PhD in Computer Sciences

The PhD in Computer Sciences at the University of Innsbruck is a full-time doctorate of 180 ECTS over six semesters, taught in English. It sits in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics. The aim is straightforward: you make an independent contribution to research through an original piece of scientific work in one of the fields of competence offered at the faculty.

What you study

The compulsory modules add up to 30 ECTS. They are Scientific Basics/Core Skills of the Thesis Topic (10 ECTS), Participation in Scientific Discourse (5 ECTS), the Interdisciplinary Seminar in the PhD Programme (5 ECTS) and Generic Skills (5 ECTS). The curriculum also names modules called Analysis of Own and External Research Results and Core Subject, which convey the current state of research. Generic Skills covers things like project management and presenting scientific content professionally.

The dissertation takes 150 ECTS, and the doctoral thesis defence adds 5 ECTS. The topic has to come from computer science or the didactics of computer science. You can write a monograph, or a set of articles linked by subject or method: at least three must have been accepted for publication by acknowledged scientific journals or international conferences as presented full papers. Those articles sit inside a fuller presentation of the research question and the state of knowledge, with a critical assessment of the results and a summary. If an article has several authors, your own contribution must be shown clearly and attached.

How the programme is organised

You propose a dissertation committee of at least two supervisors and name one as mainly responsible. Supervisors from related fields are allowed, except the main one. If the dissertation is in didactics of computer science, the committee must include people from both the subject area and subject-specific didactics. In justifiable exceptional cases a single supervisor is possible.

Before you start, you send the topic and the names of the supervisors in writing to the Director of Studies. If the work needs resources from university institutions, the head of the institution has to be told first and must not veto the allocation within one month. Topic and supervisors count as accepted if the Director of Studies does not veto them within one month of receiving the proposal. The programme ends with an oral exam before an examination board, and you graduate as Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Who it suits

This is for someone who wants to become a junior academic. Graduates are expected to master the research methods of their area, discuss and develop theories critically, and run substantial research projects with scientific integrity. The curriculum also expects awareness of issues and questions in gender research. You should be comfortable working largely on your own and driving a long project forward.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a relevant master's or diploma degree, or another relevant programme of at least the same level from a recognised institution at home or abroad. At Innsbruck the listed degrees include the Master's Programme Computer Science, the Master's Programme Information Systems and the teacher training programmes in informatics. Language certificates are required. If your background differs substantially, supplementary examinations can be prescribed, to be taken by the end of the second semester. The rectorate may decide which of these must be passed before you take examinations in the programme.

The teaching language is English. Applications go directly to the University of Innsbruck, not through a central portal. At a public university, EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester. Check the university's own pages for the application period and the documents you need.

The main goal of the Doctor of Philosophy Programme in Computer Sciences is to make an independent contribution to research through submission of an original piece of scientific work at the highest international level in one of the fields of competence offered at the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics. This paper is to expand the boundaries of knowledge in the relevant special field and thus to contribute to the progress in the dissertation subject. This goal will be achieved by completing the compulsory modules in the curriculum; in particular the module „Scientific Basics/Core Skills of the Thesis Topic“ provides the required skills for research-oriented dealing with the subject matter. The modules "Analysis of Own and External Research Results" and "Dissertation Subject" convey the current state of research. An addition to these skills (e.g. project management, professional presentation of scientific contents) guarantees the module „Generic Skills”. Graduates of the PhD programme in Computer Sciences will have a systematic understanding of their research discipline and research methods of this field.

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Innsbruck. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: No. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.