PHD Programs - Admission and registration
How to apply to Doctoral Studies?
admission criteria
For admission to the EURECA-PRO Doctoral Studies Programme, the following procedure is now in place:
- Candidates apply for admission at one EURECA-PRO Partner University („Alma Mater“) of their preference
- Responsible (future) supervisor confirms coherence of the research topic with the objectives of the EURECA-PRO Doctoral Programme
- Responsible (future) supervisor solicits other EURECA-PRO partner universities for acceptance of the research topic & for co-operation by interested EURECA-PRO Partner University(ies)
- Co-operative EURECA-PRO Partner Universities agree on the formal doctoral degree (two degrees, double degree etc.), depending on the available options
- The doctoral candidate is enrolled as a student of the university of application
- Supervisor(s) is (are) officially nominated
- Individual Doctoral Research Plan is adopted
- Participation of the doctoral candidate in the doctoral education is tentatively determined
- Mobility scheme of the doctoral candidate is tentatively determined
- The doctoral research project starts
Note: All laws and regulations of the co-operating EURECA-PRO universities are respected and applied.
find a doctoral research topic
There is no general rule or standard to identify and determine your research topic. In the first place, your doctoral topic should be novel, since your intention must be to develop new knowledge which will be added to the existing knowledge base. This is the very essence of doctoral research. For that reason, you should, first of all, find out for yourself if you have the personal ambition to become a researcher, at least for the duration of your doctoral studies. Intellectual curiosity, a critical mind, endurance and a strong willingness to step beyond the existing framework of your scientific area are very important.
Next to this, your topic will largely be determined by your academic background and the professional skills you have acquired. You may take and appreciate some guidance from your professors and lectures of your university of study. Based on the outcomes, at a preliminary stage, you will identify specific areas of science in which your topic can fit in. You may also wish to approach one or more EURECA-PRO Partner Universities for further advice and guidance in the formulation of your ultimate topic.
Alternatively, topics for doctoral research projects are posted by the Partner Universities in which case you should determine for yourself if you can handle the topic you prefer. Even in such a case, you are still expected to develop your own innovative scientific and methodological approach.
For admission to the EURECA-PRO Doctoral Studies Programme, your topic should align with the overall theme of Responsible Consumption and Production. Within the EURECA-PRO Alliance, however, there is a very broad range of academic disciplines and scientific areas and, hence, you should not have much difficulties in justifying your topic in this respect.
Thirdly, you should secure the intention of a professor of one of the Partner Universities to become your supervisor, once your doctoral research project starts up. Usually, during discussions with this professor, the topic will be identified and fine-tuned. As a result, you will be able to draft an outline of your doctoral research with objectives, research questions, activities and expected milestones within a time framework.
Above all, you should like your doctoral research topic, since it will keep you busy for a number of years and its outcomes should have an intrinsic value for you beyond the interests of the academic circles in which you will be. In addition, doing doctoral research work should evolve in a personal development in which you improve your talents of scientific writing, information and communication, networking and intercultural competences. EURECA-PRO has many tools and instruments to give you the necessary support.
Here are some of the possible EURECA-PRO Doctoral Research Topics:
(GEO)SCIENCES
Climate change and extreme weather conditions
Modelling climate change and mitigation options
Responsible maintenance and production of bio-diversity
Conservation of key resources: water, soils, forests, minerals
Geosciences for land rehabilitation and clean production
Studies on „peak behaviour“ of natural resources
Geosciences for responsible and low-carbon mining
ENERGY ENGINEERING
Low & efficient energy use in production processes
Low & efficient energy use in consumption activities
Low-carbon and low-energy industrial chemistry
Renewable energy: small-scale and large-scale
Low-carbon technologies for heating
TECHNOLOGIES FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Feasible and efficient reverse logistics
Materials sciences for circular production and consumption
Technologies for recycling of advanced materials
Process engineering for material conservation and the circular economy
Valorisation of bio-resources in responsible production and consumption
Engineering for enhanced durability and maintenance of products
MATHEMATICS AND INFORMATICS
Development of computer-based games on natural resources conflicts and responsible consumption
Ecosystems as a foundation for digitized partnerships in responsible production
Big data, blockchain and responsible consumption
Mathematical models for optimal control theory
Statistics for forecasting,scenario development and modelling under uncertainty
Sampling methods for empirical surveys on responsible consumption
Factor analysis and motivations for responsible consumption
ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Operations research for low-carbon and decarbonized factories of the future
Resource economics and responsible production
Comparative levellized costs of renewable energy sources
Economics of fair trade and responsible sourcing
Responsible production and consumption and the finance sector
Game theorethical approaches towards responsible consumption
Public finance and fiscal policies for responsible production and consumption
Responsible consumption and „branding“
Markets for second hand (resale) goods: the case of the apparel market
Business intelligence and marketing for responsible production and consumption
Life cycle assessment (LCA) in the natural resources sectors
Economics of public procurement for responsible consumption
LAW AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
History of political and economic systems in view of sustainability
(History of) Politics for wars on natural resources
Voter behaviour and responsible consumption patterns
Political parties and responsible production and consumption
Responsible production and consumption: what can governments do?
Geopolitical situation of securing natural resources
Role of international conventions and agreements for responsible production and consumption
Law of the Sea and marine mining
Legislation for recycling and a circular economy
Conflict resolution in natural resources management in local communities
URBAN AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, ARCHITECTURE
Spatial planning tools for responsible infrastructure
Technologies for low-carbon and decarbonized urban infrastructures
Innovative mobility for responsible production and consumption
Sustainable infrastructure in rural environments with sparse and decreasing populations
Traditional construction materials and European lifestyles
Tiny houses and other low-impact buildings
Sustainable construction materials and smart buildings
Standards, certification and labels for sustainable construction
International networks of local communities for sustainable spatial planning and development
Assuring affordable and low-carbon housing
EDUCATION, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION
Educational sciences for responsibility in sustainable lifestyles
Significance of product labelling for responsible consumption
Social media and responsible consumption
Information and communication for responsible production and consumption
PHILOSOPHY, HUMANITIES, ART
Performing arts for responsible consumption
Fiction literature and sustainability
Ethics and intergeneration equity
Achieving resilience in consumption and production patterns
Psychology of responsible consumption
Studies on stakeholder management for responsible consumption
Responsible consumption: the role of the industry and commerce
EUROPEAN STUDIES, CULTURAL STUDIES
Strucure and functioning of the European Union
Values of Europe and of Europe‘s citizens
European Union‘s strategy towards the achievement of the sustainable development goals
Europan Union‘s approach towards sustainability: examples and case studies
Initiatives for sustainability by Europe‘s industry
Europe‘s consumers and responsible consumption: trends and awareness
Europe‘s cultural landscapes
Cultural diversity in Europe, migration and responsible consumption
Language, identity and unity in Europe
Europe‘s cultural capitals: a contribution to sustainability?
design a doctoral research proposal
Alternatively, topics for doctoral research projects are posted by the Partner Universities in which case you should determine for yourself if you can handle the topic you prefer. Even in such a case, you are still expected to develop your own innovative scientific and methodological approach.
how to apply?
Every application should start with a mail to the Doctoral Studies Contact Person at your preferred Partner University. You can also contact any potential supervisor(s) who present themselves in this section of the Homepage. Your first contact will lead to further communication with your potential supervisor and other staff members involved in the management of the Doctoral Studies Programme. You will receive guidance as to the application procedure, the certificates and documents you will have to provide, any other requirements, such as an admission exam and further details about your doctoral research plan.
Since all seven Partner Universities have the own admission procedure, you will receive the required assistance from the Partner University which you contact.
what we expect from you as doctoral researcher
- A strong academic background with good grades. All Partner Universities have their own specific conditions of admission, but, in general, you should find yourself in the upper twenty percentile of your study generation or cohort
- Dedication to the main Theme of Responsible Consumption and Production as an important driver for your research work
- Competence in the respect of the qualifications and skills required for your research project and, in relevant situations, willingness to complete additional training offered by the Partner Universities
- Willingness and ambition to become a doctoral researcher with intellectual curiosity, an innovative and critical mind, endurance and commitment, academic openness and tolerance, co-operative in networking
- Willingness to participate in the unique EURECA-PRO additional education programme offered to all EUREC-PRO doctoral students (see Table 7)
Practically, we suggest that you develop your personal research profile and style along the following guidelines in as much as applicable to your research topic:
- including interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in your work
- reflecting a unity of nature and society with dynamic interactions
- integrating knowledge from diverse sources
- conducting research work in a participatory and transformational manner
- ensuring a solution-oriented approach
what you can expect from us
(i) A strong and competent European University Alliance with seven Partner Universities, each having their own academic profiles with the common objective to contribute to the main Theme of Responsible Consumption and Production
(ii) Competent and co-operative professors as supervisors and academic mentors in various roles and functions
(iii) Excellent infrastructure: lecture rooms, online education, laboratories, software and libraries
(iv) Educational and welcome support by the International Offices and other institutions of the Partner Universities: assistance with enrolment, accommodation, professional skills training, language centres, incubation and entrepreneurship centres
(v) An innovative and unique mobility scheme bringing you to three other Partner Universities in the course of your doctoral research
(vi) Integration of all EURECA-PRO doctoral students in collegia for joint academic and social activities and for networking
meet your future supervisors
Hochschule Mittweida - University of Applied Sciences, Germany
Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
Silesian University of Technology, Poland
Technical University Freiberg, Germany
Technical University of Crete, Greece
Technical University of Crete, Greece
Universidad de León, Spain
University of Petrosani, Romania
contact us
Partner | Contact details |
Hochschule Mittweida – University of Applied Sciences | Matthias Baumgart, Head of Research, matthias.baumgart@hs-mittweida.de Tel. +49 3727 58-1264 Direktorenvilla, Raum 18-008 Anmeldung: Raum 18-007 |
Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria | Contact person for Doctoral study at MUL First contact for students: Dr. Volkmar Kircher Volkmar.Kircher@unileoben.ac.at Tel. +43 3842 402 7245
Programme Director of Doctoral Studies Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Antretter Thomas.Antretter@unileoben.ac.at Tel. +43 3842 402 4001 Montanuniversität Leoben |
Silesian University of Technology | Contact person for Doctoral study Prof. Tadeusz Wieczorek. PhD, DSc Tel. +48 32 400 31 11 Doctoral School ul. Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice |
Technical University Freiberg | Head of Education Council Prof. Carsten Drebenstedt Carsten.Drebenstedt@mabb.tu-freiberg.de Tel. +49 3731 39-3373 Gustav-Zeuner Straße 1A 09599 Freiberg |
Technical University of Crete | Contact person for Doctoral study Technical University of Crete/School of Production Engineering and Management TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100 Chania-Crete, Greece Tel. +30 28210 37301 / 37302 / 37305
Technical University of Crete/School of Mineral Resources Engineering TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100 Chania-Crete, Greece Τel. +302821037657 / 37620 / 37645
Technical University of Crete/School of Electrical Engineering TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100 Chania-Crete, Greece Tel. +30 28210 37218
Technical University of Crete/School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100, Chania-Crete, Greece Secretary Office, Tel. +30 28210 37781 / 37788,
Technical University of Crete/School of Architecture TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100 Chania-Crete, Greece Tel. +30 28210 37102 / 37104 |
Universidad de León | Contact person for Doctoral study Beatriz Jimenez Parra Tel. +34 987 291 982 |
University of Petrosani | Contact person for doctoral studies Professor Ilie ONICA, PhD Tel. +40 0722 049 723 20, Universitatii Street, Petrosani, Hunedoara County, Romania |