Basic requirements for acceptance of supervision include the fulfilment of chair specific as well as general university criteria
Overview two levels of requirements
General HHL criteria
- Fulfilment of the formal admission criteria, e.g.:
-Above-average master-level degree in business or economics (at least a final grade which is equivalent of the German grade “good”)
-Very good English skills
(e.g. TOEFL of 96+ ibt)
-Accepted research proposal and letter of acceptance by an HHL supervisor
- Find more details here:
HHL Doctoral Program
Supervision for external doctoral candidates
Our chair-specific criteria
- Fit between the planned doctoral research project and research focus of the research group in strategy and (corporate) entrepreneurship
- Willingness to work on a cumulative dissertation focusing on publications in leading international academic journals
- High level of motivation to
do research in a fast-paced environment with highly engaged scholars and personal fit
In order to successfully earn the doctoral degree you need to write your dissertation as well as complete the structured program at HHL
Overview two components to achieve your doctoral degree
Completion within 24 months possible in our Research Group –
depending on your own motivation and commitment!
The cumulative dissertation consists of four research papers out which one must be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal
Details: Dissertation
- The cumulative (or “publication-based”) dissertation will contain a total of at least four research papers
- Research papers can
a) either be contextually linked with each other (similar of writing a monograph, primary within one research area) or
b) be independently from each other (across different research foci) - Co-authorship of papers together with other scholars (e.g. other doctoral students or professors) is possible and strongly encouraged within the research group
- When submitting the final doctoral thesis, all papers must have been accepted in
a peer-reviewed academic journal (ranked A, B or C by VHB JourQual ranking /
4, 3, or 2 by AJG / Q1 or Q2 by SJR). One paper can also prove publication-worthiness through acceptance at an international top conference (e.g. AOM,
SMS, EURAM). - One of the research papers can also be written as a teaching case study (similar to Harvard Teaching Case) bringing research results into classroom discussion and accepted at a case publisher (e.g. Ivey) or as a book chapter for an edited book.
The structured doctoral program can be started any time and consists of courses, colloquia and summer meetings
Details: Doctoral Program
- The structured doctoral program consists of 2 core courses and 6 elective courses plus 2 colloquia and 2 summer meetings
- Courses are usually offered in compact 2-3 days structure
- Courses generally offered once a year – program start at any time possible
- Find more details here:
HHL Doctoral Program