Doctoral Studies

PhD courses that shall be counted towards the „Strukturierte Promotionsstudiengang Betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung“ <Graduate Program under the regulations for doctoral studies in business administration>  (see: https://www.bwl.uni-hamburg.de/en/forschung/promotion.html -> Graduate School -> Promotionsstudienordnung (in German only)) need to specify (e.g., certificate of attendance or syllabus) the duration of the course (hours/days), and the evaluation criteria for passing the course (e.g., personal presentation, home report, seminar paper, exam or similar). Certificates solely confirming “successful participation“ without any further specification of the evaluation criteria cannot be considered. If a course evaluation is optional, the certificates of attendance must state the criteria for passing the course.

The Faculty of Business Administration founded its graduate school on 19 September 2018 (statutes in German). Current and prospective doctoral students can now enroll in the Faculty's new graduate school. This means:

• You study in accordance with prevailing doctoral degree regulations dated 9 July 2014 (with the exception of doctoral students studying in accordance with regulations dated 24 August 2010 if they submit their theses before 30 September 2019);
• You study in accordance with the regulations for doctoral studies in busines administration that the Faculty passed on 4 July 2018 and are now in force;
• You will be awarded the Research in Business Administration diploma.

Doctoral students whom the Faculty has already admitted to doctoral studies can switch to doctoral studies at the new graduate school.  In this case, you must inform the Dean of Research by 31 December 2018  and send the form Wechsel zur Graduiertenschule BWL to the proper administrative office. We will then confirm the change by email.

All prospective doctoral students should  use the Application for Admission Pursuant to Doctoral Degree Regulations of 2014.

Both doctoral processes involve external coursework. See below for information about credit procedures for these courses:

1.  See Recognition of Credit Points Pursuant to Doctoral Degree Regulations of 2014 for study in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 2014.
2. See our German-language doctoral degree regulations (Promotionsstudienordnung) for doctoral studies in business administration at the Faculty’s graduate school. Courses are divided into 3 required elective subjects:

a) methodological subjects, comprising 10 ECTS credits; select min. 2 courses out of 6, at 5 ECTS credits each (for 2 credit hours; see Section 4 of the regulations for doctoral studies in business administration: Econometrics, Experiments, Survey Research, Advanced Modelling and Optimization, Matheuristics, and other advanced research methods);

b) consolidating subjects, comprising min. 10 ECTS credits (for 4 credit hours): seminars/workshops on substance, methods, software, theories (in general or in key area);

c) supplementary subjects, comprising min. 12 ECTS credits (2 credits per day): seminars/workshops from the PhD qualifying program of Universität Hamburg (e. g., Academic Writing, Project Management, etc.)

Course overview

The Dean of Research will issue a Transcript of Records listing your scientific research activities and credits you earn. Complete the form and submit it to the administrative office, together with required supporting documents, approx. 4 weeks before you submit your thesis.

Statutes require every prospective doctoral student, whether employed at Universität Hamburg or as an external student, to enroll with the administration office for doctoral affairs. Submit your application for admission to doctoral studies at the Faculty of Business Administration at the latest 3 months after commencing work or study.

See a summary of the presentation given by Prof. Dr. Guido Voigt showed at the information event on 1 November 2018.

On 1 October 2014, the Faculty of Business Administration's new doctoral degree regulations (as of 9 July 2014) went into effect.

Students admitted in accordance with older doctoral degree regulations need to observe the following:

• For doctoral students completing studies in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 1998, the following applies:
  Since 1 October 2015, it is no longer possible to pursue doctoral studies in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 17 June 1998. If you applied for protection under a grandfather clause in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 1998 but have not yet submitted your dissertation, you must now complete your doctoral studies in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 24 August 2010. Please note the respective requirements and conditions under "Doctoral degree regulations" and submit your application for admission to doctoral studies in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 2010 by 31 December 2015 (see "Forms to download").
• For doctoral students completing studies in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 2010, the following applies:
  If you are admitted to doctoral studies in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 24 August 2010, you may complete your dissertation in accordance with these providing you submit your dissertation by 30 September 2019. If you submit your dissertation after this date, the doctoral degree regulations of 2014 will automatically go into effect. Please note the respective requirements and conditions under "Doctoral degree regulations."
• For all new doctoral students completing studies in accordance with the doctoral degree regulations of 2014, the following applies:
  You can find the current and valid doctoral degree regulations of 9 July 2014 at https://www.bwl.uni-hamburg.de/en/forschung/promotion/promo-2014-englische-uebersetzungskopie.pdf. Please apply for admission to studies at the latest three months after you commence official duties. You can find the application form under "Forms to download."

The currently valid statutes on ensuring good scientific practice and preventing scientific misconduct at Universität Hamburg is of 15 May 2014.

• Doctoral degree regulations of 9 July 2014 (English only COPY)
• Doctoral degree regulations of 24 August 2010 (in German only)
• Doctoral degree regulations of 24 August 2010 - annex A (in German only)
• Modification of doctoral degree regulations of 25 April 2012 (in German only)

In cooperation with various other institutions, the Faculty of Business Administration takes part in the following structural doctoral programs:

• Office of the Dean
• Doctoral committee
• Ombudsman for the faculty's graduation matters is Prof. Dr. Henrik Sattler. His deputy is Prof. Dr. Nicola Berg.