TUM Wissenschaftliche Arbeit und Forschung auf höchstem Niveau
Photo: Andreas Heddergott/TUM

Mandatory Elements


Within the framework of the TUM Graduate School, the Medical Graduate Center generates uniform and binding standards in the doctoral education, and offers a doctoral qualification program that consists of subject-related and interdisciplinary elements.
The qualification program ensures that doctoral programs of the TUM School of Medicine have a consistently high quality. Doctoral candidates are supported in their professional life, as well as with the increasingly important soft skills.
The qualification program, designed by TUM GS and MGC/TUM School of Medicine, comprises the following mandatory elements:


Additional courses to the medicine studies should be attended over the entire duration of the doctoral project. Subject-related courses must be arranged independently by the doctoral candidate and their supervisors, and submitted to the MGC for approval. All subject-related courses must be related to the topic of the dissertation.

There are many free courses available. However, if costs are incurred, the doctoral candidate is responsible for covering any expenditure.

If you have questions concerning the recognition of courses, please send exact information (program, flyer, etc.) to us(link sends e-mail).

Examples of course types that MGC typically recognizes:

  • Summer/Winter schools,
  • Method courses, workshops (e.g. EMBO courses, satellite workshops, Felasa-B)
  • Lab courses, doctoral seminars, lab meetings, journal clubs*
  • Curricular seminars, special lectures, elective courses (these must be listed in the course catalog, unless they have already been credited during medical school)
  • Continuing education events** (events recognized by the medical association that award  continuing education credits)
  • Investigating physician courses

From Summer 2020 conferences are also recognized as subject-related courses, under following conditions:

  • Maximum 2 SWS (21 hours) per candidate
  • Conferences must be closely related to the topic of the dissertation
  • The first supervisor must confirm the relevance of the event
  • The doctoral candidate must provide evidence of the attended clock hours


We approve online events, too, if they have an interactive character, i.e. where a live exchange between speaker(s) and participant(s) is given.

Not creditable as subject-related courses:

  • Internships
  • Offers of virtual universities, webinars, or similar without interactive character (see above)
  • Soft skills courses (may be credited as transferable skills training)

*Confirmation by running sheet, including name, date, place, times, topic and signature of the supervisor/organizer
** The certificate of attendance must contain the above mentioned information, as well as the continuing education points. It might be necessary to request a certificate of attendance in advance.