PHD STUDENTS

We offer two paths:

1. A Ph.D. as a research fellow within the RWI’s structured program
2. A Ph.D. as a research fellow within the Ruhr Graduate School in Economics (RGS Econ).

The first year of the Ph.D. program at RGS Econ consists of an intensive core course phase with in-depth courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and mathematical methods. These courses methodically introduce doctoral candidates to the frontiers of research and equip them to conduct high-quality independent research. Doctoral candidates benefit from the broad expertise of the three universities in the Ruhr region—TU Dortmund, Ruhr University Bochum, and the University of Duisburg-Essen—as well as the RWI.

Applications for the RGS Econ (starting in October) are accepted in the spring of the entry year. From their first year onward, doctoral candidates are employed as research assistants at their supervising unit and are granted time off to attend courses.

More information about the doctoral program at RGS Econ is available here.

RWI supports its doctoral students and postdocs in presenting the results of their research at national and international conferences. RWI researchers regularly give presentations at renowned conferences such as the annual meeting of the Verein für Socialpolitik, the European Economic Association, and leading professional conferences.

The Institute actively promotes the participation of its doctoral students in national and international summer schools, provided that the participation is expected to enhance the quality of the dissertation.

In order to deepen doctoral studies, to develop a new research topic with international partners, or to pursue advanced scientific work leading to a publication in a peer-reviewed journal, RWI supports stays abroad of its researchers.

"Seminar hiking means: I'm off then and come back with a number of good suggestions for improving my research."
Gunther Bensch

"Seminar hiking gives me the opportunity to exchange exciting ideas with other PhD students and postdocs. Also, I get to know what topics my colleagues are dealing with right now."
Hanna Frings

At the "Therapy Seminar Hike", young RWI scientists (doctoral students and postdocs) meet to present their current research to each other. In addition to the plenary discussion, the presenters receive intensive feedback from an individually assigned discussant ("therapist").

In addition to the scientific exchange, the seminar serves to get to know each other better. Thus, the traditional joint hike as well as the joint evening activities are an integral part of the program. The two-day event has been taking place every six months since July 2007 at changing conference locations in NRW.