ECTS/Credit Point System

In order to ensure transferability and recognition of qualifications, our PhD candidates earn credit points according to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) for the individual components of our education program. To obtain the doctoral degree from the university, PhD candidates need to have completed training equivalent to a total of 180 ECTS. The central part of the school’s qualification program is the research project itself that amounts to 50 ECTS per year (more than 85% of the time). Over three to four years, our PhD candidates need to fulfill a mixture of mandatory and elective elements of our educational program that amount to a total of 30 ECTS, to ensure the full study program of 180 ECTS. Our educational program is intended not to occupy more than about 5 hours per week over the period of three to four years (less than 15% of time). Before thesis submission, we issue our PhD candidates a transcript of their curricular achievements that serves as proof of the additional 30 ECTS to the university to open the process of thesis examination.

Please klick here for an overview of activities and credit points awarded by the IMPRS-IDI.