Institute of Science and Technology Austria - ISTA
PhD Program
Klosterneuburg, Austria
PhD
DURATION
6 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
15 Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* ISTA does not charge any tuition fees.
Key Summary
One of the hallmarks of the ISTA PhD program is the shared graduate school experience.
An initial stage of rotations and cross-disciplinary coursework encourages broad exposure to important scientific approaches and problems, allowing students to lay a solid foundation for intensive research in the second phase of the PhD program.
Philosophy and Objectives of the PhD Program
The goal of the ISTA PhD program is to produce intellectually broad, curious, open-minded scientists who are able to approach problems from different angles and can collaborate with diverse types of scientists. The set-up makes it easy to explore new fields and collaborate across the different scientific disciplines, allowing students to shape their own research direction.
To this end, our students complete an unique interdisciplinary training program consisting of both research and taught elements, and receive close mentoring by world-class faculty from different disciplines.
Students do not start as part of a research group, but instead as unaffiliated. Lab rotations allow students to make an informed decision about the research group they are joining, and the research direction they want to take. Affiliation (joining a research group) takes place only after students have completed three rotations in three different research groups (1st year).
ISTA welcomes students with different academic backgrounds who can bring their skills and experiences to the scientific setting. Students with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Astronomy, Biology, Computer Science, Chemistry & Materials, Data Science & Scientific Computing, Earth Science, Mathematics, Neuroscience, and Physics are encouraged to apply.
Financial Support
All our PhD students are fully funded, at internationally competitive salary levels, and receive full social security coverage.
All PhD students are required to work towards their PhD full-time.
There is also financial support for students to attend scientific conferences and workshops.
Coursework
The coursework at ISTA consists of a mix of interdisciplinary courses (core courses) and field-specific advanced courses (electives).
The interdisciplinary core courses (Interdisciplinary Communication in Science and Track Core course) are designed to encourage the exchange of knowledge between students from highly diverse backgrounds and promote the conditions which allow for interdisciplinary research. In both the core project and the track core courses, students are working on a broad range of topics, are encouraged to think beyond the boundaries of their primary research focus, and acquire the tools for interdisciplinary scientific communication.
The courses also fulfil a community-building function in terms of fostering exchange between students from different disciplinary backgrounds.
Elective courses are typically specialised, advanced courses. These students receive in-depth training related to their research field (12-24 ECTS credits). Students' flexibility builds their own curriculum based on the research focus and curiosity. Students are free to choose courses from any track. Where needed, ISTA supports exploring course and training options elsewhere.
Phase 1
When joining the PhD program of ISTA, students are not part of any specific research group.
During the first phase, students:
- Do three research rotations with three different research groups (lasting approx. two months each)
- Find a PhD supervisor (a professor at ISTA)
- Form a thesis committee, consisting of:
– the supervisor(s)
– two other thesis committee members (one of whom must be external) - Pass a qualifying exam, which consists of:
– an oral presentation of the thesis proposal, and
– an oral exam on the thesis proposal and reading list - Fulfil course and credit requirements (see below for details)
Phase 2
After passing the qualifying exam, students work primarily on research towards a PhD thesis. The exact requirements of the thesis vary by discipline, but invariably, students work closely with their supervisor and/or the rest of the research group to produce original research of the highest standard, and make significant contributions to the understanding of a specific topic of research.
Students in Phase 2 are expected to offer teaching assistance (TA) for at least one half-semester course before graduating. They also perform biannual progress reviews jointly with their supervisor(s) and thesis committee members. The purpose of progress reviews is to discuss the student’s performance and to assess whether reasonable progress is made towards the PhD degree, as well as make constructive suggestions on how the students can attain the established goals and complete the thesis project in a timely manner.
In addition, students in Phase 2 give annual presentations on their thesis research. These presentations are an opportunity for students to present their preliminary research results to the wider institute, obtain feedback, and hone their presentation skills.
A thesis defence is typically scheduled within three to four years after passing the qualifying exam. It consists of a public oral presentation of the draft thesis (normally 40-50 minutes) in the presence of the thesis committee, followed by questions and answers on the thesis.
Once a final thesis is submitted and accepted by the thesis committee, the PhD degree is awarded by the Institute.
Our distinguished alumni have gone on to successful careers after their PhD studies at ISTA. PhD students receive support through our mentorship and career development programs, which focus on training in transferable skills for academia and beyond. Throughout their studies, PhD students are supported by Career Services, which provides career development advice and training. There are also regular talks organised by the XISTA Innovation, which aim to support researchers in the commercial development and use of their research results.