PhD in Physics

The PhD Programme Physics at the University of Innsbruck is a doctoral degree run by the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics. It is a full-time programme of 6 semesters and 180 ECTS credits, and it ends with the academic degree Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The curriculum in force is the 2009W version.

What you study

The centre of the programme is the dissertation, worth 150 ECTS credits. It is a piece of scientific work that proves you can tackle scientific questions independently. You choose the topic from physics or from the didactics of physics.

The dissertation can also be a set of articles linked by subject or method. In that case at least three articles must have been accepted for publication by acknowledged scientific journals or for presentation at acknowledged scientific conferences. You then write an extensive summary of the subject area, the methods and your results, refer to the included articles, and give a preview of the future scientific and methodical development of the topic. If the articles have several authors, your own contribution must be shown clearly in an appendix.

Around the dissertation sit compulsory modules of 30 ECTS credits:

• Scientific Basics/Core Skills of the Thesis Topic (10 ECTS)
• Participation in Scientific Discourse (5 ECTS)
• Interdisciplinary Seminar in the PhD Programme (5 ECTS)
• Generic Skills (5 ECTS)
• Doctoral Thesis Defense (5 ECTS)

The curriculum also names the modules 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 professional presentation of scientific content.

How the programme is organised

You propose a team of supervisors, the dissertation committee, of at least two people, and nominate one as the supervisor mainly responsible. Supervisors from related fields are allowed, except the main supervisor. For dissertations in the didactics of physics, the committee must include representatives of both physics and the didactics of physics. In justifiable exceptional cases you can propose a single supervisor.

Before starting work you communicate the topic and the names of the supervisors in writing to the Director of Studies. Topic and supervisors count as accepted if the Director of Studies does not veto them within one month of receiving the proposal. If the work needs resources from university institutions, the head of the institution must be informed and must not veto the allocation within one month for significant negative effects on teaching and research.

The programme ends with the dissertation and an oral exam before an examination board.

Who it suits

This is for someone who wants to make an independent contribution to research at the highest international level in one of the fields of competence offered at the faculty, and to widen the boundaries of knowledge in that special field. You should be able to work on a project on your own and to discuss, analyse and further develop theories critically. The programme also expects awareness of issues and questions in gender research.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a relevant master's or diploma degree, or another relevant programme of at least the same level at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary institution. Relevant degrees at Innsbruck named in the curriculum include the Diploma Programme Physics, the Master's Programme Physics, the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Program in Astrophysics, the Teacher Training Programme with Diploma Thesis in Physics, and the Master's Programme Secondary School Teacher Training (General Education) in Physics. Supplementary examinations can be prescribed to make up substantial subject-related differences, and these must be taken by the end of the second semester.

The language of the programme is German. Language certificates are required for admission. There is no central application portal: you apply online through the University of Innsbruck, and its programme page gives the application details. EU/EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition at a public university within the standard duration plus two semesters; other students pay a fee per semester.

The main goal of the Doctor of Philosophy Programme in Physics is to make an independent contribution to research through submission of an original piece of scientific work on 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 “Core 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 Doctor of Philosophy programme in Physics 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.