The Proko board
The proko consists of seven elected PhD students and aims to represent the interests of all PhD students in Ulm, to support PhD students with PhD related problems and matters, to promote both social and professional networking amongst PhD students, as well as their organizations, and to organize various events and get-togethers. You can find out about the current Proko board here: https://www.uni-ulm.de/misc/proko/your-representatives/
The members of the Proko work on a voluntary basis without payment. However, a small part of the Universities tuition fees can be used by the Proko board to for events or use the money in other ways that benefit all PhD students.
As a PhD student, you can join every event that the Proko organizes. You can find out about upcoming events via E-Mail or the website: https://www.uni-ulm.de/misc/proko/
The Proko board is elected every year around June by all accepted PhD students of Ulm University. The exact date and format is announced via E-Mail beforehand. Please mind that to run for the Proko board, you have to sign up some time in April. Information regarding the last election can be found on our elections page: https://www.uni-ulm.de/misc/proko/elections/
There are many options to participate. You can always join our board meetings to hear more about our work. We can always use help in organizing events and there are often free positions in the various committees we represent PhD students. Feel free to always reach out to us via E-Mail: proko(at)uni-ulm.de
Before, during and after the PhD
The formal requirements to start a PhD at Ulm University are provided in the Promotionsordnung (https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/einrichtungen/administration/dezernat-i/legal-and-organisational-affairs/statutes-and-regulations-etc/under-and-postfraduate-study-doctoral-degree-habilitation/regulations-for-doctoral-studies/). These documents describe details of the admission, submission and examination procedure.
The formal process differs depending on wheter you studied at Ulm university or somewhere else. In both cases, the formal process is described here: https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/study/application-and-enrolment/more/doctoral-studies/
If you are employed at Ulm University with a contract of at least 50% of a full-time job, you can be exempt from enrolment. As an enrolled student you have to pay the enrolment fee twice a year and are then granted a number of benefits (e.g. lower prices in Mensa). If your employment covers less than 50% of a full-time job or you are funded from another source, you do not have a choice other than being enrolled continuously until your defense.
Every enrolled student qualifies for three years in a student apartment: https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/io/degree-phd/welcome-to-ulm/housing/student-residences-of-the-studentenwerk-ulm/
The graduate academy ProTrainU has various offers to support young researchers. You find them on the website https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/misc/graduate-professional-training-center-ulm/. In addition, the kiz has courses on navigating their services and the library under https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/einrichtungen/kiz/further-information/course-offer/. These also feature seminar on what to look for when publishing.
Details of th doctoral procedure and the admission requirements vary slightly. For specific descriptions please refer to the PhD office of your faculty.
- NaWi: M25/5311 https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/nawi/faculty-of-natural-sciences/faculty/doctoral-studies/
- Medicine: M28/TTU https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/medical-faculty/career/promotion/
- MaWi: Helmholtzstraße 18 / Raum 2.22 https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/mawi/mathematics-and-economics/faculty/boards-councils-and-committees/doctoral-committee-dr-rer-pol/
- IIP: Dr. Ing.: 41.3.105 Dr. phil.: 47.0.214 Dr. rer. nat.: O27 Raum 547 https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/in/fakultaet/fakultaet/promotion/
The kiz does not offer printing services for dissertationsn, nor does any other institution at the university. Instead you have to resort to private companies that offer printing services, either in Ulm or order online.
- NaWi: M25/5311 https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/nawi/faculty-of-natural-sciences/faculty/doctoral-studies/
- Medicine: M28/TTU https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/medical-faculty/career/promotion/
- MaWi: Helmholtzstraße 18 / Raum 2.22 https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/mawi/mathematics-and-economics/faculty/boards-councils-and-committees/doctoral-committee-dr-rer-pol/
- IIP: Dr. Ing.: 41.3.105 Dr. phil.: 47.0.214 Dr. rer. nat.: O27 Raum 547 https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/in/fakultaet/fakultaet/promotion/
Details of the PhD submission and examination procedure are described in the Promotionsordnung (https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/einrichtungen/administration/dezernat-i/legal-and-organisational-affairs/statutes-and-regulations-etc/under-and-postfraduate-study-doctoral-degree-habilitation/regulations-for-doctoral-studies/). The individual PhD offices of your corresponding faculty often may provide guidelines and checklists specific to your faculty.
The graduate academy ProTrainU offers seminars and consultation hours with career experts. Check out the offers on the website https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/misc/graduate-professional-training-center-ulm/.
A lot of platforms help you find a job after completion of your doctorate. Advice for international postgraduate students can be found on websites listed on this page: https://www.uni-ulm.de/en/io/degree-phd/phd-doctoral-students/after-your-doctoral-study/staying-working-and-researching-in-germany/
- Extensive information about postdoctoral research in Germany and the career prospects of young scientists can be found on the website "Research in Germany": https://www.research-in-germany.org/en/your-goal/postdoc.html