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:

 

  1. Candidates apply for admission at one EURECA-PRO Partner University („Alma Mater“) of their preference
  2. Responsible (future) supervisor confirms coherence of the research topic with the objectives of the EURECA-PRO Doctoral Programme
  3. 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)
  4. Co-operative EURECA-PRO Partner Universities agree on the formal doctoral degree (two degrees, double degree etc.), depending on the available options
  5. The doctoral candidate is enrolled as a student of the university of application
  6. Supervisor(s) is (are) officially nominated
  7. Individual Doctoral Research Plan is adopted
  8. Participation of the doctoral candidate in the doctoral education is tentatively determined
  9. Mobility scheme of the doctoral candidate is tentatively determined
  10. 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
Franz Josef-Strasse 18
8700 Leoben, Austria

Silesian University of Technology

Contact person for Doctoral study

Prof. Tadeusz Wieczorek. PhD, DSc

tadeusz.wieczorek@polsl.pl

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

info@dpem.tuc.gr

Tel. +30 28210 37301 / 37302 / 37305

 

Technical University of Crete/School of Mineral Resources Engineering

TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100 Chania-Crete, Greece

grammateia@mred.tuc.gr  

Τel. +302821037657 / 37620 / 37645

 

 

Technical University of Crete/School of Electrical Engineering

TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100 Chania-Crete, Greece

vicky@ece.tuc.gr

Tel. +30 28210 37218

 

Technical University of Crete/School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering

TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100, Chania-Crete, Greece

Secretary Office,

secretariat@chenveng.tuc.gr

Tel. +30 28210 37781 / 37788,

 

Technical University of Crete/School of Architecture

TUC Campus, Akrotiri, 73100 Chania-Crete, Greece

secretary_arch@lists.tuc.gr

Tel. +30 28210 37102 / 37104

Universidad de León

Contact person for Doctoral study

Beatriz Jimenez Parra

bjimp@unileon.es

Tel. +34 987 291 982

University of Petrosani

Contact person for doctoral studies

Professor Ilie ONICA, PhD

ilieonica@upet.ro

Tel. +40 0722 049 723

20, Universitatii Street, Petrosani, Hunedoara County, Romania

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