All doctoral students studying for a Dr. sc. hum. at the Mannheim Medical Faculty must complete a structured doctoral programme.

The School of Translational Medicine (STMM) offers such a structured training programme: The curriculum comprises at least 240 hours and mandatory TAC meetings.

New doctoral candidates who would like to participate in the STMM's structured training programme for the Dr. sc. hum. must indicate this in the doctoral agreement, which is submitted with the application for acceptance as a doctoral candidate. The doctoral office (Promotionsbüro) is responsible for the formal requirements, registration and all other information regarding the doctorate.

New doctoral regulations

The new regulations for the Dr. sc. hum. doctoral studies that came into force on March 1, 2022 require that students follow a compulsory study programme, in addition to their research work. The content and implementation of this study programme is regulated by the doctoral committee. The implementation regulations (Ausführungsbestimmungen) can be found here. Students are also required to have a Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC).

Structured programme

For students performing research within graduate programmes such as those offered by DFG-financed Research Training Groups (RTGs), participation in the structured education programmes offered by these RTGs is usually sufficient to cover the requirements of the Dr. sc. hum. compulsory study programme. For other students, the School of Translational Medicine of the Mannheim Medical Faculty of the University of Heidelberg (STMM) offers a curriculum and courses that constitute a Dr. sc. hum. study programme. New students who wish to participate in the STMM Dr. sc. hum. structured education programme should specify this in the “Promotionsvereinbarung” that is submitted when applying for acceptance as a doctoral student. Courses and activities that are not offered by the STMM, but which are nevertheless relevant for the different categories specified in the curriculum may in principle also be accredited for the STMM structured training programme, subject to agreement with the STMM office and the doctoral student’s supervisor.

Accreditation of activities

Doctoral researchers in RTGs or other graduate schools should continue to follow the structured programme of their RTG or graduate school and should state this in the doctoral agreement. No further documentation or approval is currently required, unless specified by the RTG.

Courses and activities completed within the STMM Dr. sc. hum. structured education programme can be uploaded and approved online via the STMM IT platform LEARN. The forms for the recognition of activities can also still be used and uploaded there,

• Implementation regulations
• Activity accreditation form