Zeitschrift für Hochschuldidaktik Nr. 2/1994
International Perspectives in Postgraduate Education and Training
Michael Schratz (Innsbruck, Österreich)
Doctoral Studies in Austria: The Neglected "Third Academic Cycle"
Summary
Doctoral studies do not have a long history in Austrian university life. It was not until 1966 that a reform of the study laws governing the university took place introducing master's degree courses with the exception of M.D. curriculum and upgrading curricula. Previously students used to finish their (first degree) with the doctorate, which created a situation that did not differenciate between students going in for professional studies and those aiming at a research career. However, this has not changed the attitude of students trying to study for a doctorate even though they do not intend to go in for a university career, because of the prestige of the higher academic degree.Whereas the master's degree courses are structured by tight curricula, doctoral studies show a loose framwork for the organisation of the respective courses. In fact, most departments do not offer particular course offerings for their doctoral studies, since most of the doctoral student's work is focussed around the doctoral thesis to be produced and its supervision.
With the introduction of the new fields of study to be covered by the "Fachhochschulen" (polytechnics), which will offer shorter and more practically oriented acadmic courses, the transfer problem arises for students who want to continue their studies at a university. The introduction of a professional doctorate could form a missing link between the conventional research-based doctoral degree and the practical experience students bring in when doing part-time degrees.
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