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Study programme

Mission

MaSCH offers a structured program for PhDs and postdoctoral fellows in the departments of Geography and Medicine at the Marburg University. It provides access to a coordinated curriculum, workshops and scientific activities as well as a structured interdisciplinary supervision process. Thereby, MaSCH ensures a minimal curriculum for all PhDs or postdoctoral scientists that enrol in the school.

Supervision of PhDs

At the beginning of the PhD work, each student must assemble a thesis advisory committee (TAC). The TAC should consist of up to three group leaders being members of the graduate school. The committee members should be selected by the student according to their scientific interests and the substantive input they can provide to the research project as well as their individual advisory commitment. Student and TAC meet annually and discuss the progress of the research project. The student prepares the TAC meeting by providing a written progress report (max. 5 pages) and an oral presentation (30 minutes). All PhDs as well as their main supervisor and a co-supervisor, who is chosen by the doctoral student in agreement with her/his supervisor, will sign a form stating the provisional title of their PhD work/research project and a working plan. The co-supervisor should closely monitor the progress of the project and is usually part of the TAC committee.

Regular Lectures and Seminars

An essential part of our education is the regular participation of the graduate students in lectures and seminars offered within the Marburg school of climate and health. Courses, mainly hands-on training on state-of-the-art methods, are provided on a yearly basis in the form of summer or autumn schools by external and internal scientist. Workshops take place on regular basis, at least, every three months. They combine presentations by the PhDs and postdoctoral fellows and invited external scientists. PhDs and postdoctoral fellows are able to invite external speakers to get first hand access to internationally renowned scientists and build international networks. Each student will make a minimum of three^[1] presentations at these workshops during his PhD work.

Soft skills

The Marburg School of Climate and Health via the Marburg University Research Academy (MARA) oﬀers soft skill workshops. The topics of the workshops include (among many others) project management, presentation skills, conflict management and entrepreneurship. Please visit the webpage of Marburg University Research Academy (MARA) to choose workshops and seminars. Every student is encouraged to participate in a minimum of two soft skill trainings.

Conferences

Students are encouraged to attend national and international symposia and conferences, and organize visits of external scientists and visiting collaborators. Request for official journey (Dienstreiseantrag) with detailed information regarding conference and costs involved has to be signed by supervisor and submitted to responsible oﬀice before departure.

Certificate

After completion of the PhD study and successful thesis defence students receive a Certificate of Completion of the study program together with detailed information about their activities within Marburg School of Climate and Health.

^[1] In case of Dr.med. 1 presentation is required.