Establishment of doctoral programs
The Minds, Media, Machines Integrated Graduate School advises members of the high-profile area Minds, Media, Machines who are planning to establish a structured doctoral program, apply for university-internal recognition of their new or established structured doctoral program, or apply for third-party funding for their program. This page provides information about structured doctoral programs in general, the internal recognition of such programs at the University of Bremen, and relevant funding programs offered by some third-party funding providers. Questions on these topics can be directed to the MMMIGS coordinator, who is also available for telephone, virtual, or in-person consultations.
Structured doctoral programs or research training groups are characterized by a thematically focused research program and a complementary study program. Typically, at least five faculty members are involved in such a doctoral program. Ten to fifteen doctoral candidates form a cohort and complete the doctoral phase together. The accompanying study program imparts subject-specific and methodological knowledge and prepares the doctoral candidates for careers both within and outside of academia.
Individual advantages
Doctoral candidates in structured doctoral programs benefit from supervision by a team consisting of several professors, postdoctoral researchers, and sometimes even fellow doctoral candidates. The members of the Thesis Advisory Committee are jointly responsible for supervising the candidates and ensuring the quality of their research and submitted dissertations.
Furthermore, since each cohort begins the program together and the doctoral projects are aligned with a thematic focus, comprehensive subject-specific and methodological training can be provided without placing excessive strain on individual candidates or supervisors. The same applies to career orientation and qualification measures toward the end of the cohort's doctoral studies.
Institutional advantages
Since the training of doctoral candidates in doctoral programs and graduate schools is common practice in other countries, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States, the University of Bremen aims to increase its attractiveness to international master's students and doctoral candidates by establishing additional structured doctoral programs. This is one of the goals the university has set for itself in its 2018-2028 strategy.
The support of doctoral candidates and their supervisors through structured doctoral programs as well as graduate schools and academies reflects the university's institutional responsibility for the qualification of its researchers. Preparation for careers outside of academia is particularly important, as the number of doctoral graduates far exceeds the number of available permanent positions in academia.
Support offers
As the central hub for the structured doctoral programs in the high-profile area Minds, Media, Machines, the integrated graduate school MMMIGS offers cross-program training events and networking opportunities. MMMIGS also provides financial support for conference visits, research stays, and other doctorate-related activities.
The graduate academy BYRD (Bremen Early Career Researcher Development) is the general contact point for doctoral candidates and postdocs at the University of Bremen. Researchers in the early stages of their careers can receive advice there and participate in a comprehensive training program for transferable skills.
Since February 2020, the University of Bremen has offered the opportunity to have structured doctoral programs recognized by the Research Commission of the Academic Senate. The application guidelines, which set out minimum standards for this purpose, clarify what is considered a structured doctoral program at the University of Bremen and what requirements are placed on the faculty members conducting the program. Doctoral programs funded by third-party funding bodies are automatically recognized as structured doctoral programs within the university, i.e., without the need for an application.
Benefits of the internal recognition
The internal recognition of doctoral programs within the university serves to strengthen international cooperation and joint applications for third-party funding. Furthermore, it supports the exchange of best practice examples between programs, quality assurance, and the additional subject-based qualification of early career researchers.
Minimum standards for internal recognition
The minimum standards for internal recognition of a structured doctoral program are defined in the application guidelines. Among other things, information on the research and qualification program, the supervision concept, and concepts for career development and quality assurance are required.
Further information and support offers
Further information and contact details for questions regarding the internal recognition process can be found on the Research Commission's website. For support in developing the necessary concepts, MMM members can contact the MMMIGS coordinator, Dr. Lena Wollschl?ger.
Structured doctoral programs are funded by various third-party funding bodies. Funding programs from foundations and research organizations are usually topic-specific. However, the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the European Commission (EC) have open-topic funding lines specifically for doctoral programs.
DFG: (International) Research Training Groups
Research Training Groups are structured doctoral programs funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for up to nine years. If integrated into a Collaborative Research Center, funding for up to 12 years is possible.
Research Training Groups are generally located at a single university or equivalent institution of higher education. However, applications from consortia of several universities are possible or—in the case of International Research Training Groups—even mandatory. Funding can cover positions for doctoral students and postdocs, as well as travel and material expenses.
Similar to the internal recognition process at the University of Bremen, information on both the research program and the qualification program must be provided as part of the application. In addition, a visiting researcher program should be integrated into the qualification program to contribute to its internationalization.
MSCA: (Industrial/Joint) Doctoral Networks
Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) are the European Commission's funding program for the training of doctoral researchers and postdocs. Within the framework of the Action Doctoral Networks, structured doctoral programs are funded for up to four years.
International consortia of at least three different institutions or organizations from at least three different EU member states or countries associated with Horizon Europe are eligible to apply.
In addition to traditional Doctoral Networks, two types of programs are supported: Industrial Doctorates, in which doctoral researchers spend at least 50% of their time outside of academia and are jointly supervised by academic and non-academic partners, and Joint Doctorates, in which doctoral researchers are enrolled in a joint program between several academic institutions, receive joint supervision, and ultimately receive either a joint degree or multiple degrees.
Support offers at the University of Bremen
The University of Bremen offers funding advisory services for researchers wishing to apply for third-party funding from a national or international funding organization. In addition, joint initiatives, such as DFG Research Training Groups or MSCA Doctoral Networks, can receive up to �10,000 in start-up funding from the University's Central Researcher Development Fund.
The MMMIGS provides additional funding including personnel resources for specific proposals in funding lines for structured doctoral programs. This funding can cover up to three months of a full-time position for a postdoctoral researcher who will provide content-related support for the application. MMM members can also contact the MMMIGS coordinator, Dr. Lena Wollschl?ger, for support in coordinating a funding application or developing a qualification program or a supervision, career development, or quality assurance concept.
For specific proposals in funding lines such as the DFG Research Training Groups or the MSCA Doctoral Networks, the MMMIGS provides personnel resources for the temporary financing of a postdoctoral position. The funding is available to members of the high-profile area Minds, Media, Machines who are leading a proposal to obtain third-party funding for a doctoral program.