QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health
Charité – University Medicine Berlin, Institute of Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology
The working language of the HDS PhD programme is English. The final dissertation must be submitted in English, and all required HDS coursework will be completed in English. Many of the elective offerings are also in English, and it is possible to complete the HDS programme without any German language knowledge. German speaking students could also take courses in German for elective credit (as long as these are relevant to HDS and approved by the HDS PhD Board).
Please check the HDS PhD website in autumn 2024 for updated information on 2025 HDS PhD Programme admissions. The 2025 HDS PhD cohort will begin their studies on 1 October 2025.
The goal of the multidisciplinary doctoral programme in Health Data Sciences for outstanding junior researchers is to provide a structured framework of studies, research, and teaching for promising scientists in the disciplines of Health Data Sciences (HDS).
The programme places particular emphasis on preparing students for future careers at universities, non-university research institutions, and other scientific public or private institutions in the fields of biostatistics, epidemiology, meta-research, population health science, public health, and medical informatics.
The scientific coursework serves to deepen methodological knowledge, instil fundamentals of sound scientific research practice, and promote effective dissemination of knowledge through teaching. The programme has three main focus areas:
In total, HDS PhD students must earn 30 ECTS credit points throughout the three-year programme. These points are divided as follows:
In-person attendance is compulsory during semesters one and three.
PDF DownloadUnder the guidance of experienced HDS faculty members, doctoral students are required to participate in a Mentored Teaching module to learn and hone their skills in didactics, curriculum development, information synthesis, and scientific communication. In this module, students will be involved in all aspects of a Master's level course in one of the HDS domains. Experienced university lecturer mentors will provide regular support and coaching as well as constructive feedback.
The HDS PhD programme does not charge any tuition fees. Students, however, are required to pay registration fees every semester to be officially matriculated at the Charité and receive student benefits, such as discounted registration to conferences and the semester ticket for public transportation.
English Level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
Much of the programme coursework requires the use of statistical programmes. Most students will use R software, although some students will use other programmes, such as Python, Stata, or SAS.
Please check the HDS PhD website in autumn 2024 for updated information on 2025 HDS PhD Programme admissions. The 2025 HDS PhD cohort will begin their studies on 1 October 2025.
Please find relevant job portals on the "Funding" page of the HDS PhD website.
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