Moduls of the TUM-GS
The TUM Graduate School has developed the following modules for a doctorate study - some are obligatory for members enrolled after January 1st, 2014, and some are voluntary:
Supervision and Mentoring
Already at the start of the doctorate phase, the candidate choses a first supervisor and a second "mentor". The mentor needs not to have the right to act has referee in your exam. The only requirement is that he or she has alread obtained the relevant doctoral degree. A second mentor could also be taken out of the Alumni network of the TUM.
Structure and framework
With the signing of a supervision agreement , the doctorate candidate and the supervisor add structuring elements to the scientific workplan. The supervision agreement can be updated or corrected at any time. An interim evaluation takes place at the latest after two years of research. This interim evaluation is reported to the Faculty Graduate Center via Doc-GS (new membership) or via a signed form (old membership). Only with this evaluation process it is possible to get financial support from the TUM-GS for international stays.
Internationalizing
Every doctorate member of the TUM-GS gets a financial support of up to 1,600 EUR* for international purposes. In return, a period of international research has to be fulfilled. This can be done on three possibilites (even cumulative):
- Stays at research institutions or industrial research sites abroad
- Presentation of the own research results at some conferences abroad or at least with mainly internation audience
- Joined research project with international guests at the TUM. This can be arraged also by a group of doctorate students.
* If there is a research stay lasting over four weeks at a research institution abroad, the TUM-GS can top up the sum to 3,000 EUR (only for the obligatory members)
Publications
Every doctorate student is advised to publish their results already during their research period in peer-reviewed top-ranked journals or conference proceedings.The obligatory members of the TUM-GS should have published at least one publication in order to apply for the final exam. If somebody wants to write his or her dissertation in a cumulative-style and not as a monograph, two first-authorships are required. In examptions (e.g. patent issues), the first advisor can apply for turning down this publication duty. The TUM-GS is offering a revision service by native speaking experts that you can use to polish your language in ready-to-submit articles. More information on this matter can be found here.
Scientific Qualifications (see also here)
During the doctorate phase, every candidate attends scientific lectures (e.g. seminars, special courses, summer / winter schools) with a workload of together 6 SWS (62 hours) for the duration of the full period. The students can chose whatever their scientific interests are. Normally, the obligatory workload is fulfilled with the visit of the group seminar in their own research groups. This obligatory workload has to be certified at the time the dissertation is submitted for the final exam. Furthermore, the FGCh will offer more also inter-departmental offers upon demand. Suggestions for possible workshops, seminars and summer schools are always welcomed.
Interdisciplinary qualification and networking
Every student has to participate at one of the obligatory kick-off seminars (3 days). On a volontary basis self-chosen seminars out of the fields of ethics and responsibility, innovation and risks, entrepreneurial acting, systemic thinking, cultural competence, information and comunication, personality and self-management. There are also special offers for female candidates and gender mainstream seminars. The TUM-GS offers, that the cost for the attendance at 8 course days will be reimbursed. The doctorate students pay their chosen courses in advance. But upon request they get an immediate reimbursment of the costs, when this request contains the proof of payment and a copy of the certificate of attendance.