Formal aspects of the doctorate
- Have all formal requirements for acceptance as a doctoral candidate in the proposed subject been met? If not, what still needs to be done (e.g. recognition of foreign certificates, improvement of language skills...)?
- In the case of an interdisciplinary project, in which subject/field would it be most appropriate to locate the project?
- Is a monographic or a cumulative thesis planned? Which language will the thesis be written in?
- Is enrolment as a doctoral student planned? What sorts of opportunities for advice, for furthering qualifications or obtaining funding that are only available to enrolled doctoral students could be relevant for the project? (Please note: the GSHS advises enrolment for all doctoral students.)
Timeframe and project planning
- What sorts of professional or career objectives are associated with the doctoral project (e.g. a career in academia, work in the cultural or educational sectors)? Have other aspects been taken into account (funding, timeframe)? In a good supervisory relationship based on mutual trust, you can also address special personal issues relevant to the doctoral project (e.g. care responsibilities).
- How specific and goal-oriented are the plans for the doctoral project (topic, research issue, methodology, material)? What still needs to be done (e.g. to obtain funding) and what sort of timeframe is reasonable for this?
- How long is the project likely to take under the given circumstances?
- Which linguistic and methodological skills still need to be acquired?
- Which aspects of research ethics, good research practice, copyright, data protection and personal rights, could have particular relevance for the project? Are there any specific requirements with regard to open science and/or research data management? Who can provide advice on any further questions (e.g. experts on academic integrity at the “Kompetenzstelle Akademische Integrität” or on research data questions at the “Kompetenzteam Forschungsdatenmanagement”)?
Funding and Resources
- What funding options are available for living expenses? To what extent can the supervisor assist in obtaining funding? How can any waiting period be bridged until funding is obtained?
- What material costs may be incurred through the planned research project (e.g. stays abroad, field research, publication costs) and what funding options might be considered?
- Which departmental or research group resources will the doctoral candidate have access to (e.g. workspace, assistants, laboratories/equipment)?
- If funded by employment in the supervisor's work unit (research assistant or graduate assistant):
- What duties are associated with the position (e.g. research, teaching, student advice, administration, courses/workshops organisational activities...)?
- Is it possible to work on the thesis during work time? How much work time on average can be spent on this?
- Upon the basis of which regulatory authority can a possible extension be justified? Which provisions for minimum and maximum time periods apply?
- Is the planned time limit likely to be enough to allow for completion of the doctorate?
The supervisory relationship
- What are the mutual expectations with regard to
- the level and frequency of meetings
- the level of professional support provided by the supervisor
- the frequency and extent of feedback on the doctoral candidate's texts
- the independence and personal responsibility of the doctoral candidate
- the time commitment of the doctoral candidate
- integration in the research group/department etc.
- participation in research colloquia and/or conferences
- the possibility of gaining teaching experience
- joint projects and publications
- Could a second supervisor or additional mentoring be useful? If so, how should the collaboration between mentors be structured? (It is not always possible to decide on this at the beginning of a doctorate and it may need to be thought about at a later time.)
- How will the agreements and outcomes of the supervision meetings be recorded (e.g. short written note after the meeting)?
- To what extent can the supervisor assist with networking within the academic community? Which sorts of contacts and networks may be helpful (e.g. practical contacts, functions in academic/research associations/societies, participation in specialist journals, contacts with researchers and universities abroad...)?