We are happy to conduct consultations on site or, of course, still via Zoom after prior appointment. If you feel mentally stressed during your PhD or postdoc please don't hesitate to contact us: we are Mental Health First Aider.
philGRAD – The Graduate Academy of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
The Graduate Academy philGRAD is a central institution of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. It supports the faculty's young academics during the doctoral phase with a diverse workshop programme in key qualifications as well as with needs-oriented advisory and coaching services. Individual career and personal development as well as networking among doctoral sresearchers are the main focus of philGRAD. For example, the community of doctoral researchers at our faculty is involved in the doctoral researchers network philFAELTIG and the doctoral researcher representatives also offer regular get-togethers. philGRAD also promotes social interaction in faculty-wide events such as Heinrich – Der Slam, the fireside chat and finally, the annual doctoral party - organised together with the doctoral office - is an unforgettable highlight in the academic year and in the lives of our newly graduated students.
Together with the PhD Office, philGRAD is the central point of contact for your doctorate at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. While the PhD Office is your central point of contact for all formal matters concerning your – from the provisional acceptance as a doctoral candidate to the submission of your dissertation – philGRAD sees itself as your process companion during all phases of your extensive research project. We also want to provide you with the best possible support and counselling at all times in the event of doubts, lack of motivation, writer's block, conflicts and any other challenges.
News
Female scientists can apply for subsidies for publication costs (e.g. for journal articles, dissertations, postdoctoral theses), travel expenses and participation fees for career-related training courses at the central equal opportunities office.
was mit promotion – der podcast brings interesting, researched and unknown facts about PhD/dissertation to the ear. It's worth listening!
Office hours by arrangement

Managing director
Floor/Room: 01.78
40225 Düsseldorf
Essentails
Doing a doctorate with like-minded people
philFAELTIG is a platform by PhD students for PhD students of the faculty on Rocket.Chat for joint learning and working around the dissertation. Please join if you wish.
The joint lunch break is an uncomplicated and open forum for doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, which thrives on the fact that you can meet on GatherTown - no matter where you are - and exchange information about your concerns. Daily 12-1 pm.
Fireplace Chat
Once a year, philGRAD invites you to a fireside chat at the Forum des Austauschs (O.A.S.E.) during the winter months to present the colourful variety of career paths of the members at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities: a nice opportunity to network!
Since 2021 Dr. Simone Brandes is member of the UniWIND working group "Mental Health in der Promotionsphase. Unterstützungsangebote von Graduierteneinrichtungen"