Objectives and Tasks

The TUM Graduate School (TUM-GS), as the central institution for all doctoral candidates at TUM (Technical University of Munich), is committed to the goal-oriented training of all early career researchers. The overarching goal of all TUM-GS activities is to continuously increase the attractiveness and quality of the doctorate at TUM. To achieve this goal, our programs and initiatives focus on the following core areas: 

Quality assurance & structure 

The TUM-GS ensures binding university-wide standards for the qualification of doctoral candidates and is based on international best practice models. The TUM-GS supports doctoral candidates and supervisors throughout the entire course of the doctorate with numerous offers that promote an efficient organization of the doctorate. These include the supervision agreement, Kick-Off seminars, mentoring and career orientation events. In this way, we create optimal conditions for scientific research at TUM in the context of good scientific practice and integrity.  

Qualification

For excellent academic work and the best career opportunities after successfully completing a doctorate, early career researchers need qualifications that go beyond simply writing an academic paper. Increasingly complex research subjects require broad subject-specific and transferable skills profiles as well as intensive integration into an excellent academic environment. Numerous offers for subject-specific qualification at the Schools and Graduate Centers ideally complement and deepen independent scientific work. The extensive transferable skills course program prepares doctoral candidates for professional challenges in the best possible way. 

Internationalization

A major objective of the TUM-GS is to promote the early international, intercultural and inter-/transdisciplinary cooperation of our doctoral candidates in research and in building their own global networks.  We therefore support our members' stays abroad and other internationalization activities with financial support. In addition to the direct content-related benefits for research, the doctoral candidates benefit personally and career-wise from the internationalization measures.  

Service & counseling

The TUM-GS is the first point of contact for all topics related to the doctorate at TUM. Therefore, we offer various counseling offers at the Graduateate Centers and Welcome Services. In addition, the TUM-GS promotes active, trusting supervision relationships. 

Diversity & Networking

In line with TUM's mission statement and the TUM Diversity Code of Conduct, TUM-GS promotes science in an open society so that the diverse talents and abilities of doctoral candidates can fully develop. Our structures and programs support the participation of all individuals in the scientific community, regardless of gender, nationality, religion and ideology, disability/chronic illness, age or sexual orientation. In this context, the TUM-GS supports personal networking among doctoral candidates from different backgrounds and disciplines, for example through the Kick-Off seminar and cultural events.