Training Structure

Doctoral students follow a four-year track. They will go through a program structured as follows:

Curriculum 1st Year
1st Semester
Math Boot Camp
-
Intensive Course
Advanced Applied Microeconomics
E
2+2 hours weekly
Advanced Econometrics
E
2+2 hours weekly
Advanced Macroeconomics
E
2+2 hours weekly
Economic Policy
E
2+2 hours weekly
2nd Semester
Microeconometrics or Macroeconometrics
E
2+2 hours weekly
Field Course
E
2+2 hours weekly
Field Course
E
2+2 hours weekly
Scientific Skills
-
several workshops
  (E=examination)
Admission to 2nd, 3rd and 4th year after successful completion of all courses


Copyright: DIW Berlin

Fist Year (Winter Term)

The winter term (October to March) of the first year includes advanced-level math, microeconomics, macroeconomics, economic policy and an advanced econometrics course.These courses are taught throughout the winter semester, and are completed by passing a written examination. 


First Year (Summer Term)

In the summer term (April to July), doctoral students choose either microeconometrics or time series analysis. Additionally, they choose two advanced courses offered by the Berlin universities out of a variety of fields which fit their research interests. Students also take practical courses that are offered under the heading scientific skills. This package comprises a series of intensive workshops e.g. on Research Project Management, Scientific Writing or the DIW Research Seminar.


Internship

One or two internships at high-level political or research institutions in Germany or abroad allow students to develop an in-depth, practical understanding of what it means to work in applied economic research. These internships can also be conducted during later years.


Second Year

To begin the second year, doctoral students must pass all first-year examinations. This is a precondition to continue the program. A supervisor covering the chosen research field will be assigned, and doctoral students will join one of the seven research departments of DIW Berlin. They will participate in research projects either on a regular basis (if they are offered a research position) or within an internship (see Tuition/Finance).

In the winter and summer term, a bi-weekly seminar will be held in which initial research results are presented. The written and oral presentation of a paper to the other participants will be required.

The completion and presentation of a research paper will be mandatory. The second year will end with a workshop in which one paper by each student will be presented to all supervisors involved in the research fields. In this phase, submissions to international conferences should become part of the postgraduate students’ research careers. Students will also be required to complete a short contribution to DIW’s “Weekly Report”, which will be published.


Third and Fourth Year

The third and fourth year will be devoted to the completion of the PhD thesis, while still working on research projects with the departments. Two bi-weekly seminars (one in the winter term and one in the summer term) will be offered to keep the doctoral students integrated into an interactive research network. The completion of two research discussion papers as part of the PhD thesis will be mandatory. Again students will be required to write one “DIW Weekly Report” which will be published. The third and fourth year will require more intensive coaching of the students, especially by the supervisor and the personnel officer.

Doctoral students who major in socio-economic research with the goal of a doctoral dissertation in sociology share part of the program, as part of a sociological curriculum offered in collaboration with the Freie Universität Berlin.