The path into and through research can vary greatly from subject to subject! Please clarify any particularities with your designated supervisor.
In principle, however, the following phases can be roughly distinguished, each of which entails specific tasks:
Acceptance as a doctoral candidate requires a relevant degree. The following information on final grades can serve as an initial guide:
| Faculty | Final grade Diplom (Uni), Magister, state examination | Diploma (UoAS) Final grade | Final grade Master (Uni, UoAS) | Final grade Bachelor (Uni, UoAS) |
| Faculty of Law | "vollbefriedigend" | - | - | - |
Faculty of Business, Economics and Information Systems | 2,3 | 2,3 | 2,3 | not possible |
Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences | 2,5 | 1,5 | 2,5 | 1,3 |
Faculty of Humanities and Cultural Studies | 2,5 | 1,5 | 2,5 | 1,3 |
Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics | 2,5 | 2,5 | 2,5 | not possible |
Additional acceptance requirements may be specified in the doctoral degree regulations. Only the information in the respective valid version of the doctoral degree regulations is binding!
The supervision agreement serves to make transparent how the supervisory relationship between supervisor and doctoral candidate will be structured in terms of content, organization and time. However, it is not a contract between you and your supervisor!
The following aspects should be addressed and set out in writing as part of the supervision agreement:
The conclusion of a supervision agreement is also a prerequisite for acceptance as a doctoral candidate in accordance with §6 (3) of the General Doctoral Degree Regulations of the University of Passau.
The University of Passau currently has its own structured doctoral program. At the University of Passau, it is therefore only possible to pursue an individual doctorate, in which the topic, the search for a supervisor, the timetable and the financing must be organized independently. However, international and cooperative doctoral programs are available (see below).
Particularly in the case of individual doctorates, you should consider where this should take place. On the one hand, it is possible to do a doctorate yourself by being closely associated with a chair or professorship - e.g. as part of a collaborative or cooperative doctoral program. For example, as part of a collaborative or project position and thus internally. On the other hand, the doctorate can also be done in a company, from home, without close university or further involvement in other organizations - and thus externally. Dissertations can therefore also be completed in companies in the private sector, for example - as long as they are also supervised by supervisors at a German university who are authorized to award doctorates.
The doctoral regulations determine who is considered a supervisor entitled to award doctorates.
When looking for a supervisor, it is advisable to first find out what your own expectations are of the person providing the care. Once you are clear about this, you can start your search. Please remember that your designated supervisor is also a human being and also has expectations and interests...
Possible ways to find a supervisor could be
If you have found a supervisor who seems to meet your expectations, you should try to get to know them better. To do this, attend their events and visit their consultation hours. The supervisor must also be enthusiastic about your topic and be convinced by you. In the end, it is important that you get on well with the supervisor, as you will be working very closely together in the future.
You may need to check in advance whether a person is allowed to supervise you. You can also find more information on this in the doctoral regulations.
The current DFG Graduiertienkolleg "Digital Platform Ecosystems"
offers the opportunity to complete a doctorate within a structured framework.
What do I need to bear in mind for a cooperative doctorate?
Various forms of cooperation are conceivable as part of your doctorate:
Please note the following information if you would like to complete your doctorate cooperatively:
The so-called bi-national doctorate involves the participation of supervisors and/or reviewers from a foreign educational institution. In the bi-national doctoral procedure, you acquire a doctoral degree awarded jointly by two educational institutions in different countries on the basis of a single academic achievement (meaning not two different doctoral degrees).
This form of doctorate may be of interest to you if
An individual agreement between the participating institutions (doctoral degree regulations) is usually necessary or useful for this, as it regulates important details and responsibilities.
The specific structure of a Cotutelle procedure can vary. There may already be programs, regular collaborations or good contacts at your faculty. It is best to contact your supervisor or the Dean's Office of your faculty. Please also find out about the specific requirements in your doctoral degree regulations.
Please note that this form of doctorate places additional demands on your time and self-management as well as on your funding (travel for longer research stays abroad). Whether you can apply for travel funding from the Graduate Center for planned trips depends on the individual case.
The “Verbundpromotion” model initiated by the Bavarian Science Forum (BayWISS) creates supportive doctoral conditions for its students and facilitates cooperative doctorates at universities and universities of applied sciences (HAWs).
The University of Passau is the host university of the Joint Academic Partnership Communication | Media and is involved in four other Joint Academic Partnerships as a collegiate university.
Topics include:
Your contact at the University of Passau is Prof. Dr.Oliver Hahn or the coordinator of the "Verbundkolleg" Mandy Fox.
Topics include:
Your contact at the University of Passau is Prof. Dr. Christine Schmitt.
Topics include:
Your contact at the University of Passau is Prof. Dr. Dirk Totzek.
Topics include:
Your contacts at the University of Passau are Prof. Dr. Tomas Sauer and Prof. Dr. Elif Bilge Kavun.
Topics include:
Your contact at the University of Passau is Prof. Dr. Norbert Seibert.
The University of Passau is involved in two Bavarian doctoral programs in the fields of economics and political theory. Doctoral students in these departments can take part in research workshops and conferences within the doctoral programs and take advantage of the opportunity to network beyond the university.
The Bavarian Centre for Political Theory has initiated the Bavarian Doctoral College for Political Theory to professionalize further academic qualifications. It offers an institutional framework for completing a doctorate. To this end, it provides a demanding, internationally excellent education and guarantees intensive academic supervision. As an exchange platform, it offers the opportunity for networking among young academics.
The Bavarian Graduate Program in Economics (BGPE) is a doctoral program for excellent doctoral students in economics at participating Bavarian universities. It is based on the collaboration of researchers from Bavarian universities and other renowned centers of economic research in Bavaria. The program offers courses, workshops and advice to the best researchers in this field.
The contact person at the University of Passau is Prof. Dr. Stefan Bauernschuster.
The six East Bavarian universities - OTH Amberg-Weiden, TH Deggendorf, Landshut University of Applied Sciences, University of Passau, University of Regensburg and OTH Regensburg - pool their scientific expertise in the field of internet and digitalization in the network Internet and Digitalization East Bavaria (INDIGO). The INDIGO network supports the scientists in the network in relevant activities, for example by promoting research cooperation, creating opportunities for exchange and networking and strengthening awareness of the existing scientific expertise at the participating universities.
The INDIGO events promote professional exchange between scientists on current issues, research results and innovative research approaches, the (cross-university) transfer of knowledge and internal networking.
As part of its mentoring programs, the Office for Diversity and Gender Equality offers an opportunity to network with other early career researchers at the University of Passau.
The mentUP+ women's mentoring program supports female early career researchers in their career planning. MentUP* is the University of Passau's diversity mentoring program. It is aimed at early career researchers and junior managers with diverse characteristics. In addition to mentoring and coaching, strategic networking with other mentees and mentors is promoted through regular networking meetings within both programs.
The Faculty of Business Administration and Economics offers the opportunity to exchange ideas with other young researchers at subject-specific research seminars. The brown bag seminars are offered in these areas:
The Faculty of Computer Science and Mathematics holds faculty-wide colloquia on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. during the lecture period.
The Convention of Academic and Artistic Staff (Mittelbau-Konvent) represents all members of the so-called academic mid-level staff at the University of Passau. This group includes the academic councillors, academic staff, research assistants, lecturers, teaching staff for special tasks and teaching assistants.
It represents the interests of non-professorial academic staff in the university's committees and bodies and is the point of contact for problems. In addition, the Mittelbau-Konvent invites all its members to a social gathering once a semester.
The Welcome Center of the University of Passau is the central point of contact and advice center for supporting international (early career) researchers. This includes advice and support with residence law issues, insurance, finding accommodation, access to the University's infrastructure (ZIM ID & CampusCard), support for accompanying families and assistance with integration.
The Welcome Center regularly organizes international dinners, cultural events or excursions where contact can be made with other international researchers at the University of Passau.
Even if you can undertake the research for your doctorate and write your dissertation regardless of when you apply for acceptance as a doctoral candidate at your faculty, we still recommend that you apply for admission as early as possible. Eligibility for certain university and other funding programs depends on proof of an active doctorate, which is provided by the faculties' confirmation of acceptance.
The Representative Council for Academic and Artistic Staff is your first point of contact for any questions you may have regarding your status group at the University. The Representative Council represents early career researchers and scholars at the University, i.e. lecturers, graduate research and teaching assistants and assistant professors (the Akademischer Mittelbau). You will find further information on the Representative Council website. They also issued an Onboarding guide for new members at the University of Passau:
