Doctoral candidate survey

In 2023, the Rectorate of the University of Freiburg decided to implement a regular survey on the working and supervision conditions for doctoral candidates. The survey was first conducted in 2024. On this website you can find the current status of the survey and its results.

A summary of the results for the university as a whole are available here on this website; results at the faculty-level are available via ILIAS for all university members (see Results section below). In the course of the winter semester 2025/2026, the results were discussed within a series of events. The results were also forwarded to several departments and are being used for enhancing the university’s offers as well as for internal quality control.

The next survey is planned for 2027.

to obtain a more accurate picture of the situation of doctoral students and to identify potential for improvement
to review and further develop programmes and framework conditions for doctoral candidates
to repeat the survey every three years in order to compare the results and test the effectiveness of measures.

The following areas are addressed in the survey:

Doctoral conditions and supervision
Funding and working conditions
Qualification and counselling
Health and well-being
Career plans

When creating the questionnaire, both the nationwide surveys conducted by the National Academics Panel Study (NACAPS) and surveys from other universities were taken into account in order to ensure comparability. The creation of the questionnaire was scientifically monitored by Dr. Christoph Breuninger of the Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy). The analysis follows common practices of statistical analysis.

Here you can find an overview of the results for the university as a whole.

The results for the individual faculties (in English and German) are provided in this ILIAS room (recommendation: log in to ILIAS first, then follow the link).

In case you are interested, you can also access the entire questionnaire that was used.

The results of the doctoral candidate survey are being used to improve the conditiations for doctoral studies at the University of Freiburg in the long term. In order to do so, the results are presented in various committee, are incorporated into ongoing strategic processes, and are used by individual departments to better adapt their offers to the needs of doctoral candidates and make their offers known among them. Here you can find some examples.

Presentation of the results in university committees and at university events:

02.04.2025 Presentation of the results in the Joint Working Committee of the Doctoral Candidate Councils (GAA)
23.04.2025 Presentation of the results in the deans’ round
06.05.2025 Discussion of the results within the retreat for doctoral candidates
16.05.2025 Presentation of the results in the advisory board for the doctorate
28.05.2025 Presentation of the results in the senate
17.06.2025 Presentation of the results at the meeting of the ombudspersons of the central ombuds process
20.10.2025 Public event for discussing the results
21.10.2025 Presentation of the results in the staff council

Incorporation of the results in ongoing strategic processes:

Incorporation within the preparation of the proposal for the university of excellence
Incorporation within the development of a university-wide policy for research assessment
Utilization of the data within the preparation of the partial staff meeting for scientific employees on 06.11.2025

Utilization for optimizing the offers of individual departments:

Adjusting the course offer within the qualification programme based on the needs for further qualification as voiced in the survey
Continuation of the career coaching offered by GraCe based on the needs for support as voiced in the survey
Continuation of the retreat for doctoral candidates organised by GraCe based on the need for networking as voiced in the survey

Here you can find a selection of measures with which the University of Freiburg responds to the needs that became apparent in the survey results.

Transfer measures	Details
Establishing annual staff appraisals for scientific employees (In process) Contact person: Dr. Ramona Wurst (GDaPE)	Goal: Improving collaboration, giving opportunity for discussions on career goals and mental health Status: In a first step, guidelines and support documents are being compiled. This is followed by the mandatory introduction
Passing a university-wide guideline on the handling of discrimination, power abuse, sexual harassment and stalking (In process) Contact person: Annette Joggerst (GDaPE)	Goal: Clarifying framework conditions, sensitisation Status: The draft is currently undergoing legal review
Developing a concept for permanent positions beyond the professorship (In process) Contact person: Dr. Christian Kny (GDaPE)	Goal: Creating transparency on employment options for postdoctoral researchers, improving working conditions Status: The concept is currently being finalised and will then be presented in the university committees
Establish leadership programmes for professors and postdoctoral researchers (Done) Contact person: Elisabeth Ahner-Tudball (GDaPE)	Goal: Promote leadership and supervision skills Status: Firt pilot modules are offered in the summer term 2026. The entire programme starts in the winter term 2026/2027
Creating a welcome-portal for new researchers (Done) Contact person: Dr. Marco Tomaszweski (GDaPE)	Goal: Improving researcher onboarding, increasing visibility of services and offers Status: The portal is now available online
Establishment of compulsory co-supervision of doctoral candidates (In process) Contact person: Dr. Silke Knaut (GraCe)	Goal: Reducing the level of dependence during the doctorate Status: This provision is already included in the university-wide doctoral degree regulations framework and must now be incorporated into the faculty doctoral degree regulations
Funding for postdoctoral researchers within the Female Professors Programme (In preparation) Contact person: Dr. Wibke Backhaus (GDaPE)	Goal: Supporting female researchers in the postdoc-phase Status: The call will be published soon
Advertising central offers for doctoral candidates and postdocs (In preparation) Contact person: Dr. Silke Knaut (GraCe) and Dr. Cita Wetterich (GDaPE)	Goal: Increasing the visibility of central support structures Status: The following measures are planned: approaching secretariats, in-person visits at the faculties, and sending information material
Establishment of the career coaching as a permanent offer for doctoral candidates (Done) Contact person: Dr. Tina Lampe (GraCe)	Goal: Supporting doctoral candidates with their career planning Status: The career coaching is now a permanent offer

Discussion events at the faculties in the winter term 2025/2026

November 3, 2025 Faculty of Theology
November 10, 2025 Faculty of Law
November 19, 2025 Faculty of Engineering
December 8, 2025 Faculty of Humanities
January 15, 2026 Faculty of Mathematics and Physics
January 22, 2026 Faculty of Biology
January 23, 2026 Faculty of Philology
January 27, 2026 Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy
January 29, 2026 Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences
February 2, 2026 Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources

University-wide discussion event on October 20, 2025 “From Insight to Action: Results of the 2024 Doctoral Candidate and Postdoc Survey”

All university members were invited to join the event on October 20th, 2025 in the Aula in order to discuss the survey results, and to collect and rate potential measures and improvements. The event started with a presentation of key findings based on the survey data (university members can access the slides via ILIAS). The participants were then invited to participate in the eight topical discussion groups: Financing and working contracts, leadership, teaching, mental health, career development, doctoral candidate supervision, onboarding and advertisement of central offers, as well as work culture and discrimination. The event was then rounded off by a panel discussion including Prof. Stefan Rensing (vice-rector for research and innovation), Prof. Sylvia Paletschek (vice-rector for university culture), Dr. Deniz Kumral (postdoc) and Lea von Berg-Steinbrecher (doctoral candidate).

The panel discussion addressed some of the core challenges facing doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers: a high proportion of experienced mental strain, existing support schemes are poorly known, and a structural pressure stems from intense competition, mobility requirements and job‑insecurity. A key concern was the need for transparency regarding requirements and expectations at the outset of a supervision or an employment contract. Onboarding programmes, clear rules about availability and an open approach to illness were highlighted as exemplary measures to improve the working climate. Career‑development initiatives and skills‑building activities (e.g. career coaching or higher education didactics) are regarded as important, but they must not add further time‑ and performance‑pressure. Incentives such as the award for excellent supervision were preferred to compulsory courses, as they reinforce voluntariness and motivation. Responsibility for change was presented as shared: the university’s rectorate should provide overarching structures, such as a central onboarding and leadership‑development programme, while the individual faculties are tasked with implementing the framework conditions and delivering personalised supervision. Financial constraints and the growing reliance on third‑party funding were identified as long‑term hurdles that demand political advocacy and stronger networking. In sum, the participants stressed that transparent communication, targeted support formats and a collaborative partnership between the rectorate, the faculties and academic leaders are essential to sustainably improve working and research conditions.

If you have questions or comments on the survey you are welcome to reach out to Dr. Hanna Mahler.

Contact

Dr. Hanna Mahler