Doing a doctorate at the HNEE
The topic of doctoral studies at universities of applied sciences is of great importance at HNEE. Since April 2024, the Brandenburg University and College Act (BbgHG) has stipulated that a doctoral college of the Brandenburg universities of applied sciences will be granted the right to award doctorates. The aim is to establish HNEE's own profile in the promotion of doctoral students and to expand HNEE's importance as a centre of science in the research landscape.
Dr Charlotte Gohr together with her doctoral examiners, Prof Pierre Ibisch and Prof Henrik von Wehrden
Following the successful defence of her dissertation, Dr Jenny Hammerich receives congratulations.
Dr Martin Balaš (left) with the BRI team
Doctoral thesis on the topic: „Long-term trends in carabid communities of old lowland beech forests in the context of severe drought.“
Dr Caroline Dabard with Prof Carsten Mann and Prof Berta Martín-López
Offers and possibilities
Cooperative doctorates at the HNEE
As HNEE, we have concluded an agreement with the → LEUPHANA University of Lüneburg on a cooperative doctoral programme. The two universities are jointly running a → co-operative research training group on the topic of biodiversity-shaping land use in biosphere reserves. A cooperative doctorate is also possible with other universities at HNE Eberswalde.
Six doctorates have already been successfully completed in the cooperative procedure between HNEE and Leuphana. In 2024 alone, five doctoral projects from the BRI Graduate Programme were completed summa cum laude and magna cum laude. Congratulations on these successes to: Dr Martin Balaš, Dr Caroline Hélène Dabard, Dr Charlotte Gohr, Dr Fabio Weiß and Dr Jenny Hammerich!
You can find out more about the topics and work in the → press release.
Joint doctoral programme of the Brandenburg universities of applied sciences
The doctoral college of Brandenburg's universities of applied sciences as a joint scientific institution for the realisation of doctorates is based on §33 of the Brandenburg University and College Act. Its aims are to create and establish improved framework conditions for doctoral students at universities of applied sciences and to strengthen cross-university, in particular interdisciplinary and application-oriented research at universities. The doctoral programme is currently being set up.
Financial support
Since 2021, the →Professorial Programme III at HNEE has been funding doctoral positions and scholarships as well as material resources for female researchers in the doctoral and postdoctoral phase. Grants in kind within this framework can be applied for on an ongoing basis. Nadine Herold(Gleichstellung@hnee.de) will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Events and workshops
To support doctoral candidates, we offer events on doctoral topics as well as workshops on selected subject areas that accompany a doctorate.
Once a year, the four universities of applied sciences in Brandenburg invite doctoral candidates and those interested in doing a doctorate to the Doctorate Day. The first → PhD Day of the Brandenburg universities of applied sciences took place in 2024 at the FH Potsdam.
The host of the PhD Day 2025 is the HNE Eberswalde. Registration is currently open. Information on the programme and registration can be found on the → PhD Day 2025 event website.
In cooperation with → InnoWest, Brandenburg's universities of applied sciences invite you to the research and doctoral colloquium four times a semester. This takes place online. Prior registration is not required. Information on dates and topics can be found on the → project website of the research and doctoral colloquium.
The → Career Service and the → Start-up Centre are also available to our doctoral students.
FAQ on doctoral studies at the HNEE
- Check the current doctoral regulations to see whether you fulfil the requirements for a doctorate. HNEE does not yet have doctoral degree regulations. The doctoral degree regulations of the cooperating university therefore apply.
- You need to get started:
- A possible topic, a research question or a set of topics: Important questions: Is the topic specific enough for a dissertation? If not, narrow down your topic. Are you enthusiastic about the topic? Does it make sense? Are there any research gaps? Does the topic suit you professionally?
- Supervision at HNEE and at a university: This should preferably be a person with a strong research background in the topic or subject with a professorship.
- Funding (for at least 3 years)
- Discuss the topic and the research gap of your thesis with both supervisors. Then write an initial synopsis for your dissertation. This is where you work out the current status of your research and your research plan and timetable. You can find tips here, for example.
The topic must suit you, but you must also fit the topic. In other words, ideally you already have expertise in the topic (e.g. from your thesis or Master's dissertation) and are highly motivated to research something that has interested you for a long time. For project positions, it is a good idea to choose a topic that is also related to the project so that there are synergy effects. Sometimes the supervisors also assign topics that interest you. In this case, you should check whether you find the topic so exciting and meaningful that you will enjoy it for several years.
In principle, there are positions specifically for doctoral candidates, project positions and scholarships. It is less advisable to have an external job or a budget position alongside your doctorate (if these have nothing to do with your doctorate). Please also bear in mind that experiments, travelling to conferences and practice partners may involve costs.
HNEE publishes qualification positions in the area of → Working at HNEE.
As far as → scholarships are concerned, there are of course many political or non-political opportunities.
You may already know potential supervisors from your Bachelor's or Master's degree course who fit the topic and subject area. If you have a project position, people from the project may also be suitable supervisors. You can also look at all the → research projects at HNEE independently of a position and find a suitable supervisor.
Find out which universities your university already cooperates with, as the formalities have usually already been clarified there. HNEE already has a cooperation agreement with → Leuphana University in Lüneburg, Faculty of Sustainability.
However, if you have a "new" university in mind, get support from both supervisors (HNEE and UNI) and central institutions to establish the cooperation. Remain friendly and patient. Everyone who does a cooperative doctorate there after you owes you something. You are doing pioneering work.
In the case of a cooperative doctorate, you must consult the university's doctoral regulations with regard to admission rules.
Check what added value the university supervision and HNEE offer you: e.g. infrastructure, access to literature and papers, research groups and networks, financial and other offers for doctoral candidates and make use of them.
Realistically plan regular trips to the university supervisor (in terms of time and money, e.g. twice a year) and include these meetings in your supervision agreement.
Be the link between the carers and therefore also between the institutions. Communicate transparently and proactively. Always record the current status and the respective agreements in an e-mail, e.g. after meetings. A regular meeting with both carers (also online, e.g. once a year) ensures that everyone is on the same page and knows how things are progressing.
Enjoy the fact that you can benefit from the best of both worlds and if things don't go so well, exchange ideas with your fellow students at HAW/FH (at the latest then). You are not a lone fighter. Doing a doctorate at HAWs is a completely new team sport.
Are you interested in a doctorate?
If you are interested in a doctorate, please get in touch by email and sign up for the doctoral mailing list so that you don't miss any workshops, meetings or information. For doctoral candidates and those interested in a doctorate, a lunch is organised every fortnight from 12 to 1 p.m., alternately in the canteen at the Stadtcampus or Waldcampus.