Doctoral studies at HNU

Doing a doctorate at HNU? Yes! A doctorate is open to HNU graduates in two different ways: On the one hand, the doctoral degree can be obtained externally or cooperatively, i.e., at or in cooperation with a university. On the other hand, since HNU was granted the right to award doctorates, there is also the possibility of doing a doctorate directly at the university as part of the DIWAG (Digital Innovations for the Ageing Society) doctoral center (possible from 2024).

External and cooperative promotion

External doctorate at a university in a structured doctoral program

In addition to the individual doctorate, it is also possible to obtain a doctorate via a structured doctoral program. Structured doctoral programs usually have a defined curriculum, fixed terms and, in some cases, regulated funding via scholarships. Universities provide information on individual application procedures on their websites.

Individual cooperative doctorate in Germany or abroad

The doctorate is carried out in cooperation with a German or foreign university. Doctoral students are supervised by a professor from both the cooperating university and HNU. The search for university supervision must be carried out individually. The exact procedure of the doctorate is regulated by the doctoral degree regulations of the participating university.

Doctorates via BayWISS joint doctoral programs

Cooperative PhD program with Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

Together with Macquarie University (MQ), HNU offers a PhD program in the field of innovative information / communication technologies in healthcare. Current topics, such as the digitalization of healthcare, can be the subject of the doctoral thesis.

In the newly created Joint PhD Program, the doctoral candidate spends the first 18-month half of his or her doctoral period at HNU and the second half at MQ. The candidate will be employed as a research assistant at HNU for the 18-month period. In Sydney, the PhD candidate will have student status and will not be employed by the University.

There is the possibility of a scholarship for Joint PhD candidates. The MQ offers generous scholarships to a select group of candidates. The scholarship is paid pro rata for the period in which the doctoral candidates are on the MQ campus. In addition, the doctoral candidates receive a scholarship for tuition fees for up to 3 years.

Upon successful completion of the program, doctoral candidates will be awarded a doctorate in philosophy (PhD) at the MQ. The doctoral certificate is signed by both universities and the Australian PhD is fully recognized as a doctorate in Germany.

The Joint PhD Program is open to both international and national doctoral students.

Further information can be found at:
https://www.mq.edu.au/research/phd-and-research-degrees/explore-research-degrees/cotutelle-and-joint-phd

Cooperative PhD program with South Africa

Together with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in Cape Town, South Africa, HNU offers a PhD program in Information Management and Business Administration. In addition to topics such as digital transformation, business intelligence or analytics, the doctoral thesis can also focus on management-oriented topics such as finance, controlling or entrepreneurship / start-up management.
The main target group of this cooperation are HNU alumni who are working in a management position in industry after completing their master's degree and want to support their next career step with a doctorate.
The typical duration of a doctorate is 3-4 years. It is expected that one or two peer-reviewed publications will be produced with the supervisors within this period. Participation in lectures on research methodology is expected. The university charges an annual fee for participation in the program. Doctoral students are supervised cooperatively by a supervisor from the UWC and the HNU. A prerequisite for participation is a predicate master's degree and proof of 300 ECTS credit points.

Further information (opens in a new window)

Doctorate at the HNU Doctoral Center

Right to award doctorates

Within the framework of DIWAG and the doctoral center, HNU is granted its own right to award doctorates in this subject area and also exercises this right for the other two universities. For the first time, HNU will be able to award doctorates independently and without cooperation with universities.

Doctoral program DIWAG

At the beginning of October 2023, the DIWAG (Digital Innovations for a Changing Society) doctoral college was approved by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts, which will be located under the umbrella of the new doctoral center at HNU.

The DIWAG doctoral college, in which HNU works together with the universities OTH Amberg/Weiden and HAW Landshut, is dedicated to research into digital systems that support the management of social change - for example by extending the self-determined life of senior citizens in their own homes, through innovative measures for inclusion or the education of educationally disadvantaged groups. The focus is on interdisciplinary collaboration and cooperative research: with health sciences, engineering and social sciences as well as business informatics and technical informatics, the three partner universities bring a wide range of disciplines to the college, so that research silos can be broken down and synergies created.

Participation

The first doctoral students began their work at DIWAG in the 2024 summer semester. Doctoral candidates can find out more on the DIWAG website: https://promotionskolleg-diwag.hnu.de/diwag-promovieren/.

Further information

Doctoral Colloquium

Starting this summer semester, the Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences (HNU) is offering a doctoral colloquium that enables doctoral students at the university and their supervisors to engage in interdisciplinary academic exchange. Doctoral students from all faculties and in every phase of the dissertation can participate.

To the events