Pursuing a Doctorate at the University of Education Weingarten

PH Weingarten combines distinguished research in education and teaching with applied projects across a broad spectrum of educational contexts—from early childhood and school education to out-of-school learning, adult education, and higher education. Core research areas include education for sustainable development, digital media in learning processes, inclusion and diversity, language and subject-specific learning, pedagogical professionalization, and health and physical activity promotion. A distinctive feature of the university of education is its focus on regional research: an interdisciplinary exploration of the Upper Swabia region as a cultural and natural landscape in its broadest sense.

Applicants are typically expected to hold a university degree with above-average academic performance—most commonly a Master’s degree or an equivalent qualification (e.g., a state examination for teachers) in a relevant field. If any required qualifications are missing, they may be completed at PH Weingarten.

Pathways to Doctoral Research

The first step is to contact a potential supervisor at PH Weingarten. Submitting a research proposal—including your research question, theoretical framework, methodology, and project timeline—is highly recommended. This document serves as the foundation for your acceptance as a doctoral candidate at the university and helps determine the suitability of your topic and research approach.

Together, you and your supervisor will assess whether your project fits to the university’s research profile and identify the most appropriate doctoral pathway. Upon acceptance, doctoral candidates work on their research while actively engaging in the research activities of their academic department.

All doctoral candidates are also invited to join one of the university’s four interdisciplinary research centers. These centers foster collaborative, cross-disciplinary research and provide early-career researchers with strong peer networks, mentoring, and targeted support. The Doctoral Candidates’ Council further strengthens community and networking among doctoral students.

PH Weingarten maintains close partnerships with universities and other higher education institutions. Through cooperation and association models, joint doctoral programs can be established—particularly beneficial when faculty members are based at institutions without independent doctoral awarding rights. Additionally, PH Weingarten is a member of the Baden-Württemberg Graduate Academy, a joint initiative of the state’s universities of education dedicated to advancing early-career researchers. Doctoral candidates benefit from a wide range of cross-institutional training, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

Doctoral opportunities at PH Weingarten are rooted in its academic disciplines and its educational science profile. Those pursuing a doctoral topic in the areas of education, teaching and learning, pedagogical professionalism, or educational institutions will find excellent research infrastructure, expert supervision, and a vibrant academic community.

With the Weingarten Graduate School, the PH Weingarten has a central institution dedicated to support doctoral candidates. It brings together advisory and training services and supports doctoral candidates throughout all stages of the doctoral journey.

The Graduate School’s offerings include:

• Training programs in research methods, academic writing, publishing, securing third-party funding, and career planning
• Networking formats such as graduate colloquia, retreats, and interdisciplinary workshops
• Regular mentoring and peer feedback sessions

In this way, the Graduate School complements the academic supervision provided by professors with a support program that fosters the doctoral candidates’ academic and personal development.

• Research with practical relevance: Many projects are developed in collaboration with educational institutions in the region and beyond. This enables empirically grounded, socially relevant research.
• Personalized supervision: Small-scale structures facilitate direct communication and intensive mentoring.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration: Topics at the intersection of pedagogy, subject-specific didactics, psychology, sociology, media studies, and health sciences are welcome. Four interdisciplinary research centers offer rich opportunities for collaboration and support.
• Structured support and networking: The Weingarten Graduate School provides a wide range of professional development opportunities as well as regional, national, and international networking opportunities.

If you are pursuing a doctorate in education, the Weingarten University of Education offers a motivating environment and a wide range of support services.

For more information on admission requirements, doctoral regulations, supervision procedures, and the Graduate School’s offerings, please visit the official website of PH Weingarten. We encourage you to reach out early to potential advisors or the relevant offices for research funding and graduate support - the first step toward a doctorate begins with a conversation.

We look forward to hearing from you!

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Authors: Dr. Marina Klyshko & Susanne Weber