Going Abroad During And After The Doctorate

A stay abroad can give you access to special sources, expand your knowledge and language skills, and strengthen your international network. In addition to that, it can be an advantage in applications and in funding proposals, as it illustrates that you think across borders, are open to new things, and can engage with different academic cultures. But above all, it is a valuable experience. Here you can find information on what stays abroad are possible during and after your doctorate, how to find suitable hosts, and what to bear in mind when organising your stay.

Info Session

"Planning and Organising Research Stays Abroad"

Every semester, the Academic Career Development Office offers a 1-hour info session for doctoral candidates planning to go abroad. Topics include different types of stays, funding options, and organisational steps. The next info session will be take place in the WS 2023/24. Please note that the event is held in German.

When, where, how long?

Before you plan your stay abroad, you should be clear about your goals and what you need to do to achieve them. In addition to deciding how long the stay should be, this also determines where to go. Hence you need to have a general idea of the structure of your project. On the other hand you should not be so far along in the project that you cannot really expect new findings.

When and Where?

The best time for a stay abroad, as well as the ideal location, depend on what the purpose of the stay is: Do you want to present your project at a specific conference? Do you need access to specific sources or do you have the opportunity to conduct research together with an  outstanding researcher in your field? While shorter stays can still be planned spontaneously, it makes sense to prepare longer stays well in advance.

For how long?

The duration of your stay abroad should correspond with the scope and relevance of your intended research programme. If you want to gather key findings for your doctoral dissertation during your stay abroad, you should start early and allow sufficient time. If the stay abroad is more about networking in the international research community, access to certain secondary sources, or if you want to gain teaching experience, a stay of 4 weeks to 3 months may already be sufficient.

Fund­ing Your Stay Abroad

Depending on the purpose of your stay, and on whether you are doing or have already completed your doctorate, there are various ways to (partially) finance a stay abroad. Here you will find an overview of funding providers and programmes. The Jenny Aloni Centre currently does not offer funding.

The programmes listed below may accept applications only under certain conditions and by specific deadlines. Please check the programme conditions for each programme individually.

 

  • Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility (STA)
    Funding for short-term teaching activities (up to 60 days) at an Erasmus+ partner university by teachers and research assistants of Paderborn University. If you are interested in this, please contact the International Office.
  • DAAD Short-term and Long-term Lectureships
    Funding is available for invited lecturers who would like to teach at a foreign university for a limited period of time (short-term lectureship 4 weeks to 6 months; long-term lectureship 2 to 5 years).

Cotu­telle Doc­tor­ate

Under certain conditions, you can work on your doctorate at both Paderborn University and a foreign university. A binational 'cotutelle' doctorate includes the participation of members of a foreign university during the doctoral process as well as research visits for the preparation of the thesis (see funding options above). As a rule, this requires an individual agreement between the participating universities. The exact conditions are regulated in the doctoral degree regulations of the respective faculties.

The doctoral committee or the Graduate Centre of your faculty can advise you on the exact requirements for a binational doctorate and the necessary steps.

Consultation

Are you planning to go abroad, and would you like an individual consultation? Or do you simply not know who is the best person to talk to about your individual questions?

Send us an e-mail or make an appointment!

 

business-card image

Dr. Henriette-Juliane Seeliger

Jenny Aloni Centre for Early Career Researchers

Academic Advisor for Early Career Researchers

Write email +49 5251 60-2109