International Doctorate for Experimental Approaches to Language and Brain (IDEALAB) at University of Potsdam

About

Curriculum (1) During the doctoral programme candidates primarily carry out a comprehensive scientific research project within the research programme of the consortium, i.e. on cross-linguistic and multilingual issues in connection with the relation between brain and language. The candidates will be advised and counselled by two supervisors while working on their dissertations. The first supervisor will come from the home university, the second supervisor from a partner university, an associated member university or an associated member from R&D industries. The first supervisor holds a professorship and comes from the home university, the second supervisor holds at least a PhD and comes from a partner university. (2) Candidates will present a written summary of their planned project to the supervisors at the latest six months after admission to the programme. Progress reports to the supervisors are due on a half-yearly basis. (3) For successful empirical work on the thesis project, including a mock doctoral defence according to different institutional rules, candidates will receive 180 CP. (4) For at least six months during the mobility period, candidates must carry out part of the doctoral project in a laboratory located outside of the home university at the second supervisor's institution. (5) Additionally, candidates acquire competencies in the following modules: a. Module one Transversal Skills: Publication and Presentation (5 CP) b. Module two Transversal Skills: Employment (5 CP) c. Module three Core Skills: Technological and Empirical Methods (10 CP) d. Module four Core Skills: Research Methods (10 CP) (6) The modules can be allocated in random order depending on the respective schedules. Modules are graded with pass/fail. Supervision On the basis of their preferred topics and background, doctoral candidates are assigned to a participating university which is his/her home university. Doctoral candidates are members of the graduate school of this home university. Here they have a first supervisor who is responsible for both the organisation and the quality of the research project. Each doctoral candidate has a second supervisor from one of the other participating institutions, either another full partner or an associated institution. Supervision is therefore always joint in nature. Summer/Winter Schools All students attend joint summer and winter schools. The winter school takes place annually. Apart from these specialised courses, soft skills and language and culture classes are offered locally in the programme.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Requirement for successful candidates for the PhD programme is a Master's (or qualified equivalent) degree in patholinguistics, psycho-/neurolinguistics, clinical linguistics, or other language-related fields with a very good grade (at least a B or equivalent). Further requirements for successful candidates include: Outstanding academic achievement Excellent oral and written English language skills Aptitude for original, independent, and creative work Research experience