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SRH Graduate Academy

A group of students exits a building and walks down the stairs. Some are holding books and drinks. The atmosphere feels relaxed and friendly.

We support you in your scientific career!

Are you a doctoral candidate or are you interested in doing a doctorate? At the Graduate Academy you will find competent advisors as well as support on all aspects of doctoral studies.

We are happy to help you!

[email protected]

The Graduate Academy

The SRH Graduate Academy operates under the umbrella of the Centre of Research and Funding (CoRFu) and offers early-career researchers a welcoming space for networking, exchange, and professional development.

In collaboration with our colleagues from TEAC and the International Office, we develop initiatives designed to strengthen the dialogue between doctoral candidates and their supervisors, while creating a supportive environment where challenges, questions, and issues can be addressed openly.

Through workshops, keynote lectures, and networking events, we provide needs-oriented professional development opportunities that are continuously reassessed and updated. The result is a vibrant programme that aligns with the specific needs of early-career researchers, fostering both their academic and personal growth.

Our offer for you

The Graduate Academy supports doctoral candidates with organizational and structural matters related to their doctoral studies. We focus on guiding early-career researchers in obtaining the information necessary to make informed decisions independently and to successfully plan their doctoral projects.

In doing so, we recognize diverse life circumstances, time constraints, and background conditions – stemming, for instance, from caregiving responsibilities, employment, family obligations, or unique educational and professional backgrounds. We take those aspects into account when designing our programme and counselling services.

In addition to individual counseling, we offer workshops, keynote talks, and networking events tailored to the diverse needs of doctoral candidates. Naturally, all counseling sessions and opportunities for exchange are treated confidentially.

Three students are sitting next to each other in the library.

The Graduate Academy supports doctoral candidates – as well as those considering a doctorate – with organizational, structural, and individual questions regarding their doctoral studies. These topics include, among others:

  • "Pursuing a Doctorate – Is it the right choice for me?" – Consultation for prospective doctoral candidates
  • Different forms of doctoral studies
  • Prerequisites and framework conditions for cooperative doctorates
  • Cooperative doctorates with German and international partner universities
  • Funding opportunities for doctoral studies
  • Doctoral regulations, formalities, and administrative processes
  • Finding a supervisor 
  • Balancing doctoral studies with career and family life
  • Individual challenges within the doctoral process

Furthermore, we address topics such as academic writing, caregiving responsibilities, time management, mental well-being, and career prospects through workshops, short talks, and by providing referrals to professional development programmes and experts.

Would you like to exchange ideas with other doctoral candidates, experience mutual support, or network regarding specific topics? We are happy to assist you in finding suitable tandem partners or forming small peer-exchange groups.

Our workshops, short talks, and professional development programmes are scheduled to launch in June 2026. Further information will follow shortly. 

Until then, we are happy to provide advice on suitable programmes, experts, and support services.

With the "Academic Lunch", the Graduate Academy is launching a new format for fostering exchange among researchers at SRH University.

The aim of this format is to strengthen dialogue between the different SRH Schools, enhance networking among researchers, and create a space for mutual feedback and new interdisciplinary perspectives.

The Academic Lunch takes place monthly on the third Thursday of the month, from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. The next session is scheduled for May 21, 2026. The focus lies particularly on the work in progress, methodological, structural, or content-related challenges, as well as practical topics such as the preparation for conferences or doctoral examinations.

If you are interested or have any questions, we are looking forward to your message to [email protected] or [email protected].

  • Academic Lunch on May 21, 2026, at 12:00 PM: Our DAAD visiting professor Ileana Pereda Reyes (TEAC) will present on the topic of: Navigating PhD mentorship: Insights, challenges, and triumphs across 8 Cuban Theses 

Information regarding incoming speakers and topics will also be published here.

Event Series by the International Office & CoRFu

Facing Racism in Higher Education: What does it take to create a more inclusive learning and work environment in universities?

This event marks the launch of a new event series by the International Office and the Centre of Research & Funding (CoRFu) as part of the STIBET programme Openness and Tolerance. The series focuses on internationalisation, diversity, anti-racism and intercultural collaboration, creating space for exchange, reflection and shared learning across SRH University.

🗣️ Event language: German (presentation slides in English)

📅 Date: 28 July 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.
💻 Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)
🔗 Join: If you are interested, send us an e-mail at: [email protected]

Speakers:
Dilara Kanbiçak & Dr. Thuy Loan Nguyen
Diversity in Organizations

Racism is structural and embedded in every aspect of our society—from housing and healthcare to the education system. It often begins as early as kindergarten or school, and it certainly doesn't stop at higher education. To address this effectively within academia, we first need to confront the fundamental questions: What is racism, what exactly does "structural racism" mean in the context of Germany, and where does it originate?

In this firechat, Dilara Kanbiçak and Dr. Thuy Loan Nguyen will discuss not only why it’s important to address racism and make it visible in academic environments, but also how it shapes different levels of university life. Together, they will explore critical questions such as:

  • Where does racism appear in everyday university life? Are there specific structures at universities that foster racism, and what forms does it take?
  • What role do facts, figures, and laws play? Are there numbers to back this up, and are there certain laws that require universities to take action?
  • What does racism have to do with myself? Do prejudices automatically diminish when we have frequent contact with BIPOC?
  • What concrete measures are needed? What exactly can universities do when a staff member or a student faces racism, and how can we promote anti-racist thinking among faculty members and employees across all academic departments?

Creating a more just and inclusive academic culture requires both institutional measures and personal awareness. All participants are warmly invited to listen, reflect and share their own perspectives on what every one of us can do to fight racism.

Looking ahead:
In November 2026, the event series will continue with in-depth workshops for different target groups across SRH University. Further information will follow after the summer break.

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Funding

As part of the project “SRH Connects: Strengthening International Academic Networks” (2026–2028) – just like within the previous project “International Research Experience @SRH” (2022–2025) – the Graduate Academy is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR).

Federal Ministry of Education and Research and DAAD logo, representing the German Academic Exchange Service.
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