The semi-structured doctoral program

The semi-structured doctoral program combines discipline-specific work with overarching, interdisciplinary components. You are thereby able to develop on your own academic concentration while gaining an overview on your entire discipline. In the overarching courses you work together with scholars from different fields of research. You will receive training in many different scientific and practical approaches by systematically exchanging academic perspectives with your colleagues.

All registered doctoral candidates must complete a total of six general required modules during their doctoral studies. Four of these modules are offered as seminars (or compact courses) which are to be taken during the first academic year of study.

For all doctorates

• Scientific Practices & Ethics (winter semester)
• Theory of Science (summer semester)

Discipline-specific lectures

• Research Methods
• Discipline-specific Research Colloquium, in which you examine inter- and transdisciplinary questions of your doctoral field, defined in broad terms.

You will complete the last two required modules during the doctoral collegia that run through the course of your studies: All doctoral candidates must present their dissertation projects to their advisors twice, usually in their third and fifth semesters. The dissertation committee will evaluate these presentations.

Credit points and grades

You must earn a total of 30 credits, 5 per module, by fulfilling the requirements in six courses that are required as part of the doctoral program. Simultaneously, you will also work on your individual dissertation project.
 
You will be granted the doctoral title after the successful completion of examination consisting of the dissertation and its oral defense. Both components are judged according to a credit points system: the dissertation with 80 credits, the oral defense with 10 credits. Thus, you will complete 120 credits during the course of your doctoral studies.

The traditional rating scale for dissertations and oral defenses are also applied.  The following ratings may be awarded:

• distinguished (summa cum laude; 0 to 0.5),
• very good (magna cum laude; 0.6 to 1.5),
• good (cum laude; 1.6 to 2.5),
• satisfactory (rite, 2.6 to 3.5).

Academic work completed at other institutions

During your doctoral studies you may participate in and successfully complete interdisciplinary courses at other universities or at recognized research institutes (in context of international summer school, for example). You will of course need to show certification of your participation in these programs. In the spirit of encouraging mobility and internationalism, the Leuphana Graduate School will recognize such academic work so long as it is at least equal to the standards and requirements of the Leuphana doctoral program. All decisions concerning the recognition of such work are made by the doctoral commission. Credits and examinations connected with a Bachelor's or Master's degree program may not be accredited to the doctoral program. Exceptions are made for doctoral work completed by Master's students of the Leuphana Graduate School in context of the Fast Track.