Diagram illustrating the degree programs at the University

The Graduate Center coordinates doctoral programs financed both externally (e.g. by DFG) and internally. In addition to the structured programs, the Center provides services to doctoral candidates from all faculties who are pursuing an individual doctoral degree.

A structured doctoral degree follows a forward-looking approach, assisting doctoral candidates in various aspects of their doctoral research.

Unlike “individual doctoral degrees”, structured doctoral degree programs encourage networking among doctoral candidates whilst encouraging them to explore their field in depth. They are provided with transparent support on many levels, are able to make the most of professional development programs and opportunities to exchange knowledge and can benefit from well thought-out time and project planning. Structured doctoral degrees are offered by the graduate schools and the structured doctoral programs at FAU.

A structured doctoral program is also referred to as a research training group or graduate program.

The FAU Graduate Center acts across all faculties and subject areas to encourage new talent and functions as an umbrella organization for the graduate schools and doctoral programs at FAU that offer structured doctoral degrees. It is the central platform for mediating between all early career researchers and their managers, supervisors and mentors.

Coordination via steering committee

The Graduate Center coordinates the overall processes governing doctoral degrees at FAU and ensuring the quality of the General doctoral regulations of FAU with the help of the steering committee, which includes faculty representatives for doctoral degrees.

The FAU graduate schools are faculty-specific or interdisciplinary institutions with a broad research focus that offer structured doctoral degrees or a structured doctoral degree program. Other research training groups or doctoral degree programs covering the same topics may be assigned to the graduate schools. The graduate schools belong to FAU.

The following graduate schools are currently established at FAU:

General doctoral programs

These programs set up for a certain subject area generally follow their own curriculum leading to the completion of a doctoral degree and covering subject-specific and interdisciplinary seminars and colloquiums, whilst also enabling participants to gain soft skills and additional qualifications. In addition, doctoral candidates in these programs receive intensive support from several academic mentors, enabling them to complete their doctoral degrees as planned.

Structured doctoral programs at FAU can be split into the following areas of research:

EU projects

FAU participates in several EU collaborative projects as part of the Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) and Horizon Europe (2021-2027) research projects that are funded by the European Union. Under the auspices of these programs, structured doctoral training networks such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN) and Doctoral Networks (DN) have been or are being set up that receive funding for up to four years.

Please note that the application phase for EU projects is already complete and no further applications can be submitted.

A list of all EU projects in which FAU is involved is included below.

BayWiss Joint Academic Partnerships

BayWISS joint academic partnerships are subject-specific platforms and networks for both young and experienced researchers alike, and strengthen the culture of academic exchange between Bavarian universities and universities of applied sciences. Joint doctoral degrees are structured, predictable and transparent. They promote doctoral candidates’ personal development, provide a structured and predictable path towards gaining a doctoral degree, and ensure academic quality.

Overview of all BayWISS joint academic partnerships

FAU as founding university

FAU is the founding university and lead university of the BayWISS Joint Academic Partnership Energy.

FAU as member university

FAU is a member of the following joint academic partnerships:

Applying for a structured doctoral program

Generally, the first step for anyone interested in taking a doctoral degree is to find a suitable supervisor (as is also the case for individual doctoral degrees). If you are interested in participating in one of our doctoral programs, please apply directly to the program coordinator. Information on application deadlines and procedures can be found on the program website.