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Study and research in Germany

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DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service
wandel durch austausch. change by exchange.
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Study and research in Germany

Home « Study and research in Germany « Research « Doctorate « Int. Postgrad. Programmes

International Postgraduate Programmes (IPP)

IPP made in Germany

IPP made in Germany - is a network of 50 postgraduate programmes
offered in a wide range of disciplines and subjects
at centres of scientific excellence throughout Germany

Since 2001, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Research Foundation (DFG) have been jointly selecting these postgraduate courses under the "Doctorates at Universities in Germany" (PHD) support programme. The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has made a total of EUR 30m available to participating universities for the period from 2001 to 2006.

The essential criteria which projects have to meet to qualify for support are: The planned postgraduate degree course must display scientific excellence, structures and transparency, plus an international focus.

What does IPP made in Germany offer you?

You gain your doctorate at a proven centre of research excellence. This ensures that your course meets the highest academic standards. All IPP participants have regular contact with the university teachers responsible for their programme and are given the opportunity to engage in collaborative intensive research. Cross-faculty courses and colloquia offer forums for interdisciplinary dialogue and represent a further firmly-established component of your postgraduate studies.

German and international doctoral candidates participating in the IPP jointly attend courses from the accompanying curriculum. Teaching includes visiting lectures given by foreign academics and scientists. These are frequently delivered in English. The doctoral thesis may be written in English or in another world language, while the viva may be held in English. The programme encourages participants to complete reserche periods at universities abroad.

The structured format of your postgraduate studies provides an extra plus. And, as an IPP participant, you are not a lone combatant in the jungle of scientific research; rather, you can be sure that your university will provide the intensive guidance-counselling expected of a top-class institution. Your studies in your research topic are supplemented and deepened by programme-integrated curricular courses. Besides providing an insight into cross-disciplinary topics, these serve to teach methodological and presentation techniques to prepare you for your future career responsibilities.

Greater structure also produces greater transparency. This means the success of your doctorate no longer depends solely on the - more or less informal - relationship between you and your academic supervisor. Universities offering International Postgraduate Programmes take on firmly-defined institutional responsibility for their students. Clear regulations governing performance controls, graduation processes and fixed deadlines mean your path to a doctorate becomes a calculable factor. And if you completed your previous studies abroad, no problem: The IPP operate flexible admissions procedures for holders of international degrees.

How to join an IPP

Most programmes have fixed application deadlines (1 or 2 per year). Selection formalities differ from one programme to the next. Generally, a written test is followed by a selection interview. The contact  persons responsible for the postgraduate programmes at the universities

will be pleased to provide information on sources of funding or grants.
A number of postgraduate programmes operate 1 or 2-year Master's degree courses which can be taken before entry into the full programme. Depending on your academic background and qualifications, attendance may be advisable.

Our programme overview contains more information on our projects.

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DAAD Glossary

Doktorand

"Doktorand" denotes doctoral students or candidates who are working on their thesis or dissertation.

Klausur

A "Klausur" is an invigilated or proctored written examination, sometimes also called a "closed examination". These are a required part of a final examination.

Promotion

"Promotion" is the German word for a doctorate and for the process that leads to this degree. Doctoral students (Promovierende or Doktoranden) earn a doctorate by producing a written research paper (dissertation or thesis) and by defending their paper in an oral exam called Rigorosum or Disputation, very similar to a viva (voce). To gain a doctorate, candidates generally have to prove that they hold an academic degree. Many universities offer graduate schools or graduate colleges (Graduiertenkollegs) or even whole doctoral programmes to "promote" the qualifications of their doctoral students and candidates.

Referat

A "Referat" involves students giving a presentation on a subject that has previously been agreed with their lecturer or professor.

Universität

"Universität" means university and is used for research universities (wissenschaftliche Hochschulen) that offer a broad range of subjects (like arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, economics and business administration, law, medicine). These institutions confer doctorates. The strong research focus benefits students in their training. Please note, however, that English texts often use the term "university" generically, i.e. to cover all kinds of higher education institutions, for example, universities of the arts, universities of applied sciences, universities of education, etc.

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© 2009 Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst e.V. (DAAD), Kennedyallee 50, D-53175 Bonn
Source: http://www.daad.de/deutschland/forschung/promotion/04673.en.html
Date: 2009-01-08