Jena Doctoral Program in Economics (JDPE)

The program consists of various elements, including basic courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics, special courses in various fields of economics, soft-skill training, individual presentation opportunities, and active participation in seminars and conferences.

The curriculum is primarily based on the Ph.D. courses offered by the CGDE. In addition, our students can enrich their education by enrolling in doctoral-level courses offered within existing faculty programs and through the FSU Graduate Academy. The JDPE acknowledges the benefits of external courses and summer schools in enhancing students' academic growth. However, approval for including these external courses is contingent upon consultation with the student's academic supervisor and the JDPE director.

Doctoral students are required to accumulate a total of 36 credit points (CP) in five different categories:

• Basic Area (12 CP): In this segment, students must complete two out of the three basic CGDE courses, namely Econometrics, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics, each worth 6 CP.
• Specialization Area (6 CP): In the specialization area, students must complete two special courses, each worth 3 CP. They can choose between CGDE courses, Summer Schools, or equivalent internal or external PhD courses. Course equivalences must be approved by the JDPE director.
• Personal Qualification Area (2 CP): Students earn 2 CP through soft-skill training, which can be fulfilled by either attending the CGDE Personal Qualification Workshop or similar internal or external soft-skill courses. Course equivalences must be approved by the JDPE director.
• Presentations (4 CP): The presentation component requires doctoral students to disseminate their research findings in internal and external settings, such as seminars, workshops, or conferences. This requirement includes two presentations, at least one of which must be held outside the student's home university or institution.
• Elective (12 CP): The remaining 12 CPs can be earned through various activities. These activities may include teaching a course, attending a course on teaching professionalization, attending additional courses from the basic area and the specialization area, or engaging in additional internal and external presentations. However, it is important to note that the total number of creditable presentations, excluding those outlined in the section Presentations, is limited to three, equivalent to 6 CP.

Ph.D. students must actively engage in internal and external research seminars, including the Jena Economics Research Seminar, the Jena Economics Research Workshops, or similar events. Likewise, students are encouraged to participate in the Annual CGDE Doctoral Workshop. Additionally, successful completion of the seminar on good scientific practice offered by the Jena Graduate Academy is expected.

A detailed overview of the course program is available herepdf, 31 kb · de.

Our program does not charge tuition fees. Typically, students in our program secure financial support for living expenses by taking on research and teaching assistant positions within the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration. Additionally, we support applicants seeking external scholarships such as those provided by DAAD or similar organizations. It is important to note that our program does not offer its own scholarships.

For doctoral candidates seeking a research and teaching assistant position within the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, the application process is managed directly through the specific research units where these positions are located. If you have successfully secured the position and wish to enroll in the Jena Doctoral Program in Economics, please notify Susanne Büchner at susanne.buechner@uni-jena.de.

For all other candidates interested in applying to the program, please compile the following documents into a single PDF file and submit it to Susanne Büchner at susanne.buechner@uni-jena.de:

• A completed application formpdf, 80 kb · de
• Your CV
• A letter of motivation in which you outline the anticipated benefits of participating in the program, your research experience, abilities, and interests
• Copies of your academic certificates (please specify the grading system's range, highest and lowest possible grades for your final grade)
• A copy of your master's thesis or an equivalent work

In addition to your application package, please ensure that we receive at least two letters of recommendation from academic instructors who can assess your research capabilities. These letters should be sent directly to us by the referee via email to Susanne Büchner at susanne.buechner@uni-jena.de.

Please note that we do not require a formal English language certificate. Language proficiency will be evaluated during the interview.

For inquiries concerning the application process, please do not hesitate to contact Susanne Büchner at susanne.buechner@uni-jena.de.