Doctoral candidates
Contact points for doctoral candidates
Graduate Academy
Interdisciplinary workshops and qualification programmes
[email protected]
Graduate School 3GO (Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities)
Subject-related workshops, advice, further development of structured doctoral programmes
[email protected]
OLTECH (Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Medicine, Technology)
Subject-specific further education and qualification programmes, events and advice
[email protected]
Doctoral candidates
Over 1400 doctoral candidates are currently conducting research at the University of Oldenburg. This is an exciting and intensive time for the often young researchers, who are supported in the best possible way by various university institutions with counselling, qualification and networking offers as well as funding formats. On this and the following pages you will therefore find all the key information about the doctorate in one place.
About the doctoral process
Good scientific practice
Academic work at the University of Oldenburg is governed by the Regulations on the Principles for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg (available in German only). In the event of suspected academic misconduct, the suspicion will be investigated in accordance with the aforementioned regulations. The responsible bodies and contact persons are in particular the ombudspersons and the Commission for Good Academic Practice at the University of Oldenburg.
Further guidance is provided with the eLearning course "Good academic practice in doctoral studies" which is available in German and English on the Graduate Academy's website.
Use of generative AI in the doctorate
At the end of 2024, the Presidential Board issued general recommendations on the use of generative AI in doctoral studies published (available in German only). All information on the use of AI tools in the context of research and teaching is bundled by the university's Souver@n project.
Counselling service for doctoral candidates
The counselling services offered by the Central Student and Career Counselling Office (ZSKB) is open to all doctoral candidates and prospective doctoral candidates at the University of Oldenburg. If you have any questions about orientation or career prospects, the doctoral counselling service is available to you free of charge and confidentially. NEW: The writing counselling of the ZSKB is now also available for doctoral candidates.
If you are looking for support in challenging situations or cases of conflict in the doctoral process, you can contact the counsellors at the Counselling and coaching for employees.
You can find subject-related advice, for example on financing and qualifications in structured doctoral programmes, on the Graduate School websites 3GO (for the Schools I - IV) and OLTECH (for the Schools V and VI and for the Institute of Computing Science).
Counselling on non-academic topics (e.g. visa, accommodation, etc.) is offered to all international doctoral candidates by the Welcome Service of the International Office.
Starting the doctorate right
When you start working on your doctorate, you should conclude a supervision agreement with your supervisor as early as possible and have this countersigned by the relevant doctoral committee (the supervision agreement is an annex to the doctoral degree regulations). The respective doctoral committees, including their Chairs and the respective responsible offices, can be found on the School's websites. The so-called doctoral degree regulations (see also below) contain all the regulations for doctorates, which is why you should definitely study the one that applies to your doctorate/your intended degree. The signed supervision agreement is a prerequisite for obtaining the status of an accepted doctoral candidate (you may have to complete or submit additional documents for acceptance to the doctorate, this varies from School to School). Accepted doctoral candidates should enrol: Early enrolment is advisable, especially with regard to insurance law issues, but also for the use of some university services.
It is also advisable to enrol for admission to the doctorate at an early stage, as most Schools only check all the necessary conditions and documents for admission to the doctorate, not for acceptance (in some Schools, acceptance and admission are linked and therefore take place at the beginning of the doctorate, in others they can be quite far apart). As the requirements and regulations, including the supervision agreement, differ in the various Schools and according to the doctoral degree, you should read the doctoral degree regulations that apply to you for detailed information. In addition to your supervisor, your contact person for acceptance and admission is the doctoral committee of the School responsible for you (Doctoral Office). For enrolment, please contact the Admissions office.
Depending on personal preference, subject culture and the regulations of the respective School, there is the option of an individual doctorate or a doctorate in a structured doctoral programme or degree programme. If you wish to do a doctorate in a structured doctoral programme or degree programme, further administrative steps are necessary and you must indicate the assignment when you enrol. An overview of the university's structured doctoral programmes and degree programmes can be found on this website under "Structured doctorate". The Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities (3GO) and the Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Medicine and Technology (OLTECH) form the framework for structured doctoral programmes at the University of Oldenburg. The University is required by law to record accepted doctoral candidates and to collect some data on each doctorate. Some of this data is visible to you as a doctoral candidate in Stud.IP under the "Doctorate" tab, in case you have already been accepted for a doctorate. Behind the "Doctorate" tab is a doctoral service system based on the admission of doctoral candidates, which simplifies administrative processes, for example by bringing together information from different organisational units.
As a doctoral candidate, you will be admitted to the doctorate at one of the six faculties of the University of Oldenburg. The doctoral degree regulations of each individual School regulate all the details of the doctoral process; however, for the Dr. rer. nat. degree, for example, there are joint doctoral degree regulations for several Schools. Please note: some of the doctoral regulations can only accessed in German.
| Subject and institute-specific regulations relating to doctoral studies can be found on the pages of the School's doctorate committees. |
|---|
| Doctorate at School I - School of Educational and Social Sciences(only available in German) |
| Doctorate at School II, Department of Business, Economics and Law |
| Doctorate at Faculty II, Department of Computing Science |
| Doctorate at School III - School of Linguistics and Cultural Studies(only available in German) |
| Doctorate at School IV - School of Humanities and Social Sciences(only available in German) |
| Doctorate at School V - School of Mathematics and Science |
| Doctorate at the School VI - School of Medicine and Health Sciences |
Insurance and tax
The insurance situation of doctoral students differs according to their status. The decisive factor is whether you are financing your doctorate with a scholarship, are employed as a research assistant or are financing your doctorate in other ways.
With regard to insurance cover regulations, it is advantageous if you enrol as a doctoral student.
The following information on health, accident and liability insurance as well as tax issues is intended as an orientation guide for doctoral students at the University of Oldenburg; the Graduate Academy does not assume any legal liability. Individual insurance and tax issues should always be clarified with the responsible offices in each individual case.as a doctoral student, you are not automatically a member of a statutory public health insurance scheme. Depending on your status, there are various options (see also the GEW guide "Social insurance for doctoral students").
Health insurance
- As a research assistant, you are covered by social insurance and must take out regular statutory public health insurance. This regulation applies regardless of whether the position is a half-time or full-time position or is financed by third-party funding.
- For scholarship holders, a scholarship is not treated as a salary before the law (§3 no. 11 and 44 EStG), which has an impact on health insurance issues. Nevertheless, doctoral candidates with a scholarship are not entitled to favourable student health insurance. It is possible to take out voluntary health insurance or private health insurance.
- If the financing of the doctorate comes from other sources, it is possible in some cases to take out student health insurance. Otherwise, you can take out voluntary statutory health insurance or private health insurance. Which type of health insurance is suitable for you depends on your income.
Accident insurance
Statutory accident insurance covers accidents at work and occupational illnesses. Accidents at work include not only accidents suffered in the company during the actual work activity, but also commuting accidents. Commuting accidents are accidents suffered by employees on their way to or from work. Occupational illnesses are illnesses that insured persons contract as a result of their work and that are either specified in the Ordinance on Occupational Illnesses or are caused by their academic appointment. Whether you are covered by statutory accident insurance depends on your status: Enrolled doctoral candidates are covered by statutory accident insurance with the Lower Saxony State Accident Insurance Fund in Hanover within the organisational area of responsibility of the University and are therefore exempt from contributions; the costs are covered by the State of Lower Saxony. Forms for submitting an accident report can be found in the university's administration portal. As an academic staff member at the University of Oldenburg, you are covered by statutory accident insurance for the duration of your employment. As a general rule, you are not insured for activities in the context of doctoral theses that are carried out outside the university, unless they are carried out in the context of events or permanent intensive supervision for which the university has assumed organisational responsibility. If the latter is the case, it is advisable to document the organisation by the university or the supervisor's instructions in advance.
Link tips: German Social Accident Insurance and State Accident Insurance Fund of Lower Saxony
Liability insurance
Liability insurance covers damage to persons or property caused by your personal behaviour. This also includes, for example, the replacement of a locking system if a key is lost. As an academic employee , you are subject to limited employee liability in the organisational area of the University of Oldenburg. However, this only applies if you have not caused the damage through gross negligence or wilful intent. This limited employee liability does not apply to doctoral candidates who are not employed by the University of Oldenburg. It is therefore advisable to take out private liability insurance that explicitly includes professional damages.
Tax
Costs incurred in the course of your doctorate can be claimed for tax purposes as advertising costs, among other things. It is not necessary for you to have a taxable income at this time, as it is possible to carry them over to other years. The following items, among others, are tax deductible: Semester fees, travel expenses, computers and software, working materials such as photocopying cards and paper, specialist literature and printing costs.
A prerequisite for your doctorate to be taken into account for tax purposes is that you can prove to the tax office that it is professionally related, such as improved career opportunities. Tip: Collect the relevant receipts so that you can prove the costs to the tax office.
Structured doctorate
In addition to the two Graduate Schools 3GO and OLTECH, the University of Oldenburg has achieved great success in recent years in attracting coordinated doctoral programmes across all subjects and specialisations. The University of Oldenburg thus occupies a leading position within Lower Saxony.
In addition to the externally funded Research Training Groups, there are also the following doctoral programmes and degree programmes at the University of Oldenburg:
| Programme | Spokesperson | Participating faculties |
| Doctoral programme: Work - Organisation - Knowledge (AROWI) [closed; discontinued supervision] | Prof. Dr Martin Heidenreich | School I |
| Doctoral programme: Lifelong Learning and Educational Management (L3BM) [closed; discontinued supervision] | Prof. Dr Olaf Zawacki-Richter | School I |
| Doctoral programme: Special Education and Rehabilitation (SpuR) [closed; discontinued supervision] | Prof. Dr Gisela C. Schulze | School I |
| Doctoral programme: Doctoral college for qualitative-reconstructive professional research (PRO2) | UOL: Prof. Dr Till-Sebastian Idel | School I |
| Doctoral programme: Transnational Economics and Law in the Information Society (TELIS) | Prof. Dr Hans-Michael Trautwein | School II |
| Doctoral programme: Environmental Economics and Sustainability Management (UNA) | Prof. Dr Hans-Michael Trautwein | School II |
| Doctoral degree programme: Cultural Gender Studies [closed; discontinued supervision] | Prof. Dr Karen Ellwanger Prof. Dr Silke Wenk | School III |
| Doctoral programme: Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity | School V | |
| Doctoral degree programme: Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity [closed; discontinued supervision] | School V | |
| Doctoral programme: Mathematics and Fundamental Physics | School V | |
| Doctoral programme: Molecular and Nanoscale Science | School V | |
| Doctoral degree programme: Molecular and Nanoscale Science [closed; discontinued supervision] | Prof Dr Gunther Wittstock | School V |
| Doctoral programme: Renewable Energy | School V | |
| Doctoral programme: Medicine and Health Sciences | School VI | |
| Doctoral degree programme: Neurosensory Science and Systems | Prof. Dr Georg Martin Klump | School VI |
Mental health during the doctoral period
Working on a dissertation for several years is challenging. In addition to independence and self-organisation, good agreements with supervisors are key. Questions about financing the doctoral period and finding your way through the academic system can also pose further challenges. You will find support on the following pages:
Representation of doctoral candidates
Representation of doctoral candidates
The doctoral candidate's representation has the task of consulting on matters regarding doctoral researchers and to offer recommendations to the university's governing bodies.
Staff Council
The Staff Council represents the interests of the employees of the University of Oldenburg. Academic staff can turn to the Staff Council with questions about employment contracts, among other things. In addition, the Staff Council bundles relevant current information and offers advice and assistance on the following topics:
- Collective labour agreement (TV-L) and the transitional regulations (TVÜ)
- Appraisal system
- Transfer of leave in the event of illness
In addition, the Staff Council refers to other important information for academics at the University of Oldenburg, such as recruitment guidelines, service agreements and other regulations.
Representative for Employees with Disabilities
The Representative for Employees with Disabilities of the University of Oldenburg represents the interests of all employees with a severe disability and their equals and provides them with advice and assistance.
The tasks of the Representative for Employees with Disabilities elected by employees with severe disabilities at the University of Oldenburg are as follows
- Promoting the integration of severely disabled persons
- Representation of interests
- Counselling and assistance for the severely disabled
Commission for Research Impact Assessment and Ethics
The Commission for Research Assessment and Ethics of the University of Oldenburg advises and assesses ethical aspects and impact assessments of research projects. For the assessment of research projects, the deadlines for the submission of proposals must be observed.
Qualification and skills development programmes
Current workshops of the Graduate Academy
The Graduate Academy is a service centre in the Research and Transfer which offers an interdisciplinary qualification programme in the form of workshops and mentoring programmes for all researchers in qualification phases (from doctoral candidates and postdocs to junior professorships with and without tenure track in temporary positions) open to all Schools. The programme regularly includes offers, e.g. on career development, to familiarise yourself with various career options during your doctorate.
Current workshops of the Graduate School 3GO
The Graduate School of Social Sciences and Humanities 3GO is a joint institution of School I - IV and offers doctoral students subject-related workshops and summer schools as well as advice on financing and qualification issues. Both individual doctoral candidates and doctoral candidates involved in structured programmes can take part in the 3GO programme.
Current workshops of the OLTECH Graduate School
The Graduate School for Natural Sciences, Medicine and Technology OLTECH offers a range of subject-related further education courses, workshops, mentoring programmes and advice on qualification and career issues to doctoral candidates. This Graduate School is an institution of the School V - School of Mathematics and Science, the School VI - School of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Institute of Computing Science (Faculty II).
Coaching for doctoral candidates with disabilities
The University of Oldenburg supports doctoral candidates with disabilities or chronic illnesses with individual coaching sessions to help them overcome difficult phases in their careers. You can find all information on how to apply on the page of the Measures to ensure equal opportunities.
Further qualification programmes
The University Didactics team offers a qualification programme, workshops, materials, exchange formats and (individual) consultation appointments for university lecturers. In addition to fundamental topics of university didactics, the team also focuses on research-based learning, gender & diversity and teaching and learning with digital media. The Day of Teaching and Learning (TdLL) brings together lecturers, students and other interested parties. Particularly successful courses are honoured at the Teaching Prize.
Workshops at the University of Bremen: Since 2016, there has been a cooperation agreement between the universities of Bremen and Oldenburg in the area of graduate support. Doctoral students at the University of Oldenburg can use the BYRD(Bremen Early Career Researcher Development) qualification programmes. Why not take a look right now!
International mobility
Doctoral candidate's mobility within the framework of ERASMUS+
There are various opportunities for doctoral candidates at the University of Oldenburg to go abroad via the current ERASMUS+ programme generation (2021-2027). In addition to study and research stays, teaching and working stays of various durations are also possible. You can find all information on the website Doctoral candidate mobility.
Promotion of international mobility and co-operation
The regional coordinators at the International Office of the UOL will support you with project proposals (e.g. DAAD or MWK) that focus primarily on international mobility and co-operation. They recommend suitable funding programmes for your projects and advise you on the application process. All information and contact persons can be found on the website of the International Office.
Career paths after the doctorate
Career outside academia
The University of Oldenburg's Start-up and Innovation Centre (GIZ ) provides extensive support for anyone who wants to start a business, has already developed their first business ideas or is pursuing innovative projects. In addition to personal counselling and mentoring, the GIZ offers a range of funding for start-up projects.
More information on non-university career paths
The University Association for the Qualification of Early Career Researchers in Germany (UniWiND) is a network of currently 85 member institutions that have made the promotion of early career researchers a central task of their universities. UniWiND members regularly and scientifically examine the career paths of doctoral graduates outside of the traditional academic career.