Courses of the Doctoral Study Programme

The doctoral study programme at the German Sport University Cologne combines compulsory basic courses with individually customisable key areas.

Structure of the Doctoral Study Programme

In the introductory phase, you will acquire core competencies in research ethics, theory, or management. Accompanying research colloquia—both interdisciplinary and discipline-specific—will provide you with ongoing support in developing and presenting your dissertation project.

In addition, you will choose from a wide range of modules to specifically refine your profile: from independent research and interdisciplinary skills to teaching and career development.

The doctoral study programme at the German Sport University Cologne comprises 170 working units (WU). One WU corresponds to 45 minutes. The doctoral study programme consists of compulsory modules (at least 95 WU) and elective modules (at least 75 WU). 

COMPULSORY MODULES

Basics

Science ethics or philosophy of science

Knowledge Management

Research Colloquia

  • Interdisciplinary Research Colloquium (available in German and English)
  • Subject-Specific Research Colloquium

ELECTIVE MODULES

You may choose courses from the following modules:

  • Elective Module 1: Doing research autonomously
  • Elective Module 2: Developing transferable skills
  • Elective Module 3: Learning to teach
  • Elective Module 4: Shaping your career

 

→ The figure on the right shows an example of how doctoral courses might be distributed across the four modules.

Elective Module 1: Doing research autonomously

GSU’s internal research funding (HIFF) enables students, doctoral candidates, and academic staff to finance research projects or their own positions. The aim is to give young academics the opportunity to implement or prepare their own research ideas and to expand and strengthen their research profile. As the new call for proposals begins, we would like to present the individual calls in more detail, provide information about the application process and the review process, and offer advice on how to submit an application.

Date: TBA → Expected July 2026, 90 minutes

Registration is not required. Login details for the online meeting will be sent to you via the Moodle teamroom for doctoral students.

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 28 working units

You can register for this course via MySpoho by following the path “Doctoral Program - Elective Modules - Elective Modules 1-4 - Independent Research.”

Offered once a year during the winter semester (October–February), on a weekly basis, for 90 minutes each week.

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 16 working units

You can apply for this course via MySpoho by following the path “Doctoral Program - Elective Modules - Elective Modules 1-4 - Independent Research.”

Offered once a year in the summer semester (April–February).

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 2 working units (attendance) + 2 working units (presentation/poster)

For this course, a certificate of attendance and the conference proceedings containing your contribution (as first author) must be submitted to the PhD Office (digitally via email).

A maximum of 12 working units can be credited in total.

Recognition of peer review activities 

  • One-time credit of 2 AE in Module 1
  • What types of peer review can be credited?
    • Scientific articles for academic journals
    • Grant proposals submitted as part of the university’s internal research funding programme (HIFF)
  • How can your peer review get credited?
    • Proof of peer review for academic journals is provided via your ORCID ID or your Web of Science profile. To do so, please either email us (Doctoral office) your ORCID ID or send the link to your Web of Science profile.
    • For peer review activities within the HIFF programme, please email the date of the review request so we can look it up in our records.

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 8 working units

This course needs to be registered through the Graduate Center at TH Köln.

 

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 28 working units

You can apply for this course via MySpoho by following the path “Doctoral Program - Elective Modules - Elective Modules 1-4 - Independent Research.”

Offered once a year in the winter semester (October–February).

Elective Module 2: Developing transferable skills

Learning objectives:

  • To become familiar with the concept of resilience and the helpful mindsets associated with it
  • Realizing that making room for something positive requires a shift in perspective
  • Increasing awareness of factors that are within and beyond personal control
  • Learning how to reduce stress by intentionally interrupting their chronic stress response
  • Developing a personal resilience plan based on existing resources

This ONLINE workshop is offered to doctoral students and is conducted in English during the winter semester only.

Date: TBA (expected end of February 2027); Time: 3:00–6:00 PM

Credits for the PhD program: 4 course units

To register, please send an email to the following address: forschung-dshs@dshs-koeln.de.

Credit for the doctoral study programme: 15 working units

 

This course can be registered for via MySpoho.

Credit for the doctoral study programme: 16 working units

 

This course is offered by the Albertus Magnus Center of the University of Cologne.

 

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 8 working units

 

This course is offered by the Albertus Magnus Center of the University of Cologne.

 

Elective Module 3: Learning to teach

Courses for the "Learning to Teach" module must be registered for directly through the DSHS's University Didactics website:

 

Notes:

  • Courses in Higher Education Didactics can be credited either for the HD-NRW certificate programme OR for the doctoral study programme. Individual courses cannot be credited twice.
  • The “Startsprung in die Lehre” course cannot be credited for the doctoral study programme.
  • Certificate bonus for the basic module: Upon completion of the basic module in the HD-NRW certificate programme, an additional 6 working units in the "Learning to Teach" module will be credited for the the doctoral study programme.

A maximum of 2 independent teaching units may be credited on a one-time basis. As proof, a link to the online course catalog may be submitted to the doctoral office at the end of the semester.

Module 4: Shaping your career

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 4 working units

This course is offered by the Transfer Department. The schedule, including dates and times, as well as registration information, can be found here.

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 28 working units

 

This course is offered by the Transfer Department (the course language is German).

This course is offered once a year. The application deadline for Phase 1 is approximately the end of January. 

The program, including dates, times, and registration information, can be found here.

Credit toward a doctoral degree: Up to 28 course units

 

Gateway EM*power is aimed at women from all disciplines interested in starting a business who would like to develop their skills and get a taste of entrepreneurship through a 9-month programme (April–December). During this time, participants can apply for a 3-month scholarship as well as in-kind support. A concrete startup idea is not a prerequisite.
This programme is offered by the Gateway Startup Service at the German Sport University Cologne in collaboration with the other universities of the Gateway Universities Cologne.

Some events within this programme may be credited for the doctoral study programme. 

 

Further information and registration details can be found here.

Credits for the doctoral study programme: 10 working units

 

You can apply for this course via MySpoho by following the path “Doctoral Program - Elective Modules - Elective Modules 1-4 - Shaping Your Career.”

This course is offered once a year in English during the winter semester (usually in March).

Contacts

Doctoral Office

Doctoral Committee