PhD Doctoral Study Programme (Promotion) at German Sport University Cologne

Programme overview

The doctoral study programme at the German Sport University Cologne accompanies the dissertation research of all doctoral candidates in sports science, life sciences and the humanities and social sciences. It comprises 170 working units (one unit equals 45 minutes), made up of at least 95 units of compulsory modules and at least 75 units of elective modules. About 40 early-career researchers earn their doctorate at the university each year.

Department: Doctoral Office, Department of Research and Scientific Qualification | Intake: Applications for admission may be submitted at any time; compulsory colloquia and elective courses run in winter and summer semesters | Study mode: Structured doctoral study programme; English and German courses | Location: Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

What you will study

The introductory phase covers research ethics, theory and management, with an Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium and a Subject-Specific Research Colloquium. Elective modules are Doing research autonomously, Developing transferable skills, Learning to teach, and Shaping your career, with courses such as Advanced Statistics, Academic Writing and Publishing, and Applied qualitative research methods. Electives may also be taken at the University of Cologne and TH Köln, subject to limited places.

Career pathways

The programme prepares doctoral candidates for diverse career paths in non-university institutions as well as independent research and teaching activities.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants must hold an academic degree (Diploma, Magister or Master) qualifying them for doctoral studies, with a standard duration of at least eight semesters including the bachelor degree. Both the degree programme as a whole and the written thesis (diploma or master's thesis) must have been completed with a grade of at least "good". Applicants need a research area and a professor or PD at the university willing to supervise the dissertation, and may contact potential supervisors directly with a CV and research proposal. Application is made online via the mySpoho portal with document upload, followed by submission of the signed application (signed by applicant and supervisor, with supervisor stamp) and certified degree certificates to the Doctoral Office in person or by post. Enrolment is possible only after the admission notification is received by email. Applications may be submitted at any time.

Intake: Applications for admission may be submitted at any time; compulsory colloquia and elective courses r

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