Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here, you can find answers to questions that might come up during your PhD studies in Ulm.
The Proko board
The proko consists of seven elected PhD students and aims to represent the interests of all PhD students in Ulm, to support PhD students with PhD related problems and matters, to promote both social and professional networking amongst PhD students, as well as their organizations, and to organize various events and get-togethers. You can find out about the current Proko board here: /misc/proko/your-representatives/
The members of the Proko work on a voluntary basis without payment. However, a small part of the Universities tuition fees can be used by the Proko board to for events or use the money in other ways that benefit all PhD students.
As a PhD student, you can join every event that the Proko organizes. You can find out about upcoming events via E-Mail or the website: /misc/proko/
The Proko board is elected every year around June by all accepted PhD students of Ulm University. The exact date and format is announced via E-Mail beforehand. Please mind that to run for the Proko board, you have to sign up some time in April. Information regarding the last election can be found on our elections page: /misc/proko/elections/
There are many options to participate. You can always join our board meetings to hear more about our work. We can always use help in organizing events and there are often free positions in the various committees we represent PhD students. Feel free to always reach out to us via E-Mail: proko(at)uni-ulm.de
Before, during and after the PhD
The formal requirements to start a PhD at Ulm University are provided in the Promotionsordnung (/en/einrichtungen/administration/dezernat-i/legal-and-organisational-affairs/statutes-and-regulations-etc/under-and-postfraduate-study-doctoral-degree-habilitation/regulations-for-doctoral-studies/). These documents describe details of the admission, submission and examination procedure.
The formal process differs depending on wheter you studied at Ulm university or somewhere else. In both cases, the formal process is described here: /en/study/application-and-enrolment/more/doctoral-studies/
If you are employed at Ulm University with a contract of at least 50% of a full-time job, you can be exempt from enrolment. As an enrolled student you have to pay the enrolment fee twice a year and are then granted a number of benefits (e.g. lower prices in Mensa). If your employment covers less than 50% of a full-time job or you are funded from another source, you do not have a choice other than being enrolled continuously until your defense.
Every enrolled student qualifies for three years in a student apartment: /en/io/degree-phd/welcome-to-ulm/housing/student-residences-of-the-studentenwerk-ulm/
The graduate academy ProTrainU has various offers to support young researchers. You find them on the website /en/misc/graduate-professional-training-center-ulm/. In addition, the kiz has courses on navigating their services and the library under /en/einrichtungen/kiz/further-information/course-offer/. These also feature seminar on what to look for when publishing.
Details of th doctoral procedure and the admission requirements vary slightly. For specific descriptions please refer to the PhD office of your faculty.
- NaWi: M25/5311 /en/nawi/faculty-of-natural-sciences/faculty/doctoral-studies/
- Medicine: M28/TTU /en/medical-faculty/career/promotion/
- MaWi: Helmholtzstra脽e 18 / Raum 2.22 /en/mawi/mathematics-and-economics/faculty/boards-councils-and-committees/doctoral-committee-dr-rer-pol/
- IIP: Dr. Ing.: 41.3.105 Dr. phil.: 47.0.214 Dr. rer. nat.: O27 Raum 547 /en/in/fakultaet/fakultaet/promotion/
The kiz does not offer printing services for dissertationsn, nor does any other institution at the university. Instead you have to resort to private companies that offer printing services, either in Ulm or order online.
- NaWi: M25/5311 /en/nawi/faculty-of-natural-sciences/faculty/doctoral-studies/
- Medicine: M28/TTU /en/medical-faculty/career/promotion/
- MaWi: Helmholtzstra脽e 18 / Raum 2.22 /en/mawi/mathematics-and-economics/faculty/boards-councils-and-committees/doctoral-committee-dr-rer-pol/
- IIP: Dr. Ing.: 41.3.105 Dr. phil.: 47.0.214 Dr. rer. nat.: O27 Raum 547 /en/in/fakultaet/fakultaet/promotion/
Details of the PhD submission and examination procedure are described in the Promotionsordnung (/en/einrichtungen/administration/dezernat-i/legal-and-organisational-affairs/statutes-and-regulations-etc/under-and-postfraduate-study-doctoral-degree-habilitation/regulations-for-doctoral-studies/). The individual PhD offices of your corresponding faculty often may provide guidelines and checklists specific to your faculty.
The graduate academy ProTrainU offers seminars and consultation hours with career experts. Check out the offers on the website /en/misc/graduate-professional-training-center-ulm/.
A lot of platforms help you find a job after completion of your doctorate. Advice for international postgraduate students can be found on websites listed on this page: /en/io/degree-phd/phd-doctoral-students/after-your-doctoral-study/staying-working-and-researching-in-germany/
- Extensive information about postdoctoral research in Germany and the career prospects of young scientists can be found on the website "Research in Germany":
- /misc/gleichstellungsportal/foerderung/foerderprogramme-fuer-wissenschaftlerinnen/
Looking for help
You can always reach out to us via E-Mail (proko(at)uni-ulm.de), and we can talk about those problems or forward you to the right contact person. Other places you can directly contact regarding personal problems with your supervisor are the conflict counseling persons (/en/misc/graduate-professional-training-center-ulm/we-offer/conflict-counseling-ombudsperson/) and the contact persons regarding discrimination, sexual harassment and violence (/en/misc/discrimination-sexual-harassment-and-violence/).
We always offer to talk about the options you have in this situation, you can simply contact us via our E-Mail (proko(at)uni-ulm.de). For example, you can legally insist on what is specified in your working contract or contact the conflict counseling persons: /en/misc/graduate-professional-training-center-ulm/we-offer/conflict-counseling-ombudsperson/
The international office can support you with administrative, legal, and everyday life questions. They also offer orientation programs and individual counseling for international researchers: /en/io/degree-phd/phd-doctoral-students/during-your-doctoral-study/support-services-and-contacts/
The Studierendenwerk runs the Psychosoziale Beratungsstelle, a counseling office for mental health
concerns. You can find it under . Beyond, there is a student group focussing on mental health, which can be reached via mentalhealth(at)uni-ulm.de. The Proko board itself has an Ombudsperson that is available for first contact if you need mental health support. See /misc/proko/your-representatives/.
If your funding cannot be ensured by a normal state contract, there are often other ways (such as bridge funding programs or emergency funds). You can reach out to us (proko(at)uni-ulm.de) or check the international office's PhD funding information page (/en/io/degree-phd/phd-doctoral-students/before-your-doctoral-research/funding/) or their page regarding funding in the final PhD phase (/en/io/degree-phd/phd-doctoral-students/during-your-doctoral-study/financing-the-final-phase/)
The contact persons for any cases of Discrimination, sexual harassment and violence can be found here: /en/misc/discrimination-sexual-harassment-and-violence/ (Contact: diskriminierung(at)uni-ulm.de). For contract violations or problems with supervisors contact the Personalrat: personalrat(at)uni-ulm.de
Life in Ulm
Apart from housing at student dormitories, the most common ways to find housing are through web portals like immoscout or wg-gesucht. For mid- to long term housing consider an application at the UWS (a municipal company providing affordable housing - has waiting lists). For temporary housing consider one of the various youth hostels around Ulm.
There are boardgame evenings which take place about monthly. Further, the Proko organizes some larger scale events on a yearly basis, like the Beer Pong tournament, the Christmas party, and a BBQ party. Dates are communicated through the mailing list doktoranden(at)uni-ulm.de and on the website (/misc/proko/).
The D-Ticket lets you use all busses, trams and regional trains all over Germany. If you are employed with the university, you can apply for additional funding of 25鈧� for public transportation from your employer (Job ticket).
- The largest event in Ulm is the "Schw枚rwochenende / Schw枚rmontag", with a lot of large scale events like "Nabada", "Fischerstechen" and various concerts. Other major events are the Donaufest and the SoNaFe.
- For sports, take a look at the programme of the University Sports Office (Hochschulsport), or consider one of the various sports clubs (VfB Ulm, SSV Ulm, TSG S枚flingen, ...) and private offers like the einstein boulder gym or the Sport Sohn Sporttreff.
- For action oriented activities consider the Face off, the Duellbox, the E-Kart arena, or the Lasertag arena.
- Popular spots for cultural activities are the Roxy, the Ulmer Zelt, the Theater (which has some free offers for enrolled students), or the various cinemas.
Reach out to proko(at)uni-ulm.de and describe your idea, the Proko board will then reach out to you!