The path to a doctorate
Furtwangen University offers its students the possiblity of a continuous academic path, offering both bachelor's and master's programmes and the option of taking a doctorate in cooperation with our partner universities.
Numerous HFU graduates have continued their academic careers with a doctorate after completing their master's degree and are now professors. As a University of Applied Sciences, HFU offers various equivalent paths to gaining a doctorate.
HFU is one of the strongest research universities for applied sciences in Baden-Württemberg. Numerous professors work in and outside of 14 quality-assured research institutes on a wide range of projects, most of which are funded by third parties. More than 70 doctoral projects are currently underway across all HFU faculties. These are generally integrated into superordinate research projects and can therefore be interlinked and competently supervised. The focus is on the fields of health and medical technology, production technology and microsystems technology. The university supports doctorate-seeking students through its interdisciplinary “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg” (membership upon application).
For a long time, doctoral studies in Baden-Württemberg were only possible in conjunction with a university. However a new path will be opening up for universities of applied sciences (HAW) such as Furtwangen University − and their graduates. In future, an association of universities of applied sciences will be able to actually award doctorates themselves.
The Baden-Württemberg Doctoral Association
Furtwangen University is one of 24 member universities of the newly founded Doctoral Association of Universities of Applied Sciences Baden-Württemberg. The association was founded with the publication of the administrative agreement of the doctoral association in the Baden-Württemberg Joint Official Gazette. The universities of applied sciences have joined forces in order to fulfill the requirements of the further development clause of the State Higher Education Act (§ 76 para. 2), according to which a suitable association of universities of applied sciences can be granted an independent right to award doctorates by the Ministry of Science.
External link opens in a new window:Administrative agreement of May 24, 2022, published in GABl. no. 6 of June 29, 2022
External link opens in a new window:The procedural statutes of the Doctoral Association BW dated 14.07.2022
External link opens in a new window:The Announcement Statutes of the Doctoral Association BW dated 14.07.2022
The "Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg"
The interdisciplinary “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg” is the central point of contact and coordination for all doctoral projects being undertaken at HFU and is open to students interested in pursuing a doctorate, doctoral candidates and supervising professors.
In addition, the “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg” supports and advises the university in further developing the quality standards for the selection and supervision of doctoral candidates in order to make this qualification step as successful as possible for everyone.
Participation in the programme
How do I become a member?
Through membership of the “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg”, HFU aims to support as many doctoral candidates who are supervised by a professor at HFU as possible. Admission to the programme is based on an application for membership by the doctoral candidate.
The academic committee decides on exceptions.
Academic Commission
Academic Director
Prof. Dr. Christoph Reich
Representative of the University Board of Executives
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Mescheder
Representative of the IAF
Prof. Dr. Knut Möller
Representatives of supervising professors
Prof. Dr. Margareta Müller, Prof. Dr. Folker Wenzel
Advisor of the “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg”
Dr. Thorsten Fitzon
Representative of the doctoral candidates (advisory)
Iris Weishaupt
Ombudsman
In accordance with §2.3 of the statutes of the “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg”, the Academic Director is the contact person in any conflict arising during the supervision of doctoral theses (ombudsman for doctoral candidates).
Internal link opens in the same window:Prof. Dr. Christoph Reich
Partnerships
HFU is continually expanding its network of partners for the “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg”. We are currently offering doctoral opportunities with the following cooperation partners:
University of Plymouth, UK, Centre for Security, Communications & Network Research (CSCAN)
Research is being carried out in the area of business information systems and internet services and security. HFU is involved in several projects in this “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg”. As doctoral research is carried out in the areas of business information systems and computer science, the main partners at HFU are the Faculties of Business Information Systems and Computer Science.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Martin Knahl, HFU
Professor Steven Furnell
Head of School of Computing and Mathematics
University of Plymouth, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1752 586-234
S.Furnell(at)plymouth.ac.uk
Further joint doctorates are carried out in close cooperation with: the Université de Haute-Alsace, France; Edinburgh Napier University in Edinburgh, Scotland; and the Johannes Kepler Universität Linz, Austria. Graduates of our university have also been accepted for a “Kooperatives HFU-Promotionskolleg” at other universities such as: TU Dresden; the University of Stuttgart; and the TU und LMU in Munich.
