FAQ

Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences (HNN) is a supporting institution of the Doctoral Association of Baden-Württemberg. Professors with proven research strength can apply for membership in the Doctoral Association and take on primary supervision of doctoral projects within its research units. In this model, the doctoral degree is awarded solely by the Doctoral Association, but the research is conducted at Heilbronn University. Doctoral candidates formalize their relationship with their primary supervisor at HHN through a supervision agreement. After registering, they can then submit an application for acceptance as a doctoral candidate to the doctoral association via the PROMAS BW portal.

After being accepted as a doctoral candidate by the Promotionsverband BW, candidates are required to enroll at HNN—unless they wish to waive this obligation under certain conditions. Further information can be found here.

In cooperative doctoral programs, the degree-awarding university specifies in the doctoral regulations of the respective faculty which formal requirements must be met. In addition to these, the following criteria are generally expected: an excellent and swiftly completed university degree, strong research affinity, and ideally initial experience in academic work. Research interests and qualifications should align with the supervisor’s research area, though they do not need to match perfectly. Furthermore, a high level of self-discipline and perseverance is essential to successfully navigate the demanding and time-intensive doctoral phase.

Cooperative doctoral procedures can be conducted with both national and international universities that are authorized to award doctoral degrees. HHN supervisors can assist in identifying suitable partner institutions.

Financial security during the doctoral period is a significant factor for successfully completing the PhD process. HUAS generally does not offer doctoral positions or funding, which means that prospective doctoral candidates must independently arrange financing in advance. Possible options include:

Employment as a research associate at HHN (see HHN job postings)
Employment at another university (see www.hochschulstellenmarkt.de)
Applying for a doctoral scholarship
Employment in the private sector
Private funding or financial support from family members

As a research associate at HHN, you have the opportunity to work on a third-party funded research project and, within this framework, pursue a doctorate on a specifically defined topic. This means you are employed at HHN for a particular task, have funding for the duration of the project, and can additionally complete your doctorate on this topic.

HHN collaborates with numerous industry partners in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer. Through an industrial doctorate, you can work as an employee in a company and pursue your doctorate alongside your job on a specific question posed by the company. You will be supervised by professors at HHN or, in the case of a cooperative doctorate, additionally by a supervisor from a partner university.

You also have the option to choose your own topic through individual financing or a personal scholarship. In such an individual or single doctorate, you select a supervisor at HHN who matches your topic and, if desired, an additional supervisor at a cooperating university.

The core of the doctoral phase is independent academic research and the writing of the dissertation. Once the dissertation is completed, the doctoral candidate must submit a written application to initiate the doctoral examination process or to be admitted to the doctoral examination. This application is submitted to the doctoral committee of the Doctoral Association of Baden-Württemberg or the cooperating university.
After approval, an examination committee is formed, consisting of a chairperson and the reviewers (first, second, and possibly third reviewer). The reviewers submit their evaluations to the doctoral committee within a specified timeframe.
Immediately following the oral examination (defense, disputation, or viva), the candidate is informed of the result and receives a provisional certificate. At this point, the doctoral achievement is considered passed. In most cases, the dissertation must be published before the official doctoral certificate is issued.

Doctoral supervision at Heilbronn University (HNN) can be carried out by professors of HHN who are members of the Doctoral Association of Baden-Württemberg.
Before initiating contact, it is advisable to prepare a draft (exposé) of no more than two A4 pages outlining concrete ideas regarding the intended research topic and academic field of the dissertation. This exposé may include, for example, general information about the candidate (name, academic degree), a possible working title, a brief introduction, research objectives, current state of research, proposed methodology, and expected outcomes. The exposé can then be presented during the initial meeting with the potential doctoral supervisor. The initiative for contact should generally come from the prospective doctoral candidate.

In principle, any professor at HHN can supervise a cooperative doctorate. The same approach to initiating contact applies here as with a doctorate at HHN. When seeking supervision at the respective partner university, the HHN supervisor typically provides support and leverages their own professional network.

In the case of a doctorate at HHN, enrollment at the Academic Department of Heilbronn University must take place immediately after acceptance by the Doctoral Association. The confirmation of acceptance should be submitted for this purpose. Doctoral candidates who are employed at HHN in a position exceeding half-time may be exempt from enrollment. Further information on enrollment can be found here.

In the case of a cooperative doctorate, enrollment at HHN as a doctoral student does not take place. This means that, unlike HHN doctoral candidates, these individuals do not receive a student ID number. However, they may join the HHN Doctoral College as candidates or doctoral researchers. The cooperating university may require enrollment as a doctoral student, which varies from university to university.

Heilbronn University of Applied Science promotes research activities through a central research fund. Funds are regularly available to provide partial cost subsidies for university members engaged in research:

for scientific publications and active conference participation with a scientific publication (trade fair visits are excluded)
for preparatory work toward scientific publications, e.g., for high-risk research projects, highly topical research themes, enabling research paths for newly appointed professors, or publications serving as the basis for a research proposal

The approval of applications is primarily based on scientific quality, the prospects of securing third-party funding, and the alignment of the research topic with strategic goals (research priorities of Heilbronn University, research strategies at state, federal, and EU levels). Applicants must demonstrate that they have timely explored alternative external funding opportunities (e.g., Open Access funding, DAAD mobility funding, requested and approved publication and travel costs in third-party projects).

Further information can be found in the Incentive Systems section (Intranet).