The application process for an individual doctorate at TUM consists of the following steps:
1. Specify a doctoral research topic
The first step towards a doctorate is finding and specifying your doctoral research topic. Either you already have your own research idea, or you may develop it with your supervisor or a researcher at TUM. Writing an exposé will help make your research project more specific in terms of objectives and individual steps.
2. Contact a potential supervisor
The next step is to find a potential supervisor for your doctoral project and then contact him or her directly with your application documents (CV, cover letter, exposé, transcripts, references, and publications). Together with your supervisor, you will discuss the current state of research, methodology, and articles and reports for your doctoral project.
Overview of potential professors
Alternatively, you can also apply directly to a posted doctoral position. Open positions can be found on the websites of the different chairs.
3. Contact the Graduate Center, Department of Sport and Health Sciences
Before or when you have confirmed a supervisor for your doctoral project or have secured an employment contract, contact the Graduate Center for further assistance, advice and support we will assist you with finding a mentor and the phrasing and content in the supervision agreement.
4. Conclude a supervision agreement
After consulting with the Graduate Center, Department of Sport and Health Sciences, conclude a supervision agreement with your supervisor and your mentor that specifies the parameters for the planned doctoral project and the timeline and milestones for it. The agreement specifies in writing which mutual expectations and requirements the doctoral candidate, supervisor and mentor have.
5. Application for the registration as doctoral candidate
The application for the registration as doctoral candidate (entry into the doctoral candidacy list) is submitted online and centrally via the DocGS platform. To apply, you will need a completed, signed supervision agreement (see step 4). Please click on the link to the DocGS platform and follow the further steps described there.
6. Recognition of foreign university degrees (for applicants with degrees from foreign universities)
To be approved for registration in the doctoral candidacy list of the Department of Sport and Health Sciences, applicants with degrees from a foreign university must have their transcripts and degree reviewed in a recognition process. The recognition process starts after the applicant has submitted the application for the registration as doctoral candidate (entry into the doctoral candidacy list).
Application Steps
- Check admission requirements
- Find a supervisor
- Obtain advice and assistance from FGZ
- Conclude Supervision Agreement
- Apply for the registration as doctoral candidate via the platform DocGS
- Submit the application documents to FGZ
- Printout of the application, with 2 signatures
- Supervision Agreement, with 3 signatures
- Exposé of the doctoral project
- CV
- An officially certified copy of your university transcript and university diploma
- Copy of an identification document (ID card, passport)
- internal doctoral candidates (= at least 0,25 place of employment as research assistant at TUM): copy of the employment contract (1st page)
- external doctoral candidates: agreement on measures and activities for integration into the academic environment of TUM (see point 3.1 b Supervision Agreement)
- Your application is formally reviewed, then you become a temporary member of the TUM-GS and FGZ-SG
- Dean's Office: Review of the requirements (transcripts), if necessary
- Dean's Office: Review of the application with the Doctoral Committee
- Dean's Office: Prepares (written) notification on the registration as doctoral candidate (entry into the doctoral candidacy list)
- Enrollment in doctoral study program for max. 8 semesters, if applicable
Guidelines for Exposé
The exposé required by the TUM Graduate School must be submitted together with the application for entry into the doctoral candidacy list. The exposé should be a "summary text", which provides an overview of your proposed research project. It generally contains a well-substantiated research topic (e.g. special importance, research gap) or a well-substantiated question, including research objectives, an overview of the current state of research on the topic, the planned approach and methodology, as well as a time schedule (if applicable, including the use of resources). The exposé should have a minimum of 600 and a maximum of 800 words, excluding the bibliography/references. Our Guidelines Exposé serves as a template.