curriculum

The IMPRS Curriculum consists of five parts.

 

  1. Minithesis
    All IMPRS students are required to write a 20-30 page minithesis and submit it for examination before the end of the 11th month after starting their PhD. The minithesis should contain three main sections: a review of the field of research, a summary of their progress to date and a detailed description of their planned PhD research. This thesis will be orally examined by the advisor & co-advisor.
    Failure to satisfy the examiners will result in termination of the studentship.
  2. Lectures (4 x 3-lecture blocks)
    Students are required to attend 4 lecture blocks over the first three years. A single lecture block consists of 3 lectures on topics related to their PhD research. A list of suitable lectures will be provided by IMPRS, with input from all advisors. After each block, the student must obtain an attendance certificate, signed by the lecturer, and present it to the IMPRS coordinator.
  3. IMPRS Annual Meeting
    A 5-day annual meeting will be held once a year at a location outside Erlangen. Lectures will be given by invited speakers, postdocs and advisors, and all second and third year IMPRS students will be required to give a talk about their research.
  4. Summer School
    Students are expected to attend at least one international summer school, in a field related to their research topic, during their time at IMPRS. An attendance certificate, signed by the summer school organisers, must be presented to the IMPRS coordinator, together with a 1-page account of what was learnt.
  5. Monthly get-togethers
    Students are expected to attend a monthly get-together, held at one of the institutes or laboratories participating in IMPRS, and organised by the IMPRS students themselves. The duration of these meetings will be 1-2 hours. Talks will be given by local researchers, postdocs and IMPRS students, and speakers from other institutions may also occasionally be invited.
    Attendance at these get-togethers will be monitored by a sign-in sheet, and it is expected that all IMPRS students will attend at least 25 get-togethers during their first 3 years.


Besides, IMPRS PhD students have the chance to attend German classes. Soft skill seminars will be organised if the wish is expressed by the students.
The stay at a partner university abroad is encouraged.

In addition IMPRS PhD students receive funding for some of their travel expenses to national and international conferences.

Download IMPRS Regulations