Graduate school •

Description/content

In addition to doctoral research, the Graduate School Science, Medicine and Technology (OLTECH) offers six structured, three-year PhD (study) programmes. These PhD (study) programmes focus on the research fields of:

• Neurosensory Science and Systems
• Molecular and Nanoscale Science
• Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity
• Renewable Energy
• Mathematics and Fundamental Physics
• Medicine and Health Sciences

Before you can enrol in one of the programmes in OLTECH, it is a prerequisite to have found a supervisor for your own doctoral project and to have been admitted as a doctoral candidate by one of the corresponding schools/faculties. We also recommend arranging funding for the doctoral phase early on; this can be achieved either through an employment contract or a scholarship/stipend.

The members of the Graduate School are trained in scientific knowledge, communication competences and transferable skills. The PhD candidates are thus able to develop strategies for their present and future careers in science and enterprises.

The core of the programme is an independent doctoral research project in one of the participating research groups. In addition to carrying out their scientific research, doctoral candidates have to take courses in three main areas:

• Specialised scientific knowledge

In these courses, doctoral candidates broaden and deepen their scientific knowledge in the context of their field of research and acquire the necessary skills to perform their laboratory work. Doctoral candidates take an active part in colloquia, conferences, summer schools and lab visits abroad.

• Communication competence

Doctoral candidates are trained in communication and improve their expertise in knowledge transfer.

• Interdisciplinary competence and transferable skills

Doctoral candidates can develop strategies and expertise for their scientific career. The main issues are data management (statistics), scientific writing, publishing one's own research results, writing proposals for grants and funds and training for job applications.

For the career development of young researchers, a special mentoring programme is provided. Part-time studies are possible.

The OLTECH Graduate School and the PhD programmes encourage networking with other research institutions and enterprises. OLTECH also funds the participation in international congresses, summer schools and lab visits. For new PhD candidates, OLTECH offers a welcome workshop every semester.

Faculties

• School of Mathematics and Science (Faculty V)
• School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Faculty VI)
• School of Computing Science, Business Administration, Economics and Law (Faculty II) – Department of Computing Science

Course language

English and German

Financial support

No

Structured research and supervision

Yes

Research training / discussion

Yes

Career advisory service

Individual counselling options

Support for international students and doctoral candidates

• Welcome event
• Tutors
• Cultural and linguistic preparation

List of doctoral programmes and other offers

• Neurosensory Science and Systems:
  Members of this PhD study programme are integrated into the research focus areas of medical physics, acoustics, psychology, medicine and neurosciences with an emphasis on sensory systems function. Presently, the following research training groups are integrated into the PhD study programme: SensoryBio , Auditory Sciences (JRA Hearing4all ), HAPPAA and Magnetoreception and navigation in vertebrates .
• Molecular and Nanoscale Science:
  Members of this PhD study programme focus on the research areas of functionalised interfaces that play a key role in material sciences, as well as on molecular and nanoscale science.
  Presently, the SensoryBio research training group is integrated into the PhD study programme.
• Environmental Sciences and Biodiversity:
  Members of this PhD study programme work in the fields of marine sciences, microbiology, modelling, biology and environmental sciences.
  Presently, the research training group is integrated into the PhD study programme.
• Renewable Energy:
  Members of this PhD study programme are integrated into the research focus areas of conversion and storage of renewable energy sources, system integration and management as well as societal acceptance and political economic framework.
• Mathematics and Fundamental Physics:
  Members of this PhD study programme are integrated into the research of string theory motivated gravity models or the mathematics research groups.
• Medicine and Health Sciences:
  Members of this PhD study programme are integrated in the different research fields of the Department of Human Medicine or the Department of Health Services Research of the School VI - Medicine and Health Sciences.
  Presently, the Translational Research: From Pathological Mechanisms to Therapy Oldenburg-Groningen Joint Graduate research training group is integrated into the PhD study programme.

Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg – Wechloy campus © Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

The University of Oldenburg is a young, research-oriented university with about 16,000 students, of which approx. 1,300 are PhD students. Since its founding in 1973, the university has brought economic and cultural innovation to north-western Germany. Strengthening the region as a centre of science and research is the goal of its close cooperation with the University of Bremen. Combining and developing scientific excellence with outstanding teaching characterises the agenda.

The Graduate School Science, Medicine and Technology (OLTECH) is one of two graduate schools of the University. The aims of the graduate schools are to train students in scientific knowledge to international standards, to enhance a structured PhD and to develop interdisciplinary competences in preparation for a career in science or in enterprises. The OLTECH Graduate School functions as an umbrella organisation for the PhD study programmes of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science, the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and the Department of Computing Science of the School of Computing Science, Business Administration, Economics, and Law (Faculty II).

The OLTECH Graduate School started in 2009 with three PhD study programmes. Since then, OLTECH has constantly developed. Presently there are about 280 doctoral students registered in one of the six PhD study programmes of the graduate school. About 25% of them are international students. PhD students of the Graduate School have to be enrolled at the University. The semester contribution is about 395 EUR.

Studying in one of our PhD study programmes requires a PhD project and a supervisor in one of the research groups at the University of Oldenburg. The OLTECH Graduate School provides no scholarships for the PhD study! The university announces open PhDs on their website: http://www.uni-oldenburg.de/stellen/ .

280 PhD students at the OLTECH Graduate School
25% International PhD students at the OLTECH Graduate School
University location

The city of Oldenburg (168,000 inhabitants) is the economic, scientific and cultural centre of north-western Germany. Oldenburg is a modern university city and was Germany's City of Science 2009. Oldenburg is home to excellent scientific institutions and first-class researchers .

Please find more information about Oldenburg on the English website of the city of Oldenburg.

PhD tutors will help you to find accommodation in Oldenburg.

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