During the Doctoral-Studies
You have been admitted to a doctoral programme at mdw and have successfully enrolled? Welcome to the mdw! Herzlich willkommen! (A warm welcome!)
To help you find the information you need to orient yourself, we offer the Welcome Day for new doctoral students, which you will be informed about by e-mail. If you have not received a message from us, please feel free to write to us if you are interested. In addition, we offer a doc-buddy-programme, which helps you network with more experienced doctoral students. This should help make your start at the mdw a little easier.
Doctoral studies usually consist of different phases. The initial phase of the scientific doctorate is called the "Exposé-Phase". In the artistic doctorate, it is the "Eingangsphase". In both programmes, a subject examination must be taken in the first semesters, and a dissertation agreement must be concluded. In order to sit the subject examination in the scientific doctorate, you first need to have completed your exposé. In the structured doctoral programme, the first phase is called the "Initial Phase", and there is no subject examination. Employees of (third-party funded) research projects who have been selected after a competitive procedure, as well as university assistants of the mdw, are not required to take a subject examination (see Curriculum)
You can find more detailed information on the academic doctorate process here.
At the mdw, various departments offer workshops und events on topics that can be helpful for doctoral students and post-docs, such as the acquisition of key qualifications or information about funding opportunities and even writing training. The Graduate Center bundles and updates this information on the site for workshops and events as well as in their newsletter.
Helpful links:
Human resources Development - Center for further education
Administrative Department of Equality, Gender Studies and Diversity
Psychosocial counseling at mdw
Here you will find a compilation of answers to questions we are frequently asked by doctoral students at mdw:
Which courses must be completed during the programme?
See the respective curriculum.
Where can I speak to with questions concerning the recognition of courses?
To the office of the Director of Studies.
Can the doctoral program be completed as a distance learning programme (remote)?
No, the doctoral programme is not planned as a distance learning programme. Student attendance is compulsory in some courses.
Scientific doctorate: Can courses from the research phase already be completed in the exposé phase?
Yes, this is possible.
Scientific doctorate: How do I write an exposé?
You will find help for writing the exposé in the guidelines. Workshops are also offered on this topic from time to time.
Scientific doctorate: My exposé is ready. What do I have to do next?
You can apply for the subject examination by submitting an application at the StudienCenter. Forms can be found at https://www.mdw.ac.at/stdw/?PageId=66
Scientific doctorate: How long should I expect to wait between the submission of the exposé and a date for the subject examination?
This depends on the review time, the evaluation and possible rework requests and the scheduling.
Scientific doctorate: On which basis are the reviewers for exposé and dissertation selected?
On the basis of their professional competence.
How often can the subject examination be repeated in case of a negative evaluation?
According to. Statute Study Law § 32 an exam can be repeated three times.
How strictly do I have to stick to the schedule? Is it OK if I need longer (for the exposé phase) than planned due to professional activity?
Exceeding the duration of the study is allowed. Please note that after exceeding the standard period of study, EU citizen students will start to incur tuition fees.