End of the ProDoc programme: The final submission deadline was on 12 January 2012. No more applications can be submitted for training and research modules.
The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities (CRUS) support doctoral programmes (ProDoc) in Switzerland. Funding is approved for training schemes of doctoral candidates (candocs) and for their research needed to complete the doctorate. The call is open to all scientific disciplines.
A ProDoc includes at least 12 directly involved candocs, of whom a maximum of ten may benefit from SNSF funding in the framework of the programme. The maximum number of directly involved candocs is particularly determined by the excellence in the supervision of the candocs to be expected.
Structure
ProDoc has a modular structure. Research modules (RM) cover the salaries and research expenses of the candocs, and complement a central training module (TM) that integrates training and management activities of the programme. The ProDoc formed by the different modules constitutes a coherent unit. For each module a separate application is submitted, however, all applications must be co-ordinated. A ProDoc will initially last for 3 years (training module).
The candocs dedicate the majority of their time to research and training. The ProDoc guarantees a high-level education for the participants. Furthermore, it also aims at a reduction of time needed for the doctoral theses.
The SNSF intends to raise the percentage of funded women to 40%.
Conditions of participation
The applicants must be qualified to supervise doctoral theses. Candocs wishing to take part in an ongoing graduate programme may contact directly the responsible persons of a ProDoc.
Selection procedure
The SNSF ensures the management of the programme (calls for proposals, information to the scientific community, evaluation of the applications, decisions, management of the subsidies). Whereas the CRUS takes over general issues concerning the doctoral education.