies, which should ideally take place within the overall framework of completing an MA and a doctoral degree. Doctoral students are advised in planning this study abroad and are supported in obtaining scholarships.

Supervision

Each early-stage researcher accepted to the program chooses a supervisor from among the participating university faculty or associated scholars who have completed a habilitation. Students personally meet with their supervisors at least once per semester. 

Length of programme

The structured doctoral supervision in the forum Texts.Signs.Media expects students to complete their degree within three years. Three years is also the maximum duration of support through one of the scholarships in the forum. 

Guest status

Students who are in the final phase of their master’s degree (meaning the master’s thesis is at least nearing completion) can informally attend the meetings of the writing workshop as guests, provided they have contacted the workshop leaders beforehand. (Email addresses can be found on the pages of the Graduate Centre.)

The guest status is limited to a duration of two semesters, and at the latest in the second semester students should present work of their own (for example, an exposé for a dissertation topic) to be discussed in the writing workshop. At the end of the second guest semester, an application for a scholarship or association must be submitted. 

Doctoral scholarships

Doctoral scholarships are regularly offered by the University of Erfurt. Click here for more information.