During your study
Welcome
...to the PhD program Medical Life Science and Technology and congratulations on your admission!
We’re really happy to have you in the program and look forward to supporting you on this important chapter in your academic journey and personal growth.
During your PhD, you will go through several key milestones on the way to your thesis. This timeline is here to help you keep an overview and plan ahead. Check it regularly to see where you are and what’s coming next. If you run into delays, uncertainties, or personal challenges, please reach out to the program coordinators so we can help you stay on track.
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Immatriculation
Complete your official enrolment at TUM on time so you are officially registered as a PhD student.
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1st Semester
Join the kick-off seminar, prepare your supervision agreement, and plan your first TAC meeting.
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2nd Semester
Take the Good Scientific Practice course within your first year.
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3rd Semester
Schedule your second TAC meeting.
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4th Semester
Check your progress and plan the timeline for your publication requirement so your paper can get submitted and accepted on time.
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5th Semester
Hold your third TAC meeting and check if you are ready to write your thesis.
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6th semester
Finish all required coursework and make sure everything is correctly entered on DocGS by the end of the semester.
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Extension Period
If you decide to extend your study period by one or two semesters, complete all coursework before applying for an extension in your sixth semester, and submit the extension application by the last day of the previous semester.
Consider planning a fourth TAC meeting to check your progress!
Main Elements
Below you can find more details on the main elements of your PhD journey.
Coursework
During your PhD studies you are required to fulfill a structured course program. To graduate from the MLST program, you must fulfill all the requirements as they are stated in the official study regulations.
To graduate you must collect 180 credits in total (most of it through your dissertation research). There are different categories in which you need to collect credits, including following:
- Lectures
- Lab courses
- Scientific Seminars
- Soft skill courses
- Keynote speaker series
- Scientific presentation
- TAC meetings
- Dissertation Research
Even if you collect credits in all of these categories TAC meetings and dissertation research don't comprise of actual courses. These aspects of your coursework will be outlined later on this site. For further information on the requirements and procedures for internal and external courses please check the guidelines you can find here.
Additional Requirements
In addition to these courses, you are required to attend the kick-off seminar offered by the TUM-GS and the seminar on good scientific practice offered by us as well as fulfill a publication requirement.
TAC Meetings
Your Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) is there to support you scientifically and help you navigate your PhD. TAC meetings are a good opportunity to discuss your progress, challenges, and next steps with your supervisor and mentors. Preparing a short report or presentation before each meeting helps you reflect on what you have achieved and where you might need support. Try to use TAC meetings not only as a formal requirement, but as a space for honest feedback and planning.
The expected timeline for your TAC meetings is to plan one in your first, third and fifth semester. Please make sure to plan them on time.
Dissertation Research
Your dissertation research is the core of your PhD and spans at least six semesters. It includes your full-time research in your lab and needs to get confirmed by your supervisor to get accreditation.
Progress will rarely be completely linear, so it is normal to adjust your plans along the way and check back with your TAC regularly. If you encounter any obstacles please make sure to contact us as soon as possible.
Publication
Publishing a paper as first or co-author is an essential part of your phd program and a requirement for submitting your thesis. Work with your TAC to identify suitable journals or conferences and discuss realistic timelines for manuscript preparation. Make sure to start planning this aspect early in your study as this specific requirement can take a long time but is needed to submit your thesis and therefore should be ready by the end of your sixth semester.
Extensions
Sometimes PhD projects need more time than originally planned, for example due to experimental delays, personal reasons, changes in the project scope, or an especially long revision time of a submitted paper. If you notice that you might not finish within the regular study period, talk to your TAC members and us early to explore your options. You can apply for a maximum of two semesters and no further extensions can be granted under any circumstances. So planning ahead helps avoid unnecessary stress close to your official end date.
International Expericenes
International experiences such as research stays abroad, conference visits, or joint projects with groups in other countries – can enrich your PhD both scientifically and personally. They allow you to expand your network, experience different research cultures, and practice working in international teams. If you are interested in going abroad, discuss possible timing and funding options with your TAC members. Even shorter stays or virtual collaborations can be valuable for broadening your perspective.
The TUM GS offers a financial internationalization support for such stays. More information can be found here.