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Doctorate at the Doctoral School NRW
At the Doctoral School NRW, the path to a doctorate takes place within topic-specific programs. Candidates benefit from tailored training opportunities, close supervision, interdisciplinary exchange, and a clear timeframe. This prepares them for careers both within and beyond academia.
Pursuing a Doctorate within a Doctoral Program
At the Doctoral School NRW, doctoral candidates can pursue their degree within one of ten distinct doctoral programs. These programs differ in target groups, admission requirements, intended doctoral degree, and—most notably—their thematic focus. What they share is a quality-oriented qualification framework, clear structures, integration into the scientific community, and close supervision by a team of three university professors. The standard duration of each program is typically three years.
Admission Requirements for a Doctorate
Admission to the doctoral programs at the Doctoral School NRW is governed by § 67 (4) of the Higher Education Act of North Rhine-Westphalia (Hochschulgesetz NRW). As a rule, applicants must hold a master’s degree or an equivalent academic qualification.
Further eligibility criteria and requirements are defined in the PK NRW’s General Doctoral Regulations (RPO) as well as in the supplementary doctoral regulations of the respective departments (APO). These may include, for example, subject-specific prerequisites, grade requirements, or language skills.
Doctoral Process and Formal Requirements
Each phase of a doctorate presents unique challenges. This not only applies to the academic work involved in your dissertation but also to the formal procedures and requirements.
There are various processes before, during, and after having completed a doctorate that are relevant to all doctoral candidates at the Doctoral School NRW. Various applications need to be submitted, and deadlines need to be met, all while complying with legal requirements.
To provide guidance on the most important requirements and formal procedures, the doctoral program at the Doctoral School NRW is divided into three phases: ‘Before the Doctoral Program’, ‘During the Doctoral Program’ and ‘Completion of the Doctoral Program’. The following pages provide a detailed overview of each phase.
Downloads
Framework Doctoral Degree Regulations
of the Doctoral School for Applied Research in North Rhine-Westphalia in the version dated 31.01.2023 (.pdf)
Ordnung zur Sicherung guter wissenschaftlicher Praxis
und zum Umgang mit wissenschaftlichem Fehlverhalten am Promotionskolleg NRW in der Fassung vom 19.04.2022 (.pdf)
Übergangsrichtlinie und Richtlinie zur Anerkennung von Leistungen
im Rahmen der Promotionsprogramme des Promotionskollegs NRW vom 26.05.2023 in der Fassung vom 18.10.24 (.pdf)
If you have any questions about the doctoral programs or subject-specific issues, please contact the coordinators of the respective departments.
