Doctoral Students' Councils

According to section 38, subsection 7 of the act on higher education institutions in the Land of Baden-Württemberg (Landeshochschulgesetz, LHG), doctoral students’ councils are university bodies representing all doctoral students of a university. In accordance with the Constitution of the University of Mannheim, these councils operate at school level. Once you have been admitted to the University of Mannheim as a doctoral student, you become a member of the school's council and have the opportunity to become actively involved. Each council is presided by a board elected from among the members of the council.

Why do universities need doctoral students’ councils?

Doctoral students’ councils represent the interests of doctoral students and have an advisory role when it comes to central decision-making processes within he framework of the university’s self-governance. For instance, they

• make statements on changes in the regulations and procedures governing the doctoral dissertation,
• participate in the conception of funding opportunities for doctoral students,
• assist in the preparation of documents like guidelines for doctoral students at the University of Mannheim.

Not only are doctoral students’ councils involved in the university’s internal processes, they are also important bodies regarding self-governance processes, communication between the doctoral students as well as networking with other universities within the Land of Baden-Württemberg. Regular meetings and the opportunity to become a member of the board of the doctoral students’ council, the so-called council’s chair, allow doctoral students to become actively involved in the councils. The council’s chair also sees itself as the political representation of all doctoral students at the University of Mannheim and thus also takes a position on political issues. 

For more information on the doctoral students' councils, please see here.