How do I take part in LFC1?

LFC Year 1 is offered in the summer semester and is integrated into modules 1.3 and 1.4. Students can find more information about LFC Year 1 in Stud.IP in the LFC event. We will invite you in good time to an information event at the end of each winter semester.

How do I find a research project within the LFC Year 2/3?

Each semester, projects for the LFC 2/3 are offered via the event directory, the places are distributed via an automated lottery procedure. Current information is announced each semester via the event "Model Study Course Human Medicine Information". Alternatively, students can independently apply directly to research institutions/departments for a placement and are individually supervised by the institution (job shadowing). The timing can be organised in consultation with the supervising institution. You will also find out all the important organisational details in the information meetings for the 2nd year of study, which take place regularly at the end of the summer semester.

How do I find a research project for my research work?

Project offers are announced via the university's topic exchange. Alternatively, take a look at the website of Faculty VI, where you will find an overview of the current research projects in each department. If you are interested, please contact the respective head of department yourself to find out whether research projects are currently offered to students.

How do I register my research work?

The binding registration for the research paper Year 5 takes place by submitting the registration form and all other necessary documents to the Academic Examinations Office. Once admitted to the research paper, the student has 16 weeks to complete the project full-time. An extension of the processing period by a maximum of 6 weeks is possible upon application with meaningful justification.

What criteria must the first and second supervisors fulfil?

At least one of the two reviewers must have a habilitation. If the research project is supervised by an external first supervisor, the second supervisor must be a member of the faculty with a habilitation or a member of the faculty with a habilitation. If a project is to be continued as a doctoral project, the requirements of the doctoral regulations must be observed.

How should the research proposal be structured?

• A research proposal (RP) serves as a supervision agreement and regulates the scope and procedure of the research project for both sides, the student and the first supervisor Year 5.
• At the beginning of the work on the research project, the students first prepare an RP independently, under the supervision of the first supervisor, which is submitted to the second supervisor for review.
• An RP includes the following information:
  • Thematic approach: general background and literature (max. 250 words),
  • Research question and hypotheses: specific classification of the work, problem statement and resulting questions (max. 750 words),
  • Work plan: Design of the study, methods used,
  • time schedule (max. 750 words),
  • Declaration of compliance with ethical and animal protection regulations, as well as regulations on the handling of genetically modified organisms; indication of relevant approvals (max. 250 words),
  • If applicable, differentiation from a later doctoral project.
• When registering the thesis at the examination office, the RP is also submitted.

What are the tasks of the first supervisor?

In addition to supervising the student working on the project, the first supervisor's tasks also include ensuring compliance with the guidelines for "good scientific practice", especially if the research project needs to be assessed by the medical ethics committee of the faculty. In week 8, formative interim feedback on the research work to date is given by the first supervisor (form is handed out via the examination office when the thesis is registered). The interim evaluation is submitted to the Acad. Examinations Office according to the given deadline.

How do I structure my research project?

• The results of the research project are written up in the form of a research paper (max. 60 pages).
• Formal guidelines for the design and submission of the research paper will be issued by the Examinations Office after registration.
• A research paper usually has the following structure:
  • Title page,
  • Summary/abstract,
  • introduction,
  • Material and methods,
  • Results
  • Discussion (including conclusion and outlook),
  • Bibliography
  • possibly an appendix,
  • Explanation (independent work, aids and sources)

In what form do I have to present my results?

At the end of the research work phase, the results are presented by the student in an oral final colloquium open to the university. In this way, the students should show that they are able to work independently on interdisciplinary and problem-related issues from the field of the corresponding subject on a scientific basis and to present the findings in an understandable way. The final colloquium is taken by the examiners (first and second examiners) and lasts a maximum of 30 minutes. The oral presentation within the framework of the final colloquium is graded and is submitted to the examination office by the examiners.

How is the research paper assessed/graded?

The assessment of the Year 5 research paper takes the form of written reviews by the first and second examiners with appropriate subject expertise and, in terms of professional development, feedback from the first supervisor of the research paper as part of the formative interim feedback and the final oral colloquium. A publication is not a prerequisite for the successful completion of the academic achievement "Research Paper Year 5".

Where can I find support with questions about academic work and writing?

• The workshop curriculum PE Year 5 - Research and Science Pillar offers the opportunity to deal specifically with topics related to scientific work and to receive further training.
• The Mixed-Methods Laboratory of the Department of Organisation-Related Health Services Research deals with the qualitative and quantitative methods of empirical social research, and in the associated research workshop you can find support for questions about your own research project.
• The learning workshop of the ZSKB also offers support with questions about scientific work and especially with difficulties in the writing process.

How do I write my research paper in/about Groningen?

• If you would like to complete a "research clerkship" in Groningen and also part of the student exchange with Groningen in year 5, you can use the document student manual research clerkship M3 (SMRC, M3) (see event on the model study programme in human medicine in Stud.IP) as a guide.
• The procedures and regulations described there apply with the following restriction: A research project can be completed at the UMCG, but also at an affiliated hospital (Martini Ziekenhuis Groningen, MCL Leeuwarden, Isala Zwolle, MST Enschede, ZGT Almelo) or abroad, as long as it is not in a German-speaking country.
• If a research project is completed abroad via Groningen, there must be a supervisor in Groningen in addition to the supervisor abroad (see also regulations in document SMRC, M3).
• An overview of the research projects currently offered can be found on the Junior Scientific Masterclass (JSM) website(www.jsmgroningen.nl). The website is not always up to date, as project providers often do not remove expired offers. However, it is regularly maintained.
• Offers are also announced in Nestor (ELearning environment in Groningen), these are also posted online in Oldenburg in Stud.IP in the LFC event.
• Alternatively, take a look at the UMCG website, where you will find a departmental overview of the current research projects. If you are interested, please contact the respective head of department yourself to find out whether research projects are currently offered to students.
• Please register at studekems@uol.de in the Office of the Dean of Studies to obtain access to NESTOR.
• Information on preparing the Research Proposal and registering the Thesis can be found described in detail in the document SMRC, M3.
• If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Ms Bulk/Mrs Vriend via aanvragen.stage@umcg.nl.
• The information about the passed Master's thesis in Groningen will be sent directly to the Office of the Dean of Studies and, after conversion of the grade, we will send it to the Academic Examination Office.

How can I get biometric/statistical advice?

• To obtain a biometric consultation, you must first complete the application form located at www.medizin.uni.muenster.de/ibfk/beratung (see also next item). This can be sent by fax or e-mail.
• Requests can be made for advice on all biometric questions, from the planning and implementation to the evaluation of studies.
• Consultation requests can only be submitted by professors, private lecturers or independent junior research group leaders of Faculty VI. In the case of doctoral theses, the request is made accordingly via the supervisor. If the supervisor of the Year 5 research thesis does not fall into this category, please contact nachwuchsfoerderung.fkvi@uol.de
• The costs incurred for consultations are borne by Faculty VI as long as they do not exceed the usual scope.

My project incurs costs: Are there financing options?

• There are various ways in which travel expenses, conference fees or material funding for student projects can be applied for:
  • University funds can be applied for via FliF to finance travel costs and conference fees for students to attend congresses. Information on this can be found via: uol.de/research-at-studium/student-research/.
  • The mentor can also apply for earmarked material funds (procurement of materials, printing costs, etc.) via a faculty research fund for projects chosen by students (one-time/max. 500€ per project). Applications submitted will be approved by the Dean's Office. An informal application with a brief justification and a list of the requested material funds can be submitted via nachwuchsfoerderung.fkvi@uol.de.