Outline of the Program

The Interdisciplinary Program Health Sciences (IPHS) covers research projects in a wide range of areas within the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cologne. Doctoral candidates are performing research within the field of Health Sciences in its broadest meaning over at least three years.

Doctoral candidates must go through a selection process comprising an application and an interview.

In addition to mandatory courses the curriculum of the IPHS allows students to individually tailor a course program to fit their particular educational background and their specific research interests. The formal coursework is required for the completion of the dissertation and encompass a minimum of four hours per week and term (2 terms per year) over four terms. The attendence forms can be downloaded here.

PhD students are encouraged to take advantage of the wide range of research and training opportunities available within the Faculty of Medicine and other Faculties of the University of Cologne.

The student will meet regularly with two tutors for project progress reports and advice on the curriculum. The two tutors are usually the doctoral candidate’s reviewer of the dissertation. The tutor meeting form can be downloaded here.

After successful completion of the IPHS doctoral candidates are awarded with the title philosophiae doctor (PhD) in Health Sciences or medicinae doctor/philosophiae doctor (MD/PhD) in Health Sciences, respectively.

The IPHS at a glance: