More courses for doctoral candidates
There are many opportunities at the University for doctoral candidates to take courses and improve their qualifications. Below we outline some of the services that you can take advantage of.
Professional development program for University faculty and staff
The University provides professional development and continuing education courses to its staff free of charge.
Doctoral candidates who are employed as research associates (wissenschaftliche Angestellte) or academic assistants (wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft) with a contract of at least 80 hours per month can take part in the program with the support of their supervisor.
More information:
► Abteilung Personalentwicklung und Dual Career Service (German)
hei_INNOVATION
hei_INNOVATION is your first point of contact when seeking support for all matters related to transfer activities and their implementation at Heidelberg University.
The transfer agency’s services within the field of knowledge and technology transfer are open to all members of the university. This includes programs, courses and teaching on entrepreneurship, validation of business ideas, innovation methods etc. ei_INNOVATION is also providing the Entrepreneurial Skills certificate.
Links:
Services provided by the International Relations Office
The International Relations Office provides services and organizes events that help international doctoral candidates to get settled in Heidelberg, to make contact with other students and to get to know the region.
More information:
► Services and events of the International Relations Office
Academic instruction
The department for academic instruction (Hochschuldidaktik) offers services and a series of courses aimed at helping young researchers to improve their teaching skills.
The program comprises a number of modules, taught in German, which lead to the certificate called "Baden-Württemberg-Zertifikat für Hochschuldidaktik". A fee is charged for the program.
More information is available at:
► Skills2Teach & Skills2Study – Abteilung Schlüsselkompetenzen und Hochschuldidaktik (German)
► Baden-Württemberg Center for Teaching and Learning (HDZ)
Career Service
The Career Service advises students and doctoral candidates about career opportunities and helps them to discover their own professional competencies.
More information:
► Career Service (German)
Equal Opportunities Office
The Equal Opportunities Office offers courses for young female researchers in the Mentoring and Training (MuT) program and the Wi MEET program.
More information:
► Equal Opportunities Office: Services for doctoral candidates (German)
Language courses
Internationales Studienzentrum - German courses at Heidelberg University
The Graduate Academy cooperates with the Internationales Studienzentrum to offer German courses for international doctoral candidates.
The courses are held every semester beginning in either mid-April or mid-October. You can register online about one month before the courses begin:
More information:
► Internationales Studienzentrum
► Graduate Academy Seminar program
German courses at private language schools
There is a list of private language schools offering German courses on the website of the Welcome Centre:
More information:
► German courses at private language schools (German) 
TopLab
The TopLab program offers training courses for laboratory work in medicine and the biosciences.
More information:
► TopLab (German)
Tutorials and courses at the University library (UB)
The library offers both online and classroom courses in a variety of subjects.
As a doctoral candidate you might be interested in topics such as academic citing practices, literature management with Endnote or Citavi or copyright law. Information and online registration are available at:
More information:
► Universitätsbibliothek - Training and learning opportunities
University Computing Center
For courses on computer and software programs see the workshop program of the University Computing Center.
More information:
► Universitätsrechenzentrum – IT Forum (German)
Central Language Laboratory (Zentrales Sprachlabor)
Language courses provided by the Central Language Laboratory are open to doctoral candidates. For more information about the courses, fees and deadlines please see the following website.
More information:
► Zentrales Sprachlabor (German)
