The Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm offers an excellent environment for researchers to pursue their doctorate. The Ohm is part of seven doctoral research centers, which award doctorates in specific fields of study. We also cooperate with other institutions to enable consortial doctorates, either in collaboration with one university partner or through the Bavarian Academic Forum (BayWISS).

Doctoral research centers

The Technische Hochschule Nürnberg (the Ohm), together with the Munich University of Applied Sciences (HM) and the OTH Regensburg (OTHR), has been granted the independent right to award doctorates in specific fields of research, enabling the establishment of doctoral research centers across the three universities. Common framework regulations for doctoral degrees, the focus on seven specific fields, and the guidance of experienced faculty who are active researchers ensure consistent quality standards and reliable support structures throughout your doctoral studies.

Center for Physical and Biomedical Engineering (CPaB)

Doctoral research center - Applied Computer Science (PZAI)

Doctoral research center - Energy Engineering (PZET)

Doctoral research center - Materials and Production Engineering (PZMP)

Center for Applied Research for Responsible Innovation (CARRI)

Doctoral research center - Integrated Buildings (PZIB)

Doctoral research center - ‘Sozial- und gesundheitswissenschaftliche Gestaltung von Transformationsprozessen’ (PZSGT)

 

It is also possible to pursue a doctorate at the Ohm through cooperation with a ‘Universität’ in Germany or university abroad. This option is sensible, if your project is in a field that is not covered in one of our seven doctoral research centers.

In a consortial doctorate, you will be jointly supervised by a professor at the Ohm and a professor at the university that will award your doctoral degree. The requirements for the doctorate are set out by the respective university in its doctoral regulations. In most cases, this means that you generally carry out your research at the Ohm, but are registered for the doctorate at the university. You will also be assigned a professor at the university, who will also assess your doctorate.

The Bavarian Academic Forum (BayWISS)

BayWISS also offers a platform for consortial doctorates though its Joint Academic Partnerships. These partnerships connect universities of applied sciences and universities (‘Universitäten’) to facilitate collaboration on innovative research topics. Each partnership is focused on a specific academic field that is oriented around the strengths of the partnered universities of applied sciences.

Doctoral candidates gain the opportunity to work on your own research project across institutional boundaries and to build networks with other researchers from a wide range of disciplines. If you are pursuing a consortial doctorate at the Ohm, you may be eligible to become a member of a BayWISS Joint Academic Partnership.

Benefits for doctoral candidates

  • Access to a broad academic network and exchange with researchers across disciplines and organisations
  • Comprehensive educational programmes, including seminars and professional development
  • Financial support for research-related expenses, for example, travel, printing costs, or technical equipment

FAQs

Prospective doctoral candidates can request admission to a doctoral research center under the following conditions:

  • The admission requirements pursuant to the ‘Rahmenpromotionsordnung’ (framework regulations for doctoral degrees) and the ‘Fachpromotionsordnung’ (doctoral degree regulations for a specific field of study).
  • The doctoral research project is aligned with the doctoral research center’s range of topics.
  • A supervisory agreement has been established with a professorial member of the center.
  • The doctoral research centers are joint academic organisational units of the three universities of applied sciences in Nuremberg, Munich, and Regensburg.
  • Professors who are top-level active researchers from all three universities are members of the ‘Kollegium’, the faculty of the center.
  • Prospective doctoral candidates can establish a supervision agreement with any member of the ‘Kollegium’.
  • Doctoral researchers affiliated with a doctoral research center may participate in any of the development programmes or services at any of the three universities.
  • All administrative processes for doctoral research centers are managed by the lead university (‘Sitzhochschule’) for each center.

That depends on the field of study and your specific research topic. It also depends on whether you will participate in a structured research programme, whether you are pursuing your doctorate full-time or while remaining employed (part-time), and your personal circumstances. A good estimate is to plan 4.5 years to complete a doctorate, although the timeframe may vary slightly (Source: DFG, 2021).

Usually, doctoral candidates are employed as research associates within a research project under their supervisor. It is also possible to apply for scholarships or for employment in the private sector, at a university, or other research institution. More information about Funding options.

Your path to a doctorate

There are four phases on the path to a doctorate:

1. Orientation and planning

After you have identified your research area and have decided which structure suits you best (doctoral research center or a consortial doctorate), you need to find a suitable supervisor at the Ohm or within a doctoral research center. Make contact with the supervisor and complete a supervision agreement. Then request admission to a doctoral research center or, for consortial doctorates, as a doctoral candidate at the cooperating university.

2. Research and writing

The research and writing phase begins when you are officially accepted as a doctoral researcher. You will conduct your research during this phase, publish your results, and write your dissertation. You will also share your research at specialist conferences and participate in the doctoral development programme. The courses in the programme can be booked every semester. More information about the programme and registration.

3. Assessment and defence

After you complete your dissertation, you submit it for assessment and evaluation. Finally, you must complete the oral defence of your dissertation.

4. Publication of the dissertation

The final phase is the publication of your dissertation. Your doctorate is complete, when you receive the certificate awarding your doctoral degree.

Note about data protection

Student theses and doctoral dissertations are generally considered private matters. Accordingly, official/governmental data protection provisions apply only in exceptional circumstances, such as when the results are subsequently used in research projects conducted by the Ohm. If this is the case for your work, please contact datenschutz@th-nuernberg.de.

Contact

Do you have questions about the admissions process for our doctoral research centers or want to know more about doctorates at the Ohm?Please feel free to send us an email!