PhD in Earth Sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy Programme Earth Sciences at the University of Innsbruck is a doctoral degree run by the Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences. It is a full-time programme of 6 semesters and 180 ECTS credits, and it is taught in German and English. Because the teaching language is German and English, the programme is partly taught in English, and you should check with the institution which parts are in which language.

What you study

The centre of the programme is your own research. The dissertation carries 150 ECTS credits, and the curriculum breaks the work around it into named parts:

• Development and Presentation of Doctoral Concept (4 ECTS)
• Analysis and Presentation of Own Results I (6 ECTS)
• Analysis and Presentation of Own Results II (10 ECTS)
• Doctoral Thesis Defence (5 ECTS)
• One elective module (5 ECTS)
• Generic Skills (5 ECTS)
• Scientific Basics/Core Skills of the Thesis Topic (5 ECTS)

The subject is understood as modern Earth System Science, combining field-related and laboratory-related research.

How the programme is organised

It runs full-time over 6 semesters and is worth 180 ECTS credits. The curriculum is version 2009W. The modules and the dissertation sit alongside each other: you develop a doctoral concept, present your own results twice at different credit weightings, and finish with the thesis defence. The elective module and the generic skills module are separate from the dissertation work.

Who it suits

This is for someone who wants to carry out an original piece of scientific work in Earth Sciences and contribute to research that meets the evaluation standards of experts. Graduates are expected to develop scientific questions and analyse them critically and independently, and to work with scientific integrity. The programme also expects awareness of issues and questions in gender research.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a relevant diploma or master's degree or an equivalent qualification from a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary institution, plus language certificates. At Innsbruck the relevant degrees listed are the Diploma Programme Earth Sciences, the Master's Programme Earth Sciences and the Master's Programme Materials and Nanosciences. If there are substantial subject-related differences, supplementary examinations may 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 curriculum examinations.

There is no central application portal. You apply online through the institution, and its own page gives the application period. 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.

Absolventinnen und Absolventen des „Doctor of Philosophy“-Doktoratsstudiums Erdwissenschaften verfügen über ein fachtheoretisch fundiertes und systematisches Verständnis ihrer Forschungsdisziplin und beherrschen die Methoden, die in der Forschung auf diesem Gebiet angewandt werden. Durch die Vorlage einer selbstständigen wissenschaftlichen Arbeit in einem Teilgebiet der Erdwissenschaften haben die Absolventinnen und Absolventen einen Beitrag zur Forschung geleistet, der die Grenzen des Wissens erweitert und einer nationalen und internationalen Begutachtung durch Fachwissenschaftlerinnen und Fachwissenschaftler standhält. Die im Rahmen des Doktoratsstudiums erworbenen exzellenten Qualifikationen befähigen die Absolventinnen und Absolventen, ihre Fachkompetenz in wissenschaftlichen und außerwissenschaftlichen Aufgabenfeldern einzusetzen und sich an rasch wandelnde Anforderungen anzupassen

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.