Is your aim to settle in well at Münster University and in the academic world? Do you want to see your doctoral research through to a successful conclusion and carefully plan your next steps? We at CERes are completely committed to supporting you with our all-embracing and generic offers: from training and advice to networking and more.
On average, a doctoral degree takes four and a half years to complete – and ups and downs in the process are perfectly normal. From the experiences made by other doctoral researchers, you can learn what’s in store for you. How have other people mastered similar challenges? Where can you draw energy from? Reports can be found for example here (in German) or here (in English). Growing in a personal sense and within your specialist field and being optimally integrated in the scientific community to help solve problems in society – this is really rewarding. And we’ll be very happy to help you in the process! But: when deadlines cannot be kept, when it becomes almost impossible to balance your research and your private life, when your funding runs out, or when you’re sitting all by yourself in your room and you get a writer’s block – at such times, we’re here to help you!
According to one survey, a lack of supervision is the second most important reason for pausing or ending doctoral research (Euler et al. 2018, p. 103). A good relationship with your supervisor is essential for your success. How can this be achieved? Open communication is of fundamental importance as regards mutual expectations, differences and finding solutions together. The basics can be found in the doctoral regulations, in supervision agreements (which are often binding), or in the Regulations for Safeguarding Good Research Practice. The Qualitätszirkel Promotion and UniWiND offer additional guidance. You can also pick up ideas for your own individual supervision situation in our workshops and advisory service on Good Research Practice.
During your doctoral research publishing your work already plays a key role in most academic disciplines – as a means not only of gaining recognition for your research results or of strengthening your academic reputation, but also as an obligation to the principles of good research practice and Open Science. As a result of being published, your research becomes part of global scientific discussions and a motor for progress in society. We support you with offers regarding publishing strategies and peer-review processes. Münster University Library (ULB) offers specific ways to get things published, including multi-media work, as well as regular workshops in our programme on the topics of digital publishing and research data management.
Many more women than men leave the academic world after completing their doctorate. Women academics come up against specific challenges: traditional gender roles in partnerships, a lack of female role models or mentors in higher positions, bias at the recruitment stage, esteem and support (Leopoldina 2022, p. 13, in German). The University of Münster supports women doing, or planning to do, doctoral research – with specific offers to help overcome these challenges and develop individual potential. What the Equal Opportunities Office has on offer can be found here: networking offers, mentoring programmes, funding opportunities.