Joint PhD Program With the University of Melbourne
Source: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/fhdnf/lidx/1 Parent: https://www.rwth-aachen.de/go/id/bure/lidx/1
Copyright: © Michael Kai Photography
Key Info
Basic Information
Target Group : Doctoral Candidates
Direction / Place : Outgoing
Contact
Team AROP
Advanced Research Opportunities Program
*** Info ***
The joint PhD program of RWTH and the University of Melbourne enables doctoral candidates from both universities to obtain a doctoral degree that is jointly awarded by the two institutions. The core feature of the program is the minimum of one year spent at the partner university. The RWTH International Office awards travel allowances and scholarships to RWTH program participants from the University of Excellence funding line to help fund this international study period.
Who Can Apply?
Doctoral candidates with RWTH Aachen University as the home institution who are participating in the Joint PhD Program with the University of Melbourne can apply for this funding.
Scholarship amount and funding period
- A one-time travel allowance of 2,000 euros
- A monthly scholarship of 1,800 euros for 12 months
Selection criteria
- Participation in the Joint PhD Program with the University of Melbourne
- Academic relevance of the research project and the candidate’s academic performance
- A promising outlook regarding the establishment of a long-term research collaboration with the University of Melbourne based on the stay.
Application deadlines
Applications can be submitted up until March 31, or September 30, of every year, or in exceptions – but only by special arrangement – after those dates.
Application documents
- Resume/CV with contact details (address, email)
- Declaration of objectives with an outline of the research project, name of the supervisor, information on the duration of the stay, description of the expected results in the amount of 1 to 2 pages
- Confirmation of supervision and letter of invitation from the University of Melbourne with reference to the joint project and the length of stay; if possible, information on the expected results and future prospects of the research collaboration.
- Current list of publications
- Transcript of Records of the completed Master program
Application
Please send all application documents merged into one PDF document by e-mail to Jan Müller.
Further funding possibilities
Doctoral candidates also have the opportunity to apply for a DAAD one-year scholarship or short-term scholarship for doctoral candidates and to have their stay abroad at the University of Melbourne (partially) funded in this way if they are successful.
The faculties are responsible for the doctoral procedures. The designated contact persons for this can be found on the websites of the respective faculties. Please also note the Guidelines for Binational Doctoral Procedures ("Cotutelle de thèse").
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
How can I participate as a supervisor in the Joint PhD Program with the University of Melbourne?
In order to participate in the Joint PhD Program with the University of Melbourne, you as a supervisor should identify an academic project partner in Melbourne and work out a joint doctoral project with them, for which suitable doctoral candidates are already performing research at your institute or are yet to be recruited.
Can an existing doctoral research candidature be converted into a binational doctoral program ("Joint-PhD") with the University of Melbourne?
Yes, this is possible in principle, but should be discussed as soon as possible with the doctoral office of the respective faculty and Jan Müller, the program’s contact person at RWTH Aachen University’s International Office. The candidate would need to apply for admission and become enrolled at Melbourne as soon as possible..
Do the doctoral candidates have to be enrolled at the University of Melbourne for the entire time it takes to complete their doctorate?
Yes, the doctoral candidates at RWTH Aachen University must be enrolled at the University of Melbourne for the entire time it takes to complete of the jointly awarded doctoral degree.
“Full-time enrollment" is required during the one-year stay abroad – for the time spent in the doctoral program at RWTH "part-time enrollment" is possible for doctoral candidates with RWTH Aachen as their home institution.
The maximum length of the doctoral program may not exceed four years of "full-time enrollment."
Do the supervisors from Melbourne also have to be physically present at the Oral Defence in Aachen?
Ideally, this would be the case. However, in special circumstances, it would also be sufficient for the Oral Defence to be conducted as a video conference. This must be repeated, however, if the Internet connection happens to break down during the defence.
I have been accepted to the program as a doctoral candidate. Where can I get the supervision agreement form?
Doctoral candidates from the University of Melbourne coming to Aachen are asked to get in touch with the IRTG Team at Melbourne. RWTH home candidates going to the University of Melbourne can obtain the supervision agreement from RWTH’s program coordinator, Jan Müller.
Where can I receive administrative support as a doctoral candidate in this program?
RWTH students interested in learning more about the program are asked to reach out to Jan Müller. Once you have been accepted to the program, you can get in touch with the Welcome Center for International Researchers at RWTH. Your point of contact at the University of Melbourne will be its IRTG Team.