The PhD programme wants to attract medical doctors and dentists, who have already shown a special aptitude for research during their studies. Therefore, the applicant has to be first author of a research paper which was submitted to a journal belonging to the upper half of its field based on quality and reputation. Additionally, applicants have to submit an abstract of their planned research project which has to be supported by a university professor of the UKE or a habilitated adjunct professor along with the confirmation of academic supervision. Before you can apply to the programme, you therefore need to find a supervisor for your research project.
Continous application to the programme is possible.

Applicants from EU-member states

All documents have to be in English. If your certificates are in another language, please include an official translation and explain the grading system.
Please fill out the application form and send it via email to the Office for Medical Doctorate and PhD students ( [email protected] ) together with:

• copy of your high school degree
  
• copy of your university degrees
  
• proof for submitted first author paper
  
• further documentation of your research activities
  

Applicants from non-EU member states

Applicants who are interested in the PhD programme and have finished their medical studies in a non-EU country, need to hold a degree deemed to be equivalent by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in Germany.
All documents have to be in English. If your certificates are in another language, please include an official translation and explain the grading system.
Please fill out the application form and send it via email to the Office for Medical Doctorate and PhD students ( [email protected] ) together with:

• copy of your high school degree
  
• copy of your university degrees
  
• a a summary of the subjects taken showing the obtained credits
  
• proof for submitted first author paper
  
• further documentation of your research activities
  

Please note that for Non-EU members admission to the programme or obtaining the PhD degree does not have any consequences in respect of the practitioner's approbation.

Acceptance to the programme

The Admission Committee will carefully review every application and decide based on the previous study achievements and the scientific quality of the suggested project.
If you are accepted to the programme, you need to enrol at the University of Hamburg (information). Please note that enrolment is mandatory and needs to be achieved within 4-6 weeks after the start of your PhD programme.
Further you have to acknowledge the PhD degree regulations ("PhD Ordnung").

Aim of the programme is the structured scientific education of talented junior researchers. In the course of the two-years programme, PhD students have to obtain 120 credit points: 100 credit points for the dissertation and 20 credit points for the coursework. The dissertation can be written in English.

Coursework of the PhD programme includes three different types of courses:

• Academic key skills courses
• Interdisciplinary courses
• Research method courses

Credit points within the programme are aligned to the European Credit Point system, therefore credit points are assigned based on the work effort related to a specific course. In each of the different course types a certain number of credit points have to be obtained (please refer to the picture and the Study Book of the PhD programme for further details).

PhD students have to complete the following courses as compulsory coursework:

• Good Scientific Practice
• Advanced Writing Skills for Science and Research
• Presentation Skills for Science and Research

PhD students further have to attend the institute seminars (requirement within the interdisciplinary course section) . Besides the compulsory coursework, PhD students can select classes based on their interests and after consultation with their thesis committee. Research method workshops are offered by the faculty, key skill classes can be attended at the Career Center of the University of Hamburg .
Since the PhD Programme cooperates with the UKE graduate schools and programmes, PhD students can also attend their workshops and classes, if capacity is available. Information about courses will be either announced at the websites of the programmes or can be received from the programme managers. Interested PhD-students should contact latter ones directly for free capacity in the classes.

The Admission Committee decides whether credit points can be assigned for classes/ workshops/ participation at conferences. Requests can be submitted at the Office for Medical Doctorate and PhD students.

Admission Committee

The Admission Committee for the PhD programme is responsible for the organisation and realization of the programme at the Medical Faculty. Tasks include:

• Decision about admission to the programme
• Appointment and confirmation of the supervision group (=thesis committee)
• Decision about admission to the examination and appointment of the graduation committee

Members of the Admission Committte are:

Thesis Committee

Each candidate is supervised by his/her own Thesis Committee. Members of the Thesis Committee are the official supervisor of the thesis and two other professors or habilitated adjunct professors. PhD candidates have the right to propose members for their Thesis Committee, which are appointed by the Admission Committee. Tasks include:

• Individual supervision and counseling during the whole PhD programme
• Biannual evaluation of work progress (information session with PhD candidates)
• Suggestions for optimal personal and scientific development of the PhD candidates

Graduation Committee

The Admission Committee appoints an individual Graduation Committee for each PhD student. Additional details are available in the PhD regulations.