PhD Supervision Scheme and Individual Career Development

The Advisory Panel (AP) is the central tool for a structured, continuous supervision and support of the doctoral students at QURS.

The panel consists of three AP members: the supervisor, a co-supervisor and a mentor. We recommend a mentor from another research area. The doctoral student may suggest a co-supervisor and chooses the mentor. An overview of potential mentors may be found on the QU Wiki. Please contact the QURS coordinators via qurs.champp"AT"uni-hamburg.de if you don't have access yet. The AP and the doctoral student sign a supervision agreement (PDF). This form needs to be submitted in the doctoral studies admission process and to the QURS coordinators( qurs.champp"AT"uni-hamburg.de). The doctoral student may request to change the mentor during the period of the doctoral studies.

Another important tool is the MIN Graduate Center's Individual Development Plan (IDP) that helps the doctoral students to analyze and monitor their progress. The IDP includes self-assessments as well as action plans tailored to the different developmental phases of a doctorate and comprises therefore three slightly different parts. We recommend all doctoral students to fill out and to discuss the MINGZ IDP form (PDF) with their mentors.

The AP and the doctoral student meet at regular intervals throughout the doctoral studies at least once per year, preferably after 5 months, 18 months and 30 months of the doctoral studies (further meetings every 6 months are required in case the doctoral project is extended). During the meetings the progress made, the remaining work, next goals and milestones, which courses should be taken and the time frame is discussed. Recommended QURS courses, soft skill courses as well as workshops that the student should visit, are listed.

The further meetings are an opportunity to review past work and discuss further proceedings. They enable the AP members and the doctoral student to discuss milestones of the research project, problems encountered, choices of methods and to assess whether the suggested time schedule is appropriate. Also, the option of consultation of further external scientists or a stay abroad may be suggested.

The student’s interim report and the AP recommendations are written down in a short summary (PDF, 2 pages) and have to be signed by all AP members as well as the doctoral student and sent to the QURS coordinators( qurs.champp"AT"uni-hamburg.de). Optionally, the IDP can be handed out as well together with the summary. A thesis roadmap, the prospects for finishing the doctorate and career options are discussed in due course.