Doctoral candidates conduct independent research or participate in structured programs on topics such as journalism, political communication, or strategic communication. Close supervision, methodological training, and international networking prepare them for academic careers or leadership positions.
The Institute for Communication Science and Media Research (IfKW) at LMU offers doctoral candidates the opportunity to pursue their studies in one of Europe's leading research environments in the field of communication science. Doctoral candidates work independently on a scientific project that contributes to the advancement and further development of communication science research.
Internal doctoral program: The doctoral thesis is completed independently under the supervision of a professor with a habilitation at the IfKW. This can be done through a project or chair position. In this case, you will be employed at the IfKW, which means you will teach and conduct research here. You can find open positions on the LMU job portal. You can also contact professors directly (e.g., to jointly apply for funding).
External doctoral program: You can also finance your doctoral thesis independently (e.g., through a scholarship or professional activity). In this case, your collaboration with a professor at our institute will be limited to your research and the supervisory relationship.
To assess whether a doctoral program at the IfKW is right for you, it is worth contacting the chairs directly—take a look at the various research areas that interest you.
The range of topics is broad and based on the institute's research areas – from journalism, media, and public relations research to political communication and media psychology to strategic communication and digital transformation. Admission requirements include a very good academic degree in communication studies or a related field, as well as an exposé that precisely describes the planned research.
Further information can be found in the doctoral regulations (PDF, 108 KB).
The IfKW supports doctoral candidates through close academic supervision, collegial exchange in research colloquia, methodological workshops, and access to international networks. In addition, there is the opportunity to participate in the institute's research projects, conduct your own courses, and contribute to the scientific community through conferences and publications.
There are many paths to a doctorate, and so is the information about the process and possible contacts. We look forward to supporting you on your academic journey.
The institute and its programs thrive on the people who work and conduct research here. Take a look around to see what kind of research is being done and whether the ifkw is a good fit for you.