Every doctoral project requires academic supervision, which can be provided either by a single supervisor or by a supervisory team (see Section 10 of the KU Framework Regulations for Doctoral Studies). By agreeing to serve as a supervisor, the supervisor commits to providing the doctoral candidate with academic guidance and support in the preparation of the doctoral thesis. As a rule, professors, junior professors, and private, college, or university lecturers at the university where the doctoral program is offered are available to serve as supervisors. As part of a collaborative doctoral program, professors with doctoral degrees from universities of applied sciences (HAW) may also be involved in supervising the doctoral thesis. Regardless of the supervision arrangement, it is highly recommended to sign a written Supervision Agreement when starting the doctoral program.

For your doctoral project, it is important that your supervisor is an expert in the field in which you wish to pursue your doctorate. In addition to subject-related compatibility, interpersonal factors must of course also be taken into account for the successful completion of a doctoral degree.

The primary responsibility of a doctoral candidate is to complete their doctoral thesis promptly and thoroughly, in accordance with the rules of good scientific practice. In order to achieve this, the doctoral candidate is expected to demonstrate very good self-organization skills, motivation, and perseverance. If you also work as a research associate in addition, maintaining a good balance between research, teaching, and administrative duties is especially important. You can explore the various topics in more depth when making use of the offerings of the central workshop program (e.g. time management and self-management) or address them during an individual consultation session.

By agreeing to supervise a doctoral project, the supervisor guarantees that you will receive regular professional guidance. As part of this consultation sessions, your supervisor will help you, for example, in narrowing down your research topic, refining your research question, and determining your methodological approach – thereby ensuring the quality of your academic work. In addition, you will discuss other important topics related to your academic career with your supervisor, such as publication opportunities, participation in academic conferences, securing external funding, gaining teaching experience, etc.

In a cotutelle or binational doctoral program, you earn a doctoral degree jointly awarded by two universities in different countries. A binational doctoral program therefore means that you will be supervised at the KU and at another international university on the same doctoral thesis and will earn your doctorate through an integrated doctoral program at both institutions.

The binational doctoral program is governed by an individual agreement between the participating universities. Therefore, for each binational doctoral program, an individual Cooperation Agreement will be concluded between the KU and the partner university of your choice. 

The KU’s Fachhochschule faculties (universities of applied sciences) offer the opportunity to earn a doctoral degree through a cooperative doctoral program. In this case, the doctoral project is supervised jointly and equally by both a supervisor from the relevant Fachhochschule faculty and a supervisor from the partner university or – within the KU – a faculty authorized to grant doctoral degrees. Since universities of applied sciences generally do not have the authority to grant doctoral degrees, the doctoral degree is awarded by the partner university. The research and the work in the context of the doctoral program will be carried out at the Fachhochschule faculty; the supervisor at the (university of applied sciences faculty) typically serves as a reviewer in the doctoral project. The requirements for the doctoral degree are set forth in the doctoral regulations of the partner university; therefore, the rules and guidelines of the partner university – or, within the KU – the faculty authorized to grant doctoral degrees shall apply. If necessary, additional courses may need to be taken before admission to the doctoral program.

The following options are generally available for financing a doctoral degree: a position as research associate leading to a doctoral degree, a project position funded by third-party grants, a doctoral fellowship, a doctoral degree funded by a company, a doctoral loan, financial support from private sources, or a part-time doctoral program.

In addition to covering one's own living expenses, there are usually also costs associated with the research itself (including access to databases, copying or digitalization costs, research trips, etc.). As part of the overall project planning, you should also consider the financial requirements associated with your specific research and discuss them with your supervisor.

The written Supervision Agreement, which is discussed and finalized between the doctoral candidate and the supervisor at the beginning of the doctoral program, establishes a shared understanding of the collaboration during the doctoral program. This agreement is intended to specify the rights and obligations of both parties, outline a timeline for the doctoral project, and provide for regular advisory meetings. In doing so, the individual needs and circumstances of doctoral candidates must be taken into account.

A template for a Supervision Agreement is available as an annex to the KU’s Framework Regulations for Doctoral Studies. 

Doctoral Supervision Agreement

The research proposal provides an overview of the planned research project and serves as the basis for the doctoral process. In addition to formulating the central research question, the document also provides an overview of the methods to be used, the data set, a timeline and work schedule, a preliminary outline, and an initial bibliography. In addition, we recommend developing a financial plan for carrying out the research project at the same time.

Once the doctoral candidate and the supervisor have signed the Supervision Agreement, the first formal step in any doctoral program is approval by a faculty’s doctoral committee. Once you have been accepted by a faculty’s doctoral committee, you are legally considered a doctoral candidate at the KU. You will need a number of documents for approval by the doctoral committee. You can find the relevant information on the respective faculty's website.

THF: https://www.ku.de/thf/forschung/promotion 

PPF: https://www.ku.de/ppf/forschung/promotion 

SLF: https://www.ku.de/slf/forschung/promotion 

GGF: https://www.ku.de/ggf/forschung/promotion 

WFI: https://www.ku.de/wfi/forschung/promotion 

Your contact persons throughout this process are the dean's offices or the faculty managers of the respective faculty.

The doctoral committee of the respective faculty plays a key role in the implementation of the doctoral program. It is both the body that decides whether a doctoral candidate will be admitted to the doctoral program at the KU. It is further responsible for ensuring that the entire doctoral process can be completed in accordance with the rules established by the KU. If, for example, the supervisor withdraws from the doctoral program (for whatever reason), it is the responsibility of the doctoral committee of the respective faculty, in consultation with you, to find a suitable replacement supervisor and to continue the doctoral program.

As soon as official confirmation is received from the faculty regarding acceptance as a doctoral candidate at the faculty, enrollment as a doctoral student at the KU is the next step. Under the Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act (BayHIG), enrollment in a doctoral program has been limited to an initial period of eight semesters since January 1, 2023, even though the actual doctoral work may and is permitted to take longer. After the initial period, the doctoral program may be extended upon request. This is important in order to continue to have access to the KU's infrastructure. After eight semesters, you will be automatically removed from the University’s enrollment records as a doctoral student; however, your existing legal status as a doctoral candidate at the faculty remains unaffected.

Please contact akademische-karrieren(at)ku.de or the Student Office if you wish to extend your doctoral studies. Enrollment is effected by the KU Student Office.

From the time you enroll until you de-register, you have official access to the KU's facilities and services. This refers, for example, to computer center licenses, library cards, and the services offered by the Academic Careers Team.

You must apply for admission to the doctoral program to the respective doctoral committee. As a rule, additional documents must also be submitted along with this application. You can find information on this in the doctoral program regulations or on the websites of the respective faculties.

After your doctoral thesis has been accepted, the doctoral committee typically solicits two reviews of the thesis and, once the public review period has ended, decides whether to definitively accept or reject the doctoral thesis.

If your doctoral thesis has been accepted for the doctoral program, the doctoral committee will set a date for the oral examination. The defense primarily consists of a presentation by you and a discussion with the reviewers and the members of the examination committee, during which you will answer questions about your research. Following the oral exam, the examination committee will decide on the grade for your work.

In order to fully complete the doctoral process and receive the doctoral certificate, you must provide proof that the doctoral thesis has been published in its entirety. This can be done in both digital and printed form. In the case of cumulative theses consisting of several individual publications, some of which may have already been published, the submitted doctoral thesis, including a synopsis that places the individual publications in a contextual framework, must be published. The goal is to ensure that the overall contribution of the doctoral thesis becomes clear. The time required and any costs associated with publication should not be underestimated. For example, a decision must be made as to whether the thesis will be published by a publishing house or electronically on KU.Opus; if necessary, negotiations with publishers must be conducted or rights for secondary publication must be clarified. In addition, printed legal deposit copies must be submitted to the Library. Take advantage of the University Library's services to ensure the smoothest possible publication process. More information is available at:

https://www.ku.de/bibliothek/forschen-und-publizieren/publikationsberatung

Guided by the core principles of excellence, internationality, and individuality, the Academic Careers Team supports researchers in the early stages of their careers (doctoral candidates and postdocs) in developing their professional skills. They organize the central workshop program to strengthen individual skills, create a framework for networking within the KU through the annual Young Researchers’ Day, and provide doctoral students and postdocs with important information via newsletters and mailing lists. As part of individual counseling services, you also have the opportunity to discuss specific topics in the context of your personal circumstances. In addition, the team supports structural development at the KU with a focus on early-career researchers, for example, in the design of qualification processes. 

https://www.ku.de/forschung/akademische-karrieren/ueberfachliche-angebote

As part of the central workshop program, the Academic Careers Team offers all doctoral candidates and postdocs opportunities to further develop their individual skill sets and to acquire and deepen important research-oriented and interdisciplinary skills. In addition, employees have the opportunity to participate in programs offered by the HR Development and Professional Training department, as well as those offered by the Women and Equal Opportunity Officer.

https://www.ku.de/forschung/akademische-karrieren/workshop-programm

A doctorate adds another milestone to your professional resume. The Academic Careers Team supports you in developing your skills during your qualification phase. For each academic year, we put together a workshop program featuring research- and career-oriented offerings. You can find the full range of continuing education programs offered by the KU – including those in the areas of university teaching and careers outside academia – on the continuing education portal at the following link.

https://weiterbildung.ku.de/ilias.php?baseClass=ilrepositorygui&ref_id=1

Ideally, there is a trusting, fair, constructive, and productive working relationship between doctoral candidates and their supervisors. However, just as in any long-term partnership, tensions can arise – often as a result of miscommunication. Such tensions can strain a productive and mutually satisfying collaboration. To prevent such situations from escalating, both parties should address tensions and problems openly as early as possible and work together in finding a solution. In such cases as well, doctoral candidates and postdocs are warmly invited to take advantage of the confidential and independent counseling services offered by the Academic Careers Team.

https://www.ku.de/forschung/akademische-karrieren/ansprechpersonen