Humanities Doctoral Program
The Doctoral School of Humanities is open to all doctoral students of the Faculty of Humanities who are not doing their doctorate within the framework of one of the Faculty's third-party funded Research Training Groups. Admission to the doctoral college can be requested from the spokesperson of the Graduate School of the Faculty of Humanities after admission to the doctoral studies.
Content
Become a member of the Humanities Doctoral Program
Are you currently applying to do a doctorate?
Then indicate in your application that you would like to become a member of the doctoral program:
- on the relevant form, list the names of both supervisors in your supervisory committee, and submit their supervisory commitments together with the enrollment application to the Faculty of Humanities doctoral studies office.
- Once you are admitted, submit the completed form together with supervisory agreements with your 2 doctoral supervisors (supervising committee) and submit them to the doctoral studies office of the Faculty of Humanities.
Documents to submit
After enrollment and admission to doctoral studies, send the following documents by email to doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de to be accepted as a member of the doctoral program:
- scanned copy of your admission to doctoral studies
- scanned copy of the supervisory commitment with the supervisory committee
- an approximately half-page abstract of your doctoral project (in German and/or English)
- your University of Hamburg email adress
Have you already been admitted to a doctoral degree, but have only one supervisor?
No problem! You can become a member of the doctoral program at any time:
- Find a second supervisor.
- Apply to the doctoral studies office for the appointment of a supervisory committee for enrollment into the doctoral program.
- Include the supervisory commitment from the second doctoral supervisor with your application.
- After your application has been approved, fill out a new supervisory agreement with both supervisors of the supervisory committee and submit them to the doctoral studies office of the Faculty of Humanities.
Documents to submit
After enrollment and admission to doctoral studies, send the following documents by email to doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de to be accepted as a member of the doctoral program:
- scanned copy of your admission to doctoral studies
- scanned copy of the supervisory commitment with the supervisory committee
- an approximately half-page abstract of your doctoral project (in German and/or English)
- your University of Hamburg email adress
What advantages does a membership offer me for my doctoral studies?
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Binding supervisory standards
A supervisory committee of at least two members ensures structured and high-quality support during your doctoral phase. The fact that you receive regular feedback and guidance increases the quality of your doctorate and contributes to its successful completion.
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Funding for research or professional development activities
The Faculty of Humanities provides doctoral members of its Graduate School, primarily members of the Humanities Doctoral Program, with funding for research and further education activities such as archive trips or congress participation as part of the respective doctoral projects up to a maximum of € 750 per application.
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Structured curriculum
By participating in the structured curriculum of the doctoral program, you will attend various interdisciplinary and specialist courses. This gives you the opportunity to present and discuss your research results or to try out your own teaching methods in seminars or workshops.
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Transcript of records
After completing your doctorate, you will receive a transcript of records containing all courses completed during the doctoral phase. It not only provides a structured overview of the qualifications gained, but also serves as a valuable addition to the usual application documents.
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Interdisciplinary qualification and networking
The doctoral program offers a platform that promotes exchange between different disciplines. As a result, you can not only enrich your own research, but also benefit from the perspectives and methods of other disciplines. This strengthens personal networks and can be valuable later in your career.
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Improved time management
Participation in the doctoral program helps you to use your time efficiently. Through clear structures, regular meetings and workshops, members learn to plan and carry out their projects, making the doctoral process as a whole more targeted and effective.
Who can I choose as a doctoral supervisor?
According to Section 6.2 subsection 4 of the Doctoral Degree Regulations of the Faculty of Humanities, every doctoral procedure involving a doctoral candidate from a doctoral program must have a doctoral committee of at least 2 supervisors.
- The first supervisor must be a full-time employee of the Faculty of Humanities.
- The second supervisor may be
- a full-time member of teaching staff in the Faculty of Humanities
- a university teacher in another faculty at the University of Hamburg
- a member of a nonuniversity research institution collaborating with the University of Hamburg
- from the leadership of an externally funded early career research group, provided that the University of Hamburg is the hosting institution (Section 6 sentence 3)
- member of another university
Please make sure you have personal contact, particularly with external supervisors, to ensure and facilitate supervision.
Which courses do I attend?
The Humanities Doctoral Program’s academic regulations determine the curriculum. It is made up of:
- a doctoral colloquium to present and discuss research results in your doctoral subject every semester of your 6 semester standard study time (1 credit hour per week)
- a seminar on interdisciplinary issues and methods (2 credit hours per week) designed especially for the doctoral program as part of the whole doctoral studies period
- a course addressing discipline-specific methods in your doctoral subject (2 credit hours per week) in the form of
- a lecture or seminar including examination
- a seminar that you lead as a research associate or an adjunct lecturer
- or a subject-related workshop that you organize or attend
You must record each course on a course slip (Sammelschein) and have it signed by the seminar or course instructor.
See our course catalogue in STiNE for the semester’s courses from the presentation and discussion of research findings area and the interdisciplinary topics and methods area.
Where can I get a transcript of records?
You must record all events you attend within the scope of your doctoral studies to create a transcript of records (course slips) and have these signed by the head of the seminar or course. Submit the completed forms by e-mail to doktorandenkolleg.gw(doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de)@(doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de)uni-hamburg.de(doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de), who will prepare your transcript of records. You will be given this after your oral defense together with an interim certificate from the doctoral studies office.
Course slip forms:
Can I apply for funding for research or professional development activities?
The Faculty of Humanities provides members of their graduate school, primarily members of the Humanities Doctoral Program, with research and professional development grants such as archival trips, conference participation, workshops, etc. as part of their doctoral projects. Please note you may apply only for projects that have not yet been conducted. There is an information sheet available as PDF.
Applications for funding must include the following documents:
- completed application form (DOCX) including a brief project description
- a plan of total costs (least expensive option) indicating the nature and scope of each cost point; explanation of travel costs for individual modes of transport; accommodation costs, conference fees (with evidence such as scans or similar for cost estimates) and personal contributions as well as the total amount, divided into funding amount sought and own financial contribution
- explanation of whether and, where relevant, with what outcome the planned project will result in other funding applications to other funding institutions
- for conference trips: invitation with a confirmation of the registered contribution (copies)
- supervisors’ signed approval
Application deadlines: 31 March, 30 June, 31 October, and 30 December of every year We must have the application (PDF only) at the latest 4 weeks before you begin your project. Send it to:
Aleksandra Ostrowska
Office of the dean of the Faculty of Humanities
E-mail: doktorandenkolleg.gw(doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de)@(doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de)uni-hamburg.de(doktorandenkolleg.gw"AT"uni-hamburg.de)