The first election for the Graduate Council will take place in December 2026! Information about the election will follow shortly.
On July 27, 2026, the Rectorate of the University of Rostock approved the establishment of the Graduate Council. This creates a new representative body that will advocate for the interests of doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers and actively contribute to the further development of the framework conditions for early-career researchers.
The Graduate Council is intended to reflect the diversity of the University of Rostock. It will include representatives of doctoral candidates from the individual faculties as well as representatives of postdocs from the four different scientific disciplines according to the DFG subject classification system (life sciences, humanities and social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering).
Preparations are currently underway for the first election of the Graduate Council. The term of office for Graduate Council members is one year and begins on April 1 of each year.
Was macht der Graduiertenrat?
Representing Interests: The Graduate Council brings together the concerns of doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers and presents them to university committees, institutions, and the Office of the President.
Contributing development: It develops statements and recommendations on issues related to academic staff development and the structure of the qualification phase.
Promoting exchange: The Graduate Council provides a forum for peer consultation on issues related to the doctoral and postdoctoral phases.
Networking: It promotes interdisciplinary and cross-faculty exchange and networking with other representative bodies for doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers.
Who is eligible to vote for the Graduate Council?
All doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers—up to 6 years after completing their doctorate—who are registered as of December 1 of a given year are eligible to vote.
Doctoral Candidates:
All doctoral candidates whose doctoral thesis has been registered at the University of Rostock and who have re-registered as part of the annual status survey are eligible to vote.
If your doctoral program has not yet been registered, please fill out the registration form and email it to gradauni-rostockde. Starting at the end of the year, doctoral programs will be registered via DOCATA, the University of Rostock’s doctoral student portal.
Postdoctoral researchers:
All postdoctoral researchers up to 6 years after completing their doctorate who have registered with the Graduate Academy are eligible to vote. Registration is voluntary.
Registered postdoctoral researchers can participate in the election of the Graduate Council and take advantage of the funding opportunities offered by the Graduate Academy. Starting in 2027, we will also organize the registration of postdoctoral researchers via DOCATA.
Who is eligible to become a candidate?
All registered doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers are eligible to run for the Graduate Council.
A candidacy offers the opportunity to contribute to the conditions of doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers. At the same time, serving on the Graduate Council provides the opportunity to gain valuable experience in academic self-governance. This includes, among other things, insights into university decision-making processes, collaboration with various university stakeholders, and experience in advocacy and networking. These experiences and skills can also be beneficial for a future career in academia.
Eine Kandidatur bietet die Möglichkeit, die Rahmenbedingungen für Promovierende und Postdoktorand*innen aktiv mitzugestalten. At the same time, serving on the Graduate Council provides an opportunity to gain valuable experience in academic self-governance. This includes, among other things, insights into university decision-making processes, collaboration with various university stakeholders, and experience in representing interests and networking. These experiences and skills can also be beneficial for a future career in academia.
The election notice will specify how and by what deadline the candidacy may be submitted.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Graduate Academy in advance. To do so, please send us an email at gradauni-rostockde.