Supervision and Mentoring

Throughout the programme, doctoral students receive personal advice from a dedicated committee of three BAGSS professors. The composition of the supervisory committee, usually consisting of a principal supervisor and two associate supervisors, is agreed with doctoral researchers at the beginning of their doctoral projects and is tailored to the specific requirements of the project. Whereever possible, the thesis committee has an interdisciplinary outlook and comprises scholars representing different intellectual traditions. BAGSS also allows the inclusion of external supervisors, especially from the School's international partners, providing this is feasible and appropriate.

During a thorough initial assessment of research-training requirements, the candidate and the committee jointly develop an individual research training plan tailored to the student's specific needs. The plan constitutes the core of a doctoral learning agreement students and supervisors sign. This covenant between students and supervisors also includes milestones for students to be met at different stages of their dissertation project. These milestones serve as benchmarks for evaluating thesis progress in discussions with the supervisory committee. Supervisors are committed to provide advice and comment regularly and comprehensively on their students' written work (e.g., draft chapters) and the presentations in the doctoral colloquia.

The learning agreement and the extensive advice given by the thesis committee provide a clear framework for carrying out doctoral research at BAGSS. However, where it appears appropriate, both the composition of the supervisory committee and the research training plan may later be changed by mutual agreement.

The supervisory team offers support not only in academic concerns, but also matters of post-doctoral career planning. In a special pre-submission meeting, doctoral students and their supervisors discuss career and employment options following completion of the thesis and consider venues for publishing the research results.

In addition to receiving close support from their supervisory committee, newly enrolled students will be assigned a mentor from an earlier cohort of doctoral researchers. The mentor will help them settle in Bamberg both academically and socially.

Female students at BAGSS have the opportunity to participate in the University's femaleResearcherNetwork. This programme offers a mentoring scheme where senior female professors share their experiences and advise on gender-specific issues in academic careers.