Doctorate at IPK - structured qualification IPK 

The IPK Graduate Program is a structured doctoral program that is mandatory for all doctoral students pursuing their doctorate at IPK, regardless of their affiliation or enrolment in external doctoral programs.

Doctoral students benefit from a lively and interdisciplinary research environment supported by internationally recognized scientists and a modern, excellent research infrastructure.

Doctoral students are offered a comprehensive range of qualifications, that strengthen their scientific, methodological, and personal skills. In addition to specialized courses, various theoretical scientific and non-scientific courses, seminars, and lectures on key qualifications are offered. Participation in seminars and summer schools is also encouraged.  Doctoral students are encouraged and supported to participate in national and international conferences and to publish their research results.

As part of an Onboarding process organized by the PhD-Board and the coordinator of the graduate program Britt Leps, all new doctoral students receive an overview of the IPK Graduate Program.

Structure and goals

The program supports a goal-oriented, structured, and transparent doctoral process. It strengthens scientific independence, excellence, and personal development. It also offers guidance on important milestones and internal networking through summer schools and retreats. The program aims to enable doctoral students to pursue their goals, support their scientific independence, and ensure the quality of their scientific work within the framework of their doctorate. 

The specific objectives are:

• Ensuring the quality and structure of the doctoral program
• Promoting individual potential and skills by imparting knowledge and abilities
• Establishing clear mutual responsibility between doctoral candidates and supervisors
• Recognizing individual potential and adapting qualifications to individual abilities

Supervision Agreement

A key element is the supervision agreement, which is concluded at the beginning of the doctoral program. It regulates the composition of the supervision team (two subject supervisors, who, depending on the case, directly represent the university supervision, and an independent mentor), defines milestones, sets dates for regular supervision and progress meetings, and requires compliance with the principles of good scientific practice. This ensures transparency, quality, and commitment throughout the doctoral program.

Ways to obtain a doctorate

Doctorates at the institute can be obtained under various supervision arrangements: 

•  through a jointly appointed or adjunct professor
•  through external professorships with specialist supervision by scientists at the institute 

Topics for open, predominantly third-party-funded research project-related doctoral positions are regularly advertised under Job Vacancies. In addition, doctoral candidates with individual scholarships can also be supervised at the Institute after direct inquiry and approval by a scientist at the Institute. 

The doctoral degree is awarded in cooperation with partner universities, e.g. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). The IPK Graduate Program is associated with the International Graduate Center (INGRA) at the MLU.