How to do your PhD in the graduate programme

Please note, that the primary working language is German, even if PhD projects can be pursued in both German and English.

The supervision of the scholarships is primarily ensured by the scientists of the research focus groups of the graduate programme. This form of co-supervision has been strongly encouraged at the University of Kassel in recent years and promises broader networking and great openness to different fields of knowledge for the doctoral students. They are integrated into the established doctoral colloquia of the departments and fields of the two supervisors. The concrete individual supervision will be defined in supervision agreements. For peer-to-peer supervision in addition to the tandems of the main research areas, all scientists involved in the graduate programme are available for specific content-related or methodological questions.

The General Regulations for Doctoral Studies at the University of Kassel (AB-PromO) of 14.07.2021 apply. The departments of Human Sciences (01), Social Sciences (05), Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Planning (06), Economics (07) and Mechanical Engineering (15) each have special regulations for doctoral studies.

Depending on the individual research focus of the doctoral candidates, doctoral studies can be conducted in different disciplines and corresponding doctoral degrees can be pursued. In addition to the supervisors in the Kolleg, other scientists are also conceivable as supervisors, depending on the research question and discipline. The challenges of the socio-ecological transformation and the Sustainable Development Goals require an interdisciplinary openness, which the graduate school would like to offer. An integration into the research program and the joint training of the doctoral students via the Research Network for Social Law and Social Policy (FoSS) and the Kassel Institute for Sustainability extends the network beyond the graduate programme itself.

Workplaces at the University of Kassel promote cooperative research and frequent exchange between the doctoral students. A common framework is provided by regular meetings, research colloquia and excursions organized by the PhD students and the  coordination of the graduate programme.

The doctoral students can also take advantage of the educational program of the Graduate Academy of the University of Kassel, which is tailored to the needs of doctoral students. Female doctoral candidates can participate in the coaching program of Mentoring Hessen. Through both programs, the doctoral candidates are qualified for career paths within and outside of academia to accompany their research project.

It is also possible for the doctoral candidates to become involved in teaching at the involved faculties in order to gain qualifications, especially in the case of an aspired scientific career. Through co-teaching, the doctoral students gain insights into teaching methods and pedagogical formats. The cooperation of several doctoral students, e.g. in the context of summer schools of the FoSS, is also conceivable, if corresponding ideas are developed from within the graduate school.

Within the framework of the graduate programme, we not only want to research questions of accessibility and inclusion, but also recognize the reality of a society in which there are diverse needs and requirements for an appropriate design of work and research. A doctoral project is a challenge for everyone, which may require more time and precautions due to physical, psychological and other disabilities. We want to meet these requirements within the framework of the funding conditions specified for us. In particular, however, the length of support through a scholarship is beyond our discretion. In the case of applications for extensions, however, we will work to ensure that they are approved. Please do not hesitate to point out possible needs to us.