LMU Klinikum
Center for International Health CIHLMU
CIHLMU is a center at LMU Klinikum

Curriculum

Scope of the Ph.D. Medical Research – International Health

Within the framework of this structured Ph.D. program, doctoral candidates need to obtain a total of 180 ECTS:

  • 23 ECTS within Module Block I conducted in Munich
  • 17 ECTS within Module Block II conducted in Munich
  • 10 ECTS for attending workshops, conferences etc.
  • 100 ECTS within the scope of the research project, including bi-monthly research progress reports
  • 20 ECTS for the dissertation
  • 10 ECTS for the disputation conducted in Munich

General Timeline

The Ph.D. curriculum is covering a minimum of three years, with two Module Blocks spent at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich, lasting three months each. In between doctoral candidates will conduct their research in their home countries. The last and final stay in Munich will be a short period of about two weeks, during which the defense and the MMRS graduation ceremony will take place.

Please find here a timeline of the Ph.D. Medical Research – International Health:

The following paragraphs give an overview of the general outline of the curriculum:

Module Block I (MB I)

Candidates accepted to the Ph.D. program will start their Ph.D. studies with Module Block I (MB I) in Munich. MB I will start at the beginning of October and lasts for three months. During this time, all candidates pass the same curriculum, independent of their research subject, to ensure a common basis of knowledge among all Ph.D. candidates. The main focus of MB I lies in medical topics, epidemiology and quantitative methods, with additional sessions in public health. Some of these modules will be completed by written or oral tests, or post-course assignments. Furthermore, students will attend soft skill workshops to deepen their social competences. At the same time, candidates will work with their supervisors on the design of their research project, including obligatory presentations of their projects to other Ph.D. candidates and selected audience. Full-time commitment will be expected for this densely scheduled period. MB I ends towards the end of December.

Research period I (RP I)

By the end of December, Ph.D. candidates will return to their research locations to start their first research period (RP I). RP I lasts for one year from January to December. Close contact between the candidates, the local supervisor and the LMU supervisors will be maintained, as candidates are required to submit Research Progress Reports on a bimonthly basis. These progress reports are used to keep all supervisors and the Ph.D. program coordination informed about the research progress and to identify potential problems of the project in time. A timely submission of these research progress reports (RPRs) is mandatory to successfully complete the Ph.D. studies. A Target Agreement, which serves to establish a formal understanding between the Ph.D. candidate and all involved supervisors (local and LMU) with respect to the conduct of the Ph.D. research project, needs to be submitted to the Ph.D. program coordination by the end of the first month of Research Period I (31 January).

During RP I, a visit by a LMU supervisor to the location of research abroad is envisaged in order to evaluate research-related issues together with the Ph.D. candidate and the local supervisor on-site. CIHLMU is happy to be able to offer Supervisor Visit Scholarships covering travel and accommodation costs for this purpose to students working on One Health-related research projects.

Module Block II (MB II)

In the months January to March, subsequent to RP I, candidates will come to Munich to attend Module Block II. MB II comprises advanced subjects on research methodology, personal development and health systems research. Again, candidates will be required to present their Ph.D. projects to colleagues and selected audience. In addition, Ph.D. candidates will organize a CIHLMU symposium, where they will present their findings through posters and presentations. A Symposium Report must be submitted to the Ph.D. program coordination no later than 14 days after successfully completing the symposium to evaluate the learning experience. Furthermore, it is highly recommended that Ph.D. candidates meet with their LMU supervisors to discuss the project and evaluate research-related issues.

Research Period II (RP II)

The second research period will begin in April after all candidates returned to their research locations or countries of residence subsequent to MB II. Contact between the candidate and all supervisors will again be upheld through the mandatory submission of progress reports every two months. A Target Amendment I, which functions as interim evaluation and formal agreement between the student and all supervisors, needs to be submitted to the Ph.D. program coordination by the end of the first month of research period II (30 April).

Research period II will last for 12 months and thereafter, candidates will enter the final stage of research. During this time students will still stay in their home countries or at the location of research, but with an intensified communication to all supervisors, marking the finalization of research activity and the writing of the Ph.D. thesis. At the end of this period and once all requirements have been completed, candidates will submit their Ph.D. thesis to the Ph.D. program coordination. The acceptance of a manuscript in a peer-review journal is a precondition for the submission of the Ph.D. thesis. The Ph.D. program coordination will subsequently check all documents and if completed, will submit the thesis to the MMRS.

Evaluation of the Thesis

Once the application for admission to the doctoral examination has been submitted with all required documents, the MMRS forwards the dissertation to the first two reviewers (your 1st and 2nd LMU supervisor) for submission of their expert opinions. Upon submission of these two reviews, the dissertation and reviews are then forwarded to the other two members of the Examination Committee (selected by the MMRS), who also evaluate and comment on the dissertation. The evaluation process can usually take up to 6 months.

The thesis is accepted if all reviewers grade the dissertation as "sufficient" (4.0) or better. The thesis may be returned to the Ph.D. candidate once for revision. The revised thesis must be submitted to the MMRS for re-evaluation within one year.

Defense Period

Upon acceptance of the dissertation, the doctoral candidate is admitted to the oral defense. For this purpose, the student will be required to come to Munich for a short final term of 10 to 14 days. Within these days, the Ph.D. program coordination will schedule the day for the oral defense of the Ph.D. thesis. In addition, the successful student must submit the approved thesis to the LMU University Library for publication.

The Ph.D. curriculum is completed with the successful defense of the dissertation. The Ph.D. certificate in Medical Research - International Health is awarded after the successful publication of the Ph.D. thesis to the LMU University Library.

Research Period III

Candidates who fail to complete their research project or to submit a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal within the regular three-year study period will be granted an additional year to finalize their projects. However, a Target Amendment II, corresponding to the 4th year of Ph.D. study, must be submitted to the Ph.D. program coordination. Research period III lasts from May of the 3rd year to April of the 4th year of Ph.D. study.

Research Period IV

For a Ph.D. project that extends beyond the 4th year of Ph.D. study, candidates will be given one final year to complete their projects. However, a third Target Amendment, corresponding to the 5th year of Ph.D. study, must be submitted to the Ph.D. program coordination in time. Research period IV lasts from May of the 4th year to April of the 5th year of Ph.D. studies.

Ph.D. candidates that are unable to successfully finalize all required curricular elements within 60 months after initiation of the respective Ph.D. program (start of MB I) will be dismissed from the Ph.D. program with the result “failed”. These curricular elements consist of the Ph.D. project, acceptance of a manuscript to a peer-reviewed journal and the submission of the Ph.D. thesis, as well as its successful defense in front of the LMU Examination Committee.

Workshops

Every Ph.D. candidate has to participate in a workshop relevant to the research topic at some point during the curriculum, preferably during RP I or RP II. The minimum total workshop duration (one or more) is four full days. A Workshop Report must be submitted to the Ph.D. program coordination no later than 14 days after successfully completing the workshop.

Conferences

Each candidate is expected to actively participate in at least one conference of his/her personal choice by presenting his/her own work through an oral presentation or poster. The conference should be at least of national importance. A Conference Report must be submitted to the Ph.D. program coordination no later than 14 days after successfully presenting at the conference.

Publications

Each Ph.D. candidate is expected to submit at least one manuscript to an international scientific and peer-reviewed journal of relevance, with all official supervisors appearing on the author list. The publication process has to be initiated prior the completion of the program curriculum. An already accepted manuscript is a precondition for submitting the Ph.D. thesis to the Ph.D. program coordination.

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