Click here for an overview of the Coordinators of the departments.
Doctoral Programs
The Doctoral School NRW offers ten structured doctoral programs that support doctoral candidates in their research and foster interdisciplinary exchange. These programs are provided by the departments of the Doctoral School NRW and combine an academic curriculum with a clear timeline and continuous supervision.
Structure and Content of the Doctoral Programs
Each department at the Doctoral School NRW offers one, if not two, different doctoral programs. Doctoral candidates from all of our supporting universities of applied science (UAS) can apply for admission. The aim of each program is to ensure that doctoral candidates acquire subject-specific as well as interdisciplinary qualifications relevant to their research and to introduce them to the scientific community. The programs offered by the Doctoral School NRW are generally designed to be completed within three years. They consist of a mandatory and an elective component.
The mandatory component covers subject-specific and interdisciplinary topics, providing the doctoral candidates with the skills they need in order to place their research in a broader scientific context and present it accordingly. The elective component, consisting of additional courses and seminars, allows for further interdisciplinary training and opportunities for scientific exchange throughout the different phases of the doctorate.
A team of three professors ensures close supervision, guaranteeing a well-thought-out project and time plan throughout the doctorate. Doctoral candidates also receive individual support in planning their future careers.
The following elements are part of the doctoral programs across all departments (non-exhaustive list):
Mandatory Area
- Seminar on ‘Good Research Practice’
- Seminar on ‘Ethics and Responsibility in Science and Society’
- Colloquium series or doctoral seminar related to the respective doctoral program
- Presentation of the doctoral candidate’s research in doctoral colloquiums
- Presentation of the doctoral candidate’s research at an external scientific conference
- Written progress reports
The doctoral programs of the departments may require additional mandatory elements. It is recommended to attend two subject-specific/methodological qualification courses per year.
Elective Area
- Participation in qualification programs offered by the Doctoral School NRW and other organizations
- Colloquium series offered by other departments of the Doctoral School NRW
- Participation in national or international conferences with an individual contribution
- Participation in (interdisciplinary) workshops and events (e.g., workshop on academic didactics, summer schools)
- Research stays abroad
- Transfer achievements (e.g., patent applications)
- Giving courses
Doctoral Programs at the Doctoral School NRW
The departments of the Doctoral School NRW currently offer a total of ten doctoral programs. Each doctoral program focuses on a scientific, interdisciplinary main topic, which is approached from multiple disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives.
Doctoral Program 'Built Environment and Cultural Heritage'
Department of Construction and Culture
Contents
The doctoral program addresses the design of landscapes, cities, spaces and buildings, the construction of buildings and techniques for the preservation and communication of art and cultural assets.
Target Group
Doctoral candidates with a degree in technical, natural or engineering sciences as well as a degree in design, humanities or cultural studies who are dealing with the topics and issues of the doctoral program in their doctoral projects.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. phil.
Dr. rer. nat.
Language
German
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for acceptance and enrollment at any time. Please note the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Britta Köhler-Hoff (britta.koehler@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Applied Computer Science and Business Informatics'
Department of Computer and Data Science
Contents
The focus is on applied problems in computer science from an inter- and transdisciplinary perspective. The program covers the department's key research areas of 'Cyber Security', 'Visual Computing' and ‘Business Informatics’.
Target Group
Doctoral students with a degree in engineering, natural and social sciences and business informatics. The aim of the doctoral program is to provide doctoral candidates with an overarching view of the methodological foundations and social contexts of the disciplines of data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning that goes beyond specializations in the individual disciplines.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. rer. nat.
Dr. rer. pol.
Language
German
Program duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
Applications for admission and enrollment can be submitted at any time. Please refer to the information on admission and enrollment and our dates and deadlines.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact Linda Rustemeier (linda.rustemeier@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'AI and Data Science'
Department of Computer and Data Science
Contents
The focus is on data collection and processing, modeling and simulation, analysis and optimization as well as method evaluation and archiving of large, inhomogeneous data sets. Innovative technologies are applied in interdisciplinary approaches in order to create high-quality and efficient solutions at the interface between computer science, natural sciences, engineering, humanities and social sciences, as well as industry. This requires methods from the fields of artificial intelligence and data science.
Target Group
Doctoral students with a degree in computer science and related disciplines, in particular information science, mathematics, physics, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, statistics, automation and electrical engineering, as well as geosciences and life sciences.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. rer. nat.
Language
German
Program duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
Applications for admission and enrollment can be submitted at any time. Please refer to the information on admission and enrollment and our dates and deadlines.
Contact
If you have any questions, please contact Linda Rustemeier (linda.rustemeier@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Life Sciences and Health Technologies'
Department of Life Sciences and Health Technologies
Contents
The focus is on the scientific examination of the structures and processes of living beings as well as processes in which living beings are involved.
Target Group
Doctoral candidates with a degree in mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, technology or engineering who are working on doctoral projects dealing with the topics and issues of the disciplines represented in the department.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. rer. nat.
Language
German and English
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for acceptance and enrollment at any time. Please note the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Lena Freitag (lena.freitag@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Media, Education, Aesthetics, Design'
Department of Media and Interactions
Contents
The focus is on the scientific examination of the transformation of (mass) media and media communication.
Target Group
Doctoral students with a degree in the humanities, social sciences or cultural studies as well as in the field of design and creation who would like to deal with the topics and questions of the doctoral program in their doctoral projects.
Doctoral Degree
Dr. phil.
Language
German
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for acceptance and enrollment at any time. Please note the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Gregor Rehmer (gregor.rehmer@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Human, Digitality, Society'
Department of Media and Interactions
Contents
The focus is on the scientific examination of digital transformation at the interface between technical systems and people.
Target Group
Doctoral candidates with a computer science-related degree (natural sciences or engineering), a degree in psychology or design with a focus on the conception, development and/or evaluation of technical systems from a human-centered perspective, or a degree in social sciences, economics, administration or humanities with a focus on the investigation of the requirements of technical systems or the impact of digital systems or processes on people and society.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. phil.
Dr. rer. nat.
Language
German
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for acceptance and enrollment at any time. Please note the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Gregor Rehmer (gregor.rehmer@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Ressources and Sustainability'
Department of Ressources and Sustainability
Contents
The doctoral program focuses on the availability, sustainable use, and provision of resources with particular emphasis on the interface between technical potentials and ecological, economic and social requirements and compatibility.
Target Group
Doctoral candidates with a degree in science, engineering, social sciences or economics aligned with the thematic focus of the program.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. rer. nat.
Dr. rer. pol.
Language
German
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for acceptance and enrollment at any time. Please note the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Cordula Obergassel (cordula.obergassel@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Shaping Social and Health Change'
Department of Life Sciences and Health Technologies
Content
The focus is on researching and analyzing services and opportunities for participation in the care and health systems, in social work or in social security systems from the perspective of different members of society.
Target Group
Doctoral students with a degree in social or health sciences who deal with the topics and questions of the doctoral program in their doctoral projects.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr. phil.
Dr. rer. pol.
Language
German
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for acceptance and enrollment at any time. Please note the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Isabelle Kunze (isabelle.kunze@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Cyber Physical Systems'
Department of Technology and Systems
Contents
The doctoral program addresses the value-added processes of physical systems that contain inherent partial intelligence through embedded software. In addition, the topic of 'Instrumentation and Control' is considered in the doctoral program.
Target Group
Doctoral candidates from the related disciplines of electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, medical technology and computer engineering who are addressing the topics and questions of the doctoral program in their doctoral projects.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. rer. nat.
Language
German
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for admission and enrollment at any time. Please refer to the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. David Gilgen (david.gilgen@pknrw.de).
Doctoral Program 'Change and Resilience'
Department of Business and Markets
Contents
The doctoral program deals with key factors and work design in times of change as well as the investigation of systems with regard to uncertainty, resilience and institutional change. In addition, change and resilience are addressed from the perspective of process chains and business processes.
Target Group
Doctoral students with a master's degree from the related disciplines of business administration, economics, business education, business psychology, industrial engineering, business law and business informatics, with a clear economic reference and corresponding thematic interface also from the disciplines of psychology, sociology, humanities and law.
Doctoral Degrees
Dr.-Ing.
Dr. phil.
Dr. rer. pol.
Language
German
Program Duration
3 years
Admission and Enrollment
You can apply for acceptance and enrollment at any time. Please note the information on admission and enrollment as well as our dates and deadlines.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, please contact Philipp Stein (philipp.stein@pknrw.de).
If you have any questions about the doctoral programs or subject-specific issues, please contact the coordinators of the respective departments.
