Doctoral studies

Advising sessions for educational science doctoral students are held at 3 – 4 pm on the second and fourth friday of the month in Room 309.

Peer advising sessions are an opportunity to discuss questions about doctoral studies with a doctoral student. Individual problems can be clarified and experiences shared. Advising sessions are open to both current and prospective doctoral students.

Maren Plaum is the contact person for the peer advising sessions. Please see her website for details of the next sessions (and any changes).

It is also possible to submit questions on doctoral studies via email (<span>promotionsberatung.ew@uni-hamburg.de</span>(promotionsberatung.ew"AT"uni-hamburg.de)).

Please also see the information on the Department of International Affairs website.

The doctoral committee of the Faculty of Education decides on admission to the doctoral procedure. It usually meets once a month, and generally decides on applications immediately.

The faculty doctoral studies representative can also help with any questions you may have.

Enrollment: Upon admission by the doctoral committee, applicants must use their acceptance letter to enroll at Universität Hamburg. Please submit proof of enrollment to Ms. Volmari.

Registering for the doctoral procedure: To register for the doctoral procedure, you will need to submit the documents listed below to Birgit Volmari: birgit.volmari"AT"verw.uni-hamburg.de, Von-Melle-Park 8, Raum 326. 
 
Please submit email inquiries exclusively to Promotionen.EW@uni-hamburg.de.

Office hours (Birgit Volmari):

• Mon: 10 am–12 pm
• Tue: 10 am–12 pm
• Wed: 10 am–12 pm
• Thu: 10 am–12 pm
• Fri: Closed

Please submit the following documents in both digital and print formats:

• Registration form (in German only)
• Proof of successful completion of a degree in a subject relevant to the dissertation project (e.g., a master’s degree, Magister, or Diplom; first or second state examination; etc.).
• Tabular CV with an overview of all activities and experience relevant to the intended doctoral project.
• A declaration stating whether an application to complete a doctorate has already been submitted or a doctoral procedure has already been or will be completed at another higher education institution or faculty.
• The exposé on the planned dissertation in German or English with details of the research topic, an outline of the research topic and procedure, and a timetable and work plan.
• A written statement from a professor from the responsible department on the dissertation exposé with confirmation that they will supervise the doctoral procedure.

Dissertations normally comprise a single piece of writing detailing the research work and findings. However, it is also possible to complete a cumulative dissertation. This is a body of work consisting of several individual pieces of published and/or unpublished work that is equivalent in its entirety to the above-mentioned dissertation. A cumulative dissertation comprises a list of the individual pieces of work, an introduction, and an overarching text interpreting, evaluating, and discussing the relationship between the individual pieces in the cumulative dissertation.

Students awarded a top grade for their bachelor’s degree in a subject relevant to their doctoral studies may pursue a fast-track route if an assessment by two full-time university teachers is successful. The doctoral committee will decide on the form of assessment.
Admission is granted on the condition that the doctoral student obtains a master’s degree in a subject relevant to the dissertation proposal during the doctoral procedure.

For information and the meeting dates of the doctoral committee, please see here.

For information on the Faculty of Education’s graduate school, please see here.

The Faculty of Education has a mailing list that it uses to share information with doctoral students.

It is possible to subscribe or unsubscribe from this list here.

You can determine for yourself if you meet the official requirements for doctoral studies in our faculty. Please refer to the currently valid doctoral degree regulations, which include the necessary framework conditions. One of the key requirements for doctoral studies is that a university teacher declares his or her willingness to supervise your work. In order to obtain a commitment of supervision, you should first review the points below.

University teachers considering acting as supervisors can also use this list to determine if the requirements for admission to doctoral studies as stipulated in the doctoral degree regulations have been met:

1. Degree certificate from a university: The first requirement is a degree from a foreign university in a subject relevant to the planned doctoral project, i.e., a degree program which has prepared the student for the doctoral project (e.g., an MA in education). This degree must be equivalent to a research-oriented master’s, Magister, or Diplom To determine which degrees are equivalent, please visit the website of the Central Office for Foreign Education (Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen, ZAB) of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (Kultusministerkonferenz, KMK) http://anabin.kmk.org. Information is available under pages entitled “Institutionen” and “Bildungswesen.”

2. Converted final grade: When you apply, the final grade you earned abroad will be converted to a grade that would correspond to your final grade in Germany. This conversion is usually performed with the help of the Bayerische Formel (Bavarian formula). For more information on converting foreign grades, please visit the webpage of Anabin and click on “Bildungswesen.” There you can enter the country in which the degree was earned. You will then see the grade scale for the universities in that country indicating the lowest passing grade and the best grade possible. Both of these grades, together with the grade earned, are entered into the Bayerische Formel in order to obtain the equivalent German grade. Don’t worry, it is easier than it sounds!

3. Comparable scope of degree program: Admission to doctoral studies requires proof of a previous degree program (bachelor’s and master’s degrees, if applicable) covering 300 ECTS credits.

4. Language skills: If the doctoral dissertation is to be written up in German, the student must pass the Deutsche Sprachprüfung für den Hochschulzugang (German-language proficiency exam required for admission to German universities, DSH). However, if you want to write up your dissertation in English, you must provide proof of English language skills at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (EFR) or comparable English language skills.