Get involved in the Doctoral School NRW
The departments of the Doctoral School NRW are thematically organized units in which professors and doctoral researchers from universities of applied sciences and universities collaborate, network, conduct research together, and cooperate with partners from industry and civil society. Become part of these dynamic platforms and learn more.
Who can participate?
Various actors work together to shape the departments:
- Professors and postdoctoral researchers from universities of applied sciences (UAS)
- Professors from universities
- Doctoral researchers from UAS and universities
- University cooperation partners
- Representatives from industry, civil society, and research
Professors and postdoctoral researchers from the supporting universities of applied sciences, professors from universities, and doctoral researchers, can be admitted as members of the Doctoral School NRW upon application.
Get Involved as a Professor
Professorial Membership
Professors with a Doctorate and postdoctoral researchers (Habilitierte) from the supporting universities of applied sciences, as well as professors with a Doctorate from universities in NRW, may participate as members in a department if they meet the requirements (membership criteria).
According to the current membership regulations, you may apply to become a member of a department of the Doctoral School NRW for a period of five years if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a professor with a Doctorate or a postdoctoral researcher (Habilitierte) at a suppporting university of applied sciences, or a professor with a Doctorate at a university in NRW.
- You conduct research aligned with the department’s focus areas.
- Your UAS supports your participation and provides you with the necessary freedom to engage with the Doctoral School NRW (not required for university professors).
- Over the past three to five years, you have on average per year:
- Secured externally funded research grants of at least €100,000 (in life, natural, or engineering sciences) or €50,000 (in other disciplines), and
- Published at least one peer-reviewed article in recognized journals.
- You have adequate experience in supervising doctoral candidates (the relevant department decides what constitutes adequate supervision experience; see also Guidance Document:
Experience in Doctoral Supervision).
Professorial members must review their status after five years. Professors who have already been professorial members for four years may apply the special regulation according to §3, paragraph 12 of the membership regulations. Further information is provided in the Guidance Document on the Extension of Professorial Membership as well as in an optional CV template for overall evaluation of scientific achievements (.docx).
Detailed information on membership can be found in our Membership Regulations.
Associated Professors (Affiliates)
If you do not fully meet the criteria for professorial membership, you may be granted affiliate status for a period of five years. Affiliates are involved in the work of Doctoral School NRW, may participate in the supervision of doctoral candidates, and can take part in events organized by the Doctoral School and the departments. Certain rights, however, such as voting rights and the primary or secondary supervision of Doctoral School NRW candidates, remain reserved for members.
You may apply for professorial membership at any time if you meet the membership requirements, but the application must be submitted no later than the end of the five-year affiliate period.
Application Process
Applications are submitted through our Doctoral School Information and Management System (KISS).
Further information about KISS, as well as a brief guide on using KISS, can be found on our KISS information page.
Documents Required for a Professorial Membership Application:
Support Letter
from your University of Applied Sciences (not applicable to university professors) (.docx) (German)
CV Template
for Comprehensive Evaluation of Scholarly Achievements (optional) (.docx) (German)
KISS – Professors – Membership Renewal Application
Quick Guide (.pdf) (German)
KISS – Professors
Quick Guide (.pdf) (German)
University Cooperation Partners in NRW
As a professor holding a doctorate at a university, you can become a university cooperation partner in a department upon informal application. In the Doctoral School NRW, you will then be considered an affiliate: you are integrated into the work of the department, can participate in the supervision of doctoral candidates, and attend events of the Doctoral School NRW and the department. Certain rights (e.g., voting rights) are, however, reserved for full members.
The decision regarding your acceptance as a university cooperation partner is made by the department. If you are interested, please contact the department’s directorate or coordination team. No formal application or submission of documents is required.
Admission of Doctoral Candidates
Doctoral candidates can join the Doctoral School NRW either by applying for membership (primarily for cooperative doctoral candidates) or by applying for enrollment and admission as a doctoral candidate at the Doctoral School NRW (for candidates pursuing a doctorate within the Doctoral School NRW).
Cooperative Doctoral Members
You can become a cooperative doctoral member in a department if you:
- meet the requirements of § 67 HG for doctoral studies and can provide proof (usually a Master’s degree),
- have the academic and personal qualifications to carry out a dissertation and complete a doctorate,
- pursue your doctorate in cooperation with a partner university or a doctoral-granting institution affiliated with a partner university,
- are supervised by a professoral member or an associated professor of the department, and
- submit a (short) exposé including the (preliminary) title of your planned dissertation.
Applications for membership as a doctoral candidate (cooperative) should be submitted via the Doctoral School NRW’s Information and Management System (KISS).
Doctoral Candidates of the Doctoral School NRW
If you wish to pursue a doctorate within a Doctoral School NRW program, you must:
- meet and provide proof of the admission requirements for doctoral studies in accordance with § 5 of the Doctoral School NRW Framework Doctoral Regulations,
- apply for admission as a doctoral candidate in accordance with § 6 of the Framework Doctoral Regulations and submit the required documents (including a short exposé),
- be supervised by at least one professoral member of a department,
- enroll at the university of applied sciences (HAW) where your doctoral project is being carried out and where at least one of your supervising professoral members is based, and
- register with the Doctoral School NRW for your doctoral studies.
Both the application for registration and the application for admission as a doctoral candidate are submitted via the Doctoral School NRW’s Information and Management System (KISS).
Before submitting your application, we recommend that you:
- familiarize yourself with the formal procedures and regulations for the doctoral process at the Doctoral School NRW, and
- carefully consider your complete supervisory team, as your application will be rejected if the Doctoral Examining Committee cannot appoint suitable supervisors within a period of typically three months.
Once registered at the Doctoral School NRW, doctoral candidates automatically become members of the Doctoral School NRW, if they are not already members. Detailed information on enrollment at the HAW is available from the respective university. Full information on the requirements and procedures for registration at the Doctoral School NRW can be found in our Enrollment Regulations.
Please note the following deadlines:
- The application for registration at the Doctoral School NRW must be submitted within four weeks of enrollment at the university.
- The application for admission should be submitted at the same time as the registration application, but no later than three months after enrollment at the Doctoral School NRW.
If you wish to pursue a doctorate within a Doctoral School NRW program, you may apply for membership even before registering at the Doctoral School NRW, provided you are supervised by a professoral member of a department, enrollment at a partner university and the Doctoral School NRW is planned, and an application for admission as a doctoral candidate is submitted within three months or has not yet been finally rejected. Such an application for membership as a doctoral candidate must also be submitted via KISS.
Partnerships and Guest Status
Researchers and Representatives from Industry and Civil Society
If you are a representative from industry or civil society interested in an exchange, collaboration, or partnership with a department, please contact the coordination office of the respective department.
If you, as a researcher, do not meet the criteria for membership or affiliation but still wish to contribute to a department, the department may grant you guest status. Please contact the coordination office of the respective department for this purpose.
Questions?
- Questions about the departments can be answered by the department coordinators.
- For formal questions regarding membership, please contact the Executive Director, Dr. Carolin Schuchert (carolin.schuchert@pknrw.de)
- For questions concerning our Doctoral School Information and Management System (KISS), please contact Dr. Johanna Gelberg (johanna.gelberg@pknrw.de).
- In our FAQs, we have compiled and answered the most important questions for you.
