Care Agreement

The ‘Agreement on the Supervision of Doctoral Studies at HTWK Leipzig’ governs the relationship between doctoral candidates and supervisors.

The aim is to ensure that the collaboration is set out transparently for both parties, in terms of both content and time. The planning and implementation of the dissertation project should be organised independently through structured cooperation between doctoral candidates and supervisors, in such a way that the doctoral degree can be completed to a high standard within a reasonable timeframe.

From 1 January 2021, the supervision agreement will be binding for all doctoral programmes at HTWK Leipzig.

The supervision agreement sets out various aspects that are crucial to the success of a PhD.
In addition to the specific research project, it also sets out the framework conditions for work on the dissertation and jointly defines the rights and obligations of PhD candidates and supervisors.

Specifically, the following points are covered in the supervision agreement:

• The individuals involved in the PhD programme: PhD candidates and supervisors
• The topic of the dissertation
• The cooperating university faculty
• The planned duration of the research
• A timetable and work plan
• The tasks and responsibilities of the doctoral candidates
• The tasks and responsibilities of the supervisors

Mandatory annexes to the supervision agreement signed by both parties are:

• Written approval from the HTWK faculty for the doctoral programme
• An academic synopsis of the doctoral research project
• A work and time plan
• where applicable, proof of inclusion on the doctoral register of the cooperating university faculty

HTWK Leipzig provides a model supervision agreement.
The structure and scope of this agreement, including the appendices to be submitted, are binding.

Additions and deletions are only permitted in the marked sections.

It is advisable to use the signing of the supervision agreement as a starting point for a discussion about working together during the PhD programme. What are the wishes and expectations on both sides? How can effective communication and cooperation be achieved? At what intervals can discussions on the progress of the research be held? How do the parties involved intend to deal with challenges and problems? 

The nature of the collaboration may well change as the doctoral project progresses. It is advisable to discuss changing approaches or support requirements on a regular basis.

A copy of the supervision agreement, including all annexes, must be submitted to the Graduate Centre immediately after signing, without being asked to do so. Proof of enrolment on the doctoral register of the cooperating university faculty may be submitted at a later date, within twelve months of the start of the doctoral programme.

Doctoral candidates and supervisors will receive confirmation from the Graduate Centre that the documents have been received in due form and within the specified time limit.

For internal university recording and processing, as well as for the application of internal funding instruments (registry, statistics, teaching load reduction, etc.), the Graduate Centre forwards the data relevant to the doctoral programme at regular intervals, by 15 March of each year at the latest, to the relevant departments.