Academia Insights

The world of higher education – and in particular the field of early career researchers – is a subject with many facets. In the “Academia Insights” series, the HM Graduate School explores a new topic every 6–8 weeks, aiming to highlight challenges, misconceptions or issues that have received little attention. The series is aimed at doctoral candidates and postdocs, as well as stakeholders in higher education policy.

The episodes are primarily published on the Graduate School’s LinkedIn page and Instagramchannel. The graphic design is carried out by a team from our Department of Design.

(Please note that the charts are only available in German.)

12 May 2026

No management, no research

A doctoral thesis is not just about research. Management tasks such as grant applications or collaborative projects take up roughly as much time as the research itself. Good academic management therefore frees up time for researchers. Clear structures are important and have a positive impact on research.

Episode 12 on LinkedIn

16 Mar 2026

Academic independence

The aim of a doctorate programme is not merely to produce a completed doctoral thesis. The personal development of doctoral candidates also plays a central role. Doctoral candidates should learn, step by step, to hold their own within the academic community. Good supervision fosters this development towards independence, so that by the end of the doctorate programme, the outcome is not merely a degree, but the ability to conduct independent research.

Episode 11 on LinkedIn

18 Dec 2025

Golden Rules: Best Practices for doctoral candidates and supervisors

Supervision agreements are now widespread at universities. They set out the rights and obligations of doctoral candidates and supervisors, and ensure a minimum standard of quality. The Golden Rules go even further! They are a relatively new feature of the German higher education landscape and provide clear guidelines on mutual expectations, responsibilities and a positive culture of supervision.

Episode 10 on LinkedIn

27 Nov 2025

Doctorate: More than just acquiring specialist knowledge

A doctorate offers more than just specialist knowledge: it enhances project management, problem-solving, leadership, communication and resilience. In the process, doctoral candidates develop perseverance, self-discipline and flexibility – abilities that are valued in both academia and the business world.

Episode 9 on LinkedIn

16 Sept 2025

When a doctorate turns into a marathon – the risks of a lengthy doctorate programme

The duration of a doctorate is a key factor in motivation, success and subsequent career planning. This issue of Academia Insights examines how the field of study and the type of employment – whether full-time, part-time, on a scholarship or alongside other work – can influence the length of a doctorate. It also examines the risks that arise when a doctorate programme is prolonged, for example due to funding running out or future plans being postponed.

Episode 8 on LinkedIn

5 Jun 2025

Sustainability in research

Sustainability is far more than just a research trend – it is essential. This issue of Academia Insights focuses on the role of research in environmental, social and economic transformation processes. It explains how sustainability can be promoted through interdisciplinary approaches, what opportunities arise in securing external funding, and how the Graduate School itself puts sustainable practices into action on a small scale.

Episode 7 on LinkedIn

3 Apr 2025

Power and Dependence in Academia – Who Protects doctoral candidates?

Career development, publication, supervision meetings, assessment – doctoral supervisors take on many responsibilities and influence key decisions in the doctorate process. The resulting position of power held by supervisors can be supportive, but it can also lead to abuse.

Episode 6 on LinkedIn

30 Jan 2025

Foreign Academics in Germany – Barriers and Opportunities for International Scientists in Germany

International scientists make a significant contribution to research at German universities, but the path to a professorship is challenging. Only 3 per cent of professors at universities of applied sciences are foreign nationals. Bureaucracy, language barriers and a complex career system make it difficult to get started.

Episode 5 on LinkedIn

10 Oct 2024

Mental Load – An Underestimated Burden for doctoral candidates

Doctoral candidates often experience high levels of mental load and struggle with a great deal of stress. Psychological strain can lead to anxiety and depression. Mental load can be recognised by various signs, and those affected can take preventive measures.

Episode 4 on LinkedIn

4 Sept 2024

Postdocs – An Invisible Role in Science

After completing their doctorates, postdocs continue to work in academia and play a key role in teaching, research or innovation. However, competition for permanent posts is fierce, and only a few postdocs go on to become professors.

Episode 3 on LinkedIn

19 Jun 2024

Doing an extra-occupational doctorate – an opportunity or a pitfall?

Taking up a position with an employer can be an attractive way to fund a doctorate. By choosing a topic that is relevant to your company, your academic work takes on real significance. At the same time, however, it requires a great deal of coordination, and your involvement in the academic community is often limited.

Episode 2 on LinkedIn

18 Apr 2024

Can you do a doctorate at a University of Applied Sciences?

A doctorate at a University of Applied Sciences (HAW)? – It’s possible! With the new right to award doctorates granted to Bavarian HAWs, there are actually two ways to do this: through a partnership with a university, or by completing a doctorate at a Doctoral Research Center.

Episode 1 on LinkedIn