Abteilung für Kinderkardiologie und pädiatrische Intensivmedizin
  1. Startseite LMU Klinikum
  2. Kinder- und Jugendmedizin
  3. Forschung und Lehre
  4. Forschung
  5. Promotions- und Habilitationsangelegenheiten
  6. Ph.D. Cardiovascular Science
  7. Curriculum

Curriculum

Scope of the Ph.D. Medical Research – Cardiovascular Science

Within the framework of this structured Ph.D. program, doctoral candidates need to obtain a total of 180 ECTS:

  • 30 ECTS that each student can choose individually to improve knowledge and methodological skills directly related to the Ph.D. project 

    • 17 ECTS for attending Methods Courses

    • 8 ECTS for attending Conferences, Retreats, etc.

    • 5 ECTS for the acquisition of Transferable Skills

  • 120 ECTS within the scope of the research project, including Study Blocks in Munich and regular research progress meetings
  • 20 ECTS for the dissertation
  • 10 ECTS for the disputation conducted in Munich

Variety of the individually selectable 30 ECTS

The freely selectable 30 ECTS are intended to enable doctoral students to pursue their individual interests and acquire project-specific skills. Accordingly, the greatest possible flexibility in choice is given here and there are several options for the Ph.D. candidates to fulfill these requirements. However, it is strongly recommended that each student discuss this part of the curriculum with the Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC) to accurately identify project-specific requirements. A single ECTS corresponds to two full days of a course or conference, inclusive of the necessary preparatory and post-course tasks, or translates to 30 hours of required work. For more information on the 30 ECTS, please have a look here. 


Please note that the MMRS lecture series "Good Scientific Practise" is mandatory for all Ph.D. students of the LMU Medical Faculty. Successful participation is rewarded with 0.5 ECTS. Please find all information here. 


Some examples where to look for courses: 

Collecting the additional mandatory ECTS

In addition to the 30 ECTS required by the MMRS guidelines, Ph.D. MR – CVS program students have to collect extra curricular ECTS through the successful completion of pre-defined courses and the mandatory bi-monthly progress sessions.

Upon joining the Ph.D. program, candidates commence their doctoral journey with Study Block I in Munich, held from October to early  December in line with LMU's winter semester. All Ph.D. MR – CVS program students undergo the same curriculum to guarantee a consistent knowledge base across all candidates.

Study Block I

Study Block I, lasting eight weeks, is an intensive period filled with daily lectures, workshops, and seminars, requiring full-time commitment from all doctoral students. The program focuses on the healthy cardiovascular system's biology, cardiovascular disease insights, treatment options, epidemiology, and associated risk factors. In addition, it provides an understanding of basic research methods, analytical tools for cardiovascular studies, and interdisciplinary skills like scientific writing. Each module will be concluded with a written exam.

Study Block II

Study Block II, taking place in Munich in September and October of the following year, delves deeper into cardiovascular research and its methodologies, emphasizing the latest advancements and current best practices in cardiovascular science. Furthermore, Study Block II overlaps with Study Block I for the new cohort of Ph.D. candidates, providing a platform for networking and knowledge sharing among peers.

Every two months, Ph.D. students have to discuss their research progress in a jointly organized meeting with their supervisors, including both the LMU and any local supervisor. A short report (template) detailing the meeting's results must be sent to the Program Coordination. By working on the research project for two months, organizing this meeting and submitting a corresponding report, students receive six ECTS credits.

Your Ph.D. project will be supervised by a Thesis Advisory Committee (TAC), composed of three experienced scientists. Two mandatory TAC meetings will be held: the first during the Ph.D. program's Study Block II and the second at the start of your third study year, where you will present your research project progress. Following each meeting, a signed TAC protocol summarizing the discussions is to be uploaded to the MMRS Campus Portal for ECTS credit approval by the Program Coordination. 

Please note that additional TAC meetings are required for extended study periods (> 3 years).

MMRS Campus Portal

The online Campus Portal maps the entire doctoral cycle for each student – from the registration of your doctoral project and the evaluation of your submitted thesis, to the awarding of your doctoral degree and certificate after a successful oral defense.

In order to be able to do a Ph.D. at the LMU Medical Faculty, accepted doctoral students have to register their Ph.D. project within the first three months after the start of the program. All doctoral students need to create an account for themselves (only after acceptance to the Ph.D. MR - CVS!) and submit all information relevant to their studies. Please note that it is the responsibility of the Ph.D. student to keep their Campus Portal account up to date and track their own progress. The Ph.D. Program Coordination is only responsible for monitoring the progress and verifying submitted documents.

The MMRS has created some useful videos to help you set up and manage your Campus Portal account:

  1. Create a new account (only after successful application, registrations without prior successful application will be deleted immediately)
  2. Registration
  3. Supervision Agreement
  4. Requesting ECTS Credits
  5. Submission of publications
  6. Submission of your Ph.D. Thesis