library science phd europe

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PhD Research Programmes

Phd research programme.

The UCD School of Information and Communication Studies doctoral programme provides an environment that enables creative, energetic, and motivated students to complete original research that makes a substantial contribution to knowledge in information, communication, media and library science. Our PhD students work with research active supervisors in a variety of fields and have the opportunity to join and collaborate with research groups in the school and across the university. ' page" tabindex="0"> (opens in a new window) _________________________________

Ongoing PhD Opportunities

The staff of ICS work in a wide variety of research areas encompassing many aspects of information and communications studies. Please take a look at staff profiles to see if your project would fit with our staff interests and expertise. To be considered for admission to the School, you will need to have the support of at least one of our staff who are willing to supervise your thesis project. Staff will want to see a CV and a draft of your proposed project before agreeing to supervise so please contact staff before applying. It is the applicant's responsibility to find an appropriate supervisor; the PhD coordinator will not be able to do so.

(opens in a new window) Amber Cushing (opens in a new window) Benjamin Cowan (opens in a new window) Claire McGuinness (opens in a new window) Crystal Fulton (opens in a new window) Eugenia Siapera (opens in a new window) Lai Ma (opens in a new window) Kalpana Shankar (opens in a new window) Marguerite Barry (opens in a new window) Marco Bastos (opens in a new window) Páraic Kerrigan ' page" href="https://people.ucd.ie/susan.leavy" target="_blank" rel="noopener" tabindex="0"> (opens in a new window) Susan Leavy Elizabeth Farries ' page" target="_blank" rel="noopener" tabindex="0"> (opens in a new window) Elizabeth Farries (opens in a new window) Patrick Brodie (opens in a new window) Kevin Doherty (opens in a new window) Brendan Spillane (opens in a new window) James Steinhoff Stefanie Havelka ' page" tabindex="0"> (opens in a new window) Stefanie Havelka (opens in a new window) Arjumand Younus (opens in a new window) Madeleine Steeds (opens in a new window) Tijana Milosevic (opens in a new window) Aphra Kerr (opens in a new window) Kylie Jarrett

PhD scholarships offered by the school can be viewed on our PhD Vacancies page.

PhD Academic Background and Knowledge Requirements

PhD students applicants should have an academic background necessary to support doctoral level research. A potential supervisor may be able to advise on the knowledge they expect their potential students to have gained before applying for entry to the programme. We welcome students from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds. Since the PhD programme includes 30 credits of classwork, you will have the opportunity to learn some of the skills and knowledge you will need to complete your thesis.

Apply Now | Admission Requirements and Open/Close Dates, to the UCD PhD in Information and Communication Studies (FT/PT)

1. Check admission requirements.

a. A minimum 2.1 primary degree (GPA greater than 3.08) in any field of study*; OR b. A minimum 2.1 (GPA greater than 3.08) master’s degree in information science, library science, communication studies or a related field. For non-native English speakers, an English language certificate is required: IELTS overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section. *If an applicant does not hold a master’s degree, they will be required to enter the PhD programme via the MLitt programme and will be provided the option of advancing to stage two of the PhD programme after successful completion of a Transfer Assessment Panel (TAP). Only applicants who meet the master’s degree requirement will be considered for funding.

2. The online application system opens in February each year.

Although you may submit at any time, applications are not reviewed until after the May 1st deadline (if you are applying for the UCD China Scholarship Scheme or other schemes the deadlines are usually much earlier- please contact the PhD Coordinator or UCD Graduate studies). We will attempt to notify you about the outcome of your application as soon as possible. After your application is reviewed, you may be asked to complete an online interview to provide the application committee with more information.

** APPLY NOW !** If you have further questions please contact the PhD coordinator: [email protected]

For current UCD Postgraduate research fees:

Non EU fees

For information about moving to and the cost of living in Dublin .

Scholarships

Phd scholarships..

PhD scholarships in UCD School of Information and Communication Studies can be viewed on our PhD Vacancies page. ' page"> PhD Vacancies page.

UCD Graduate Studies - current scholarship opportunities.

--------------------

Other sources of funding:

' page" tabindex="0"> (opens in a new window) Irish Research Council (opens in a new window) Fulbright

(opens in a new window) Mitchell

UCD China Scholarship Scheme

General Information

Please note that our PhD programme is face to face, especially during the early years when students will need to take taught modules. Other responsibilities will include attending supervisory sessions and Research Studies Panels. UCD School of Information and Communication Studies (ICS) and other units at UCD offer numerous research events, training in research skills, and opportunities for enriching your education, and expanding your networks.

Further Information

Further information regarding the application process, scholarships and questions, can be found on the Graduate Studies website

Visiting PhD student Application Process and Application Form

UCD ICS hosts visiting PhD scholars for less than 6 months or less than 12 months. As a visiting PhD student scholar you will be provided a desk to complete your work, library access, and be invited to participate in School and university events.

Application process

1. Check eligibility requirements

Currently enrolled in an accredited PhD Programme in information science, library science, communication studies or a related discipline.

Be in good financial standing with your home university

For non-native English speakers, an English language certificate is required: IELTS overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each section.

2. Conduct research on School staff areas of expertise.

Search the UCD staff profiles and search published literature on Google scholar to get an idea about staff research expertise.

3. Contact a school staff member and ask if they would be willing to supervise you for a temporary proposed project. You will not be considered for a place in the programme if a staff member has not agreed to supervise you. While the PhD Coordinator may be able to offer advice, it is expected that exceptional applicants will locate their own supervisor.

4. Apply to the PhD Programme Coodinator using the application form below.

Applications must include all necessary documents to be considered.

UCD School of Information and Communication Studies

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of Library and Information Science

The Swedish School of Library and Information Science (SSLIS) is developed in close interaction with the global society around us.

The Swedish School of Library and Information Science (SSLIS)

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Each year, more than 300 students are admitted to SSLIS and about 130 Master’s theses are produced. We educate those who want to work with library and information services in a globalised knowledge society.

We share updates about our research and our education on our social media plattforms. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Around 80 employees work on research, education, and administration at the Swedish School of Library and Information Science in Borås.

• NEWS The university's expert ensures open research
• NEWS Historical investment in doctoral education in Library and Information Science
• PROGRAMME Master’s Programme in Information Science: Digital Environments
• International Student Get to know the university
• International Student Incoming exchange students

Journal: Information Research

Information Research is a freely available, international, scholarly journal, dedicated to making accessible the results of research across a wide range of information-related disciplines. It was established in 1995 by Professor T.D. Wilson, Professor Emeritus of the University of Sheffield and subsequently Senior Professor, University of Borås. It is now published by the Swedish School of Library and Information Science, University of Borås, Sweden.

Our research

INCLUDE – Centre for Inclusive Studies

With the broader ambition of Equal Opportunities for All, the Centre for Inclusive Studies aims to promote and enable research and innovation that relate to issues of Inclusion, Participation, Accessibility, and Equality.

The Centre for Cultural Policy Research (KPC)

The Centre for Cultural Policy Research work is based in the university's vision of Science for the Professions. We seek to play a key role in the growing field of research and practice in the field of cultural politics in the broadest sense.

Information Practices and Digital Cultures

The research group Information Practices and Digital Cultures acts as a dynamic cluster bringing together researchers at the Swedish School of Library and Information Science, whose work concerns people‘s engagement with information in different practices, roles, or institutions and the implications of digital cultures for how information and knowledge are shaped in contemporary society.

Culture, Library, Politics

Studies of (public) libraries’ current and historical conditions in different respects, cultural policy change processes, and cultural mediation and citizen involvement; these three themes gather the members of this research group.

Knowledge infrastructures

The Knowledge infrastructures research group (KIR) focuses on how information and knowledge is generated, maintained, shared and transferred.

To the news archive

Ingvar Carlsson has been appointed Honorary Doctor of Library and Information Science at the University of Borås. He is as forthright and determined today as when he held the post of Prime Minister of Sweden, and in his new role, he highlights the importance of protecting democracy, equality, freedom of expression, and the rule of law.

It has now been announced who will be honoured with the title of Honorary Doctor: Former Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson, entrepreneur and investor Staffan Hillberg, and Professor Xianyi Zeng of ENSAIT, University of Lille.

“It is clear that society has failed in our environmental communication in some way. Today's advanced technology provides us with extensive information about the critical situation of the climate and about the seriousness of the reduction of biological diversity.” That's according to Jutta Haider, Professor of Library and Information Science at the Swedish School of Library and Information Science, who leads the sub-project "Information cultures, data, and technology in environmental communication" within the research programme Mistra Environmental Communication.

Is it possible to tell something about a person from what is on their bookshelf? This is the question asked by Arvid Jakobsson, Court Librarian at the Bernadotte Library at the Royal Palace of Sweden, who has delved deep into the library of King Oskar II and has now defended his doctoral thesis From the depths to the heights: A biography of Oscar II's library. He has studied large parts of Oskar II's book collections, catalogues, notes, letters, and archival material. This type of comprehensive library history research has not been done before on a private library collection.

Several of the university's researchers have once again been included in a prestigious international ranking of the most cited researchers in the world. This list was drawn up by researchers at Stanford University and published in October.

Events SLISS

To the Calendar

A large consortium of interdisciplinary experts from four continents is brought together to combat the threat of forest fires and improve forest resilience against climate change. Researchers at the Swedish School of Library and information Science contribute with research expertise in knowledge organization, information management, user studies and participatory methodology.

Information Science: Digital Environments

Our new Master´s programme starts autumn 2023. You study information from both a technical and theoretical perspective.

The program is suitable for those with a bachelor's degree in library and information science, information architecture, archival science, digital humanities, computer science, information systems, or a related field.

Read more about the programme: Information Science: Digital Environments .

Saved educations

Saved courses/programmes.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk ( * ).

Information Studies MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

UCL Information Studies is one of the only departments in the UK with research programmes in library and information studies, information science, archives and records management, publishing, and digital humanities. We can also offer unparalleled opportunities for cross-domain research, such as user studies and usability, metadata, the management of electronic resources, information governance, data science and semantic technologies for the humanities.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper-second class UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject, or a recognised taught Master’s degree. Overseas qualifications of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institution are also accepted.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

UCL Information Studies undertakes research in fields including Librarianship, Archives and Records Management, Publishing, Information and Data Science, Machine Learning, Knowledge-based Artificial Intelligence and Digital Humanities, and offers doctoral study in these fields. Our research aims to develop the understanding and insight needed to shape the emerging information environment, while elucidating and building on the historical developments that have created it. We are the country's largest department of Information Studies located within one of the world's top ten universities and our teaching is built upon an international research reputation .

Who this course is for

This MPhil/PhD is for applicants with a strong interest or background in librarianship, archives and records management, publishing, information and data science, machine learning, knowledge-based artificial intelligence, and/or digital humanities. It is suitable for both recent masters graduates as well as early or mid-career professionals.

What this course will give you

The department has strong links with a wide variety of organisations including the National Archives, the Turing Institute, the British Museum and other major museums and galleries, and with various publishing houses. We are located close to the British Library and other major research libraries. Our central London location makes it easy for collaborative work with other nearby institutions and groups to take place .

The department's research is organised around four research centres and groups. These facilitate interaction between established researchers, and offer research training and career development opportunities for early stage researchers and research students. Importantly, they provide coherence and a critical mass of researchers in key areas.

The foundation of your career

Our doctoral students go on to do a wide variety of interesting jobs after they graduate from UCL. Many go into senior posts in the information professions, both in the UK and abroad. Examples include: Head, Curation and Preservation Services, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Libraries, USA; Chief of Archives at the United Nations; and Head of Research, The National Archives, UK. Others continue their academic career in universities around the world, in departments of library science, computer science, information management, archive studies, digital humanities and publishing.

Employability

Some of our research students have already worked as information professionals in the public and private sectors or in academia in the UK and worldwide. Other research students have recently completed masters programmes and have yet to start a professional career. The successful completion of a research degree has enabled many of our students to achieve high positions in fields including information and technical professions, cultural heritage/GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) professions, and policy, both in the UK and around the world.

The department has a strong culture of collaborative research and brings together researchers, whether staff or students, from across UCL as well as other institutions and organisations. Crucial to this are our research groups and centres, which provide a focus for our research activity, including doctoral students, post-docs and staff with specific research interests. Most doctoral students are attached to one or more of these groups and will be encouraged to get involved in research seminars, visiting speakers, annual lectures, visits and other activities which these centres organise regularly. The centres also facilitate online interaction through blogs and twitter feeds.

Teaching and learning

During your first year you will attend the DIS Doctoral Studies Research Seminar module (a weekly seminar based programme). You will work with supervisors to develop your research proposal and research questions, undertake an extended literature review and identify your research approach and methods.

All doctoral students are expected to take full advantage of the skills development programme available through the UCL Doctoral School. Research students should accrue 20 points per year (60 points over 3 years, or 80 points over 4 years).

All research students are initially registered for an MPhil. Upgrade to PhD status is dependent on satisfactory progress and takes place between months 9 and 18 for full-time students (15 and 30 for part-time students). The upgrade examination involves a written upgrade report and viva examination. A total of 20 training points are also required to Upgrade. Final PhD examination is by thesis submission and an oral viva examination.

Contact hours and hours of self-study are agreed between the student and the supervisor at the beginning of their research degree and should be reviewed on a regular basis. Full-time postgraduate research (PGR) students are expected to work a minimum of 36.5 hours per week on their project. With agreement of their supervisors, contact time can be on-site or remote working depending upon the nature and stage of the project. PGR students can have the opportunity to access UCL facilities ‘out of hours’ including weekends and holidays during their period of registration, and will have research meetings with their supervisors at least once per month. Full-time PGR students can take 27 days of annual leave, plus eight days of bank holidays and six UCL closure days.

Research areas and structure

At the heart of our research activities lie the following centres and groups hosted by the department:

• Centre for Digital Humanities
• Centre for Publishing
• Centre for Archives and Records Research
• Forum for information literacy Research
• Knowledge, Information and Data Science group

Research environment

We are one of the only university departments in the United Kingdom with postgraduate programmes in Library and Information Studies, Knowledge, Information and Data Science, Archives and Records Management, Publishing, and Digital Humanities. As well as topics within these specific areas, we can offer unparalleled opportunities for cross-domain research, for example in user studies and usability, metadata, the management of electronic resources, data visualisation, and applications of machine learning to natural language processing.

You will benefit from conducting research at one of the world’s top universities and will be supervised by experienced and internationally known researchers.

Year 1 Full-time

During your first year, you will attend the DIS Doctoral Studies Research Seminar module (a weekly seminar based programme which continues for 3 terms in Year 1).

Typically in the first year of study, you will work with supervisors to develop your research proposal and research questions, undertake an extended literature review, identify your broad research approach and appropriate research methods. By the end of Year 1, you should have a clearly articulated research proposal and associated research method, an initial bibliography appropriately referenced, have read a range of relevant literature, and developed a provisional timetable for the next two to three years. You will have done sufficient initial research to prepare for upgrade to full PhD candidate status.

Year 2 Full-time

If progress has been sufficient in Year 1, an upgrade to doctoral student status is made. If you are a full-time student, you should undertake the PhD upgrade after 9-18 months of registration. The exact timing will depend on when you are ready to meet the requirements.

Your activities in your second year will depend on your research area and methodology. Some students focus on primary data collection, others on experimentation, computer coding, or development of formal models or theories. You may focus on training in specific software packages or other tools that you wish to use to conduct analysis or experiments. Throughout your PhD, you will continue to meet your supervisor regularly to reassess your skills development and training needs and maintain the Log progress record.

Year 3 Full-time

In your third year, you will typically continue with the research activities undertaken in the previous year but with an increasing emphasis on analysis of the results accumulated using your chosen methodologies. During this year, you will also increasingly spend time on structuring and writing your final thesis, revising and improving earlier written material as necessary. Some students also begin to publish parts of their work and/or present their research at academic venues.

Completing Research Status (CRS)

The formal minimum length of the MPhil/PhD is three years. If you are not ready to submit your thesis after three years you will be required to apply for ‘Completing Research Status' (CRS). If agreed, it enables you to be registered with UCL for a fourth year of study without payment of any fees. Many full-time students complete and submit their thesis in this way

The milestones are spread over a longer timescale if you are part-time. You may have to take the DIS Doctoral Studies Research Seminar module over your first and second year and will not usually be ready to upgrade until your second year. You will conduct your main research over several years and will plan to write up and submit in your fifth year. If you are not ready to submit by the end of your fifth year, you can have up to two years of CRS.

UCL Information Studies has a number of doctoral students who study part-time over a minimum of five years. Part-time study is typically undertaken in conjunction with other employment, for example within the information professions, or because you have significant other time-consuming commitments.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

The department strives to keep additional costs low. Books and journal articles are usually available via the UCL library (hard copies or via e-journal subscriptions).

The department has some funds which can be applied for, on a case by case basis, for research expenses.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

Please visit our Scholarships for doctoral students in DIS page for more information about our departmental funding opportunities.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Quirk PhD Scholarship

Deadline: 26 January 2024 Value: Fees and maintenance (3yrs) Criteria Based on both academic merit and financial need Eligibility: UK

Applicants can identify and contact potential supervisors before making their application. If they do not, the research proposal will be used to identify any potential supervisors in the department. For more information, see our Applying for a PhD in the Department of Information Studies page.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Information Studies

[email protected]

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International Degrees in Library and Information Science

The American Library Association currently accredits library programs on the master's level within North America.

The following countries have been identified as having "formal" accreditation processes for library studies at the master's level. A list of the specific institutions can be found at:

• Berlin School of Library and Information Science (Institut für Bibliotheks und Informationswissenschaft) Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
• Cologne Library and Information Science Program
• New Zealand
• United Kingdom

If an individual wishes to attend an institution of higher learning in regions of the world other than those mentioned above, the following website may be of service in identifying programs who offer programs in library studies:

World list of schools and departments of information science, information management and related disciplines

Additionally, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has created Guidelines for Professional Library/Information Educational Programs which can be accessed at: Guidelines for Professional Library/Information Educational Programs - 2000 [Last revised February 2009.]

If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact the ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) at 800/545-2433 ext. 4280. You may also email Beatrice Calvin , Program Officer for Placement & Recruitment.

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100 Best universities for Library and Information science in Germany

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in Germany ranked based on their research performance in Library and Information science. A graph of 992K citations received by 71.7K academic papers made by 102 universities in Germany was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Heidelberg University - Germany

For Library and Information science

2. University of Gottingen

3. RWTH Aachen University

4. Dresden University of Technology

5. University of Freiburg

6. University of Hamburg

7. University of Bonn

8. Technical University of Munich

9. University of Munich

10. University of Tubingen

11. Ruhr University Bochum

12. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

13. Goethe University of Frankfurt am Main

14. Free University of Berlin

15. University of Erlangen Nuremberg

16. Humboldt University of Berlin

17. University of Cologne

18. University of Marburg

19. University of Munster

20. Technical University of Berlin

21. Heinrich Heine University of Dusseldorf

22. University of Wurzburg

23. Kiel University

24. Braunschweig University of Technology

25. University of Stuttgart

26. Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz

27. University of Leipzig

28. University of Regensburg

29. University of Konstanz

30. Charite - Medical University of Berlin

31. Saarland University

32. TU Dortmund University

33. Leibniz University of Hanover

34. Hannover Medical School

35. Friedrich Schiller University of Jena

36. University of Giessen

37. University of Bremen

38. University of Ulm

39. University of Bayreuth

40. University of Bielefeld

41. University of Duisburg - Essen

42. Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg

43. University of Rostock

44. Darmstadt University of Technology

45. University of Kassel

46. Technical University of Kaiserslautern

47. University of Mannheim

48. University of Potsdam

49. Clausthal University of Technology

50. University of Paderborn

51. Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg

52. Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

53. University of Lubeck

54. Hamburg University of Technology

55. Munich University of Applied Sciences

56. Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg

57. Aachen University of Applied Sciences

58. Freiberg University of Technology

59. University of Greifswald

60. Osnabruck University

61. University of Hohenheim

62. Chemnitz University of Technology

63. University of Wuppertal

64. University of Siegen

65. University of Augsburg

66. Merseburg University of Applied Sciences

67. University of Passau

68. University of Bamberg

69. University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

70. Munich University of the Federal Armed Forces

71. University of Trier

72. Leuphana University of Luneburg

73. University of Hagen

74. Witten/Herdecke University

75. Ilmenau University of Technology

76. Jacobs University Bremen

77. Mainz University of Applied Sciences

78. Hannover University of Applied Sciences

79. Berlin University of Applied Sciences

80. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences

81. University of Erfurt

82. Folkwang University of the Arts

83. Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences

84. University of Koblenz-Landau

85. Bauhaus - University Weimar

86. Potsdam University of Applied Sciences

87. Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg

88. Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

89. University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg

90. University of Hildesheim

91. Deggendorf Institute of Technology

92. European University Viadrina

93. Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences

94. German Sport University Cologne

95. Catholic University of Eichstatt-Ingolstadt

96. College of Education, Ludwigsburg

97. University of Applied Sciences Dusseldorf

98. Berlin Technical University of Applied Sciences

99. Cologne University of Applied Sciences

100. University of Applied Science Koblenz

The best cities to study Library and Information science in Germany based on the number of universities and their ranks are Heidelberg , Gottingen , Aachen , and Dresden .

Computer Science subfields in Germany

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Higher Education Compass

Library and information science distance studies, master of arts (library and information science).

Master Degree

4 semesters

Standard period of study (amount)

Please enquire

Overview and admission

Admission semester.

Winter Semester only

Area of study

• Library Science
• Documentation Science
• Information Science

Management of Libraries and Information Facilities, Electronic Publishing, Copyright and Library Law, Information Management, Inventory Development and Indexing, Knowledge Management and Knowledge Representation, Library Education and Information Literacy Licenses and e-media, Information Management, Library Construction, Equipment and Technology, Science and Library Infrastructure

Target group

The distance learning programme leads to a specialist qualification for high-level tasks in library, information and documentation facilities. It is aimed both at people who want to gain further qualifications in the library, information and documentation area and at people who are looking to work in this area.

Subject to a registration or selection procedure; The application period is from 1 April to 30 June. Required practical experience: One year of qualified professional activity after your previous professionally qualifying graduation in a field conducive to the degree course (not necessarily library/information, but also e.g. in the field of education, IT, science or management)

Admission modus

Local admission restriction

Admission requirements (Link)

Admission requirements

see at https://hu.berlin/master

Lecture period

• 15.04.2024 - 20.07.2024
• 14.10.2024 - 15.02.2025

Application deadlines

Winter semester (2024/2025), application deadline for germans and inhabitants.

- for Master of Arts/Science with admission restrictions: 2 May 2024 - 31 May 2024

Enrollment deadline for Germans and foreign students

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• Plan Your Studies
• Study Programs
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15 Top Library Science Study Programs in Germany for 2023

There are 15 study programs available at 11 universities in Germany , according to data provided by Erudera.com.

Why should you study in Germany?

Germany is one of the world's top study destinations for international students and definitely a higher education paradise. In Germany, you will find countless prestigious and top-ranked universities for , hundreds of specialized study programs to choose from, degrees that are valued globally, and affordable studies. Not to mention, Germany is a country with a unique culture, dynamic lifestyle, and many interesting places to explore during your studies here.

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

University of Leipzig

Hildesheim University

Stuttgart Media University

Leipzig University of Applied Sciences

University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

University of Cologne

Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts

Potsdam University of Applied Sciences

Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences

Creative Writing and Editing

Master degree

Literary Writing

Bachelor degree

Book science

Information Management

Information management and data management.

Information processing

Information Science

Information Sciences

Library and information studies

Library science.

HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences

Technical Information Design and Technical Editing

Related fields of diciplines, related fields of study levels.

• PhD Study in Europe

Europe's historic and world-renowned universities have always been home to leading scientists, artists and thinkers. If you're thinking of doing a PhD in Europe, you'll be welcome to follow in their footsteps.

Modern international students often pay surprisingly low fees and study within generously funded higher education systems, with ground-breaking research opportunities supported by generous funding from the European Union and other organisations.

The diversity of opportunities in Europe is matched by a robust system of qualification recognition and credit transfer, meaning that your degree will be internationally recognised and accepted. A PhD from Europe often also includes a range of additional training and development opportunities (this, after all, is the continent that invented the modern doctoral degree).

The guides below introduce different options for studying PhD in Europe. You can also learn more about the European Higher Education Area , ECTS credits , PhD fees and visa requirements .

Holland and the Netherlands are a welcoming destination for international PhD study with historic and globally-renowned research universities. Our guide covers admissions, visas, fees and funding.

Looking to study a PhD in Norway? Our guide explains entry requirements, visas, funding (it’s free to study) and more.

This guide tells you all about everything you need to apply for a PhD programme in Germany.

There are no fees for PhD study at most German universities and funding is available from a range of government agencies, research societies and other organisations.

Want to study a PhD in Ireland? This guide gives a detailed introduction to the kind of visa you need to study in Ireland and how to apply for it.

What's it like to live in Germany during a PhD? Our guide covers accommodation, student living costs, working and other key information.

PhD study within the European Higher Education Area

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is a network of 49 countries that share a common system for university degrees. It is made up of all 27 EU members, plus the UK, as well as other countries from elsewhere in Europe and Eurasia.

All EHEA members follow the Bologna Process, an agreement signed in 1999 at the University of Bologna (Europe’s oldest university). This organises academic degrees intro three cycles :

• Bachelors degrees are first-cycle degrees, usually taking three years
• Masters degrees are second-cycle degrees, usually taking two years
• Doctorates (such as PhDs) are third-cycle degrees, usually taking three to four years

Academic degrees from one EHEA country are automatically recognised in others. This makes it a lot simpler to study abroad in different parts of Europe or to work in another European country with your doctorate.

What does the Bologna Process mean for PhDs?

Doctorates are a relatively recent addition to the Bologna Process and fit more loosely within its guidelines. For example, there is still no standard length or credit value for a PhD in Europe and individual programmes may include additional training or other elements in addition to your research project.

However, studying within the EHEA does offer several important benefits for PhD students :

• The Bologna Process can simplify your entrance qualifications . If you have a Masters from one country it should be easily recognised by universities elsewhere in Europe.
• You will also receive a doctoral degree recognised across the EHEA . This means you can take advantage of unique research and training opportunities in one part of Europe and then easily use your expertise to follow up your research interests and seek academic jobs at other European universities and research centres.
• Some PhDs in Europe award ECTS credits for modules and classes . This allows you to receive extra recognition for training you complete alongside your thesis. You can read more about ECTS credits below.
• The Bologna Process asks that doctoral candidates are treated as early career researchers as well as students. This can increase the support you receive to develop professionally during a PhD as well as offering additional employment opportunities at your university.
• Universities are expected to help all students access doctoral education and to help develop funding opportunities for them, including industry partnerships and / or employment opportunities.
• Student mobility and exchange programmes are also encouraged, with opportunities for you to spend time in other parts of Europe during your PhD if this will benefit your research.

EHEA countries:

The following countries are members of the European Higher Education Area:

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria , Azerbaijan, Belgium , Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , France , Georgia, Germany , Greece , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands , Poland , Portugal , Romania , Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , Turkey , Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Vatican City (Holy See).

What is the European Research Area?

The European Research Area (ERA) was formed after the European Higher Education Area to help coordinate research activities across the EU and other associated countries. ERA members benefit from substantial framework funding programmes such as Horizon Europe , which can help create opportunities for PhD training.

ECTS credits for PhD study in Europe

Most degree programmes in Europe are measured using the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation Scheme (ECTS). This is one of the reasons that degrees can be recognised across the EHEA as all qualifications at the same cycle are ‘worth’ the same number of credits.

• Bachelors degrees are normally worth 180 ECTS credits
• Masters degrees are normally worth 120 ECTS credits

Each credit represents a certain amount of learning hours for a course, with a year of study usually being worth 60 credits. The independent research that makes up a PhD is harder to measure using this system. This means that doctoral degrees don’t usually have a total ECTS credit value .

However, ECTS credits are sometimes used to measure training units and modules as part of more structured PhDs . Some of these courses have a minimum credit requirement that students must meet before they begin working on their thesis. This number is usually quite small (around 20-30 credits, or half a year’s worth of work).

Qualification recognition

The Bologna Process ensures that degrees are easily recognised by universities and employers elsewhere in Europe. This is useful if you have a European Masters degree and are applying for a PhD in a different EHEA country.

The EHEA can also help you receive recognition for international qualifications from universities outside Europe.

Each country in the European Higher Education Area has its own National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC) and these are part of the European Network of Information Centres in the European Region (ENIC). Together, these form part of a network known as ENIC-NARIC , which can help assess your foreign qualifications and confirm that they meet the entry requirements for a PhD in Europe.

Your university may ask this network to help check your Bachelors or Masters degrees, or you may be able to use ENIC-NARIC yourself to ask about your qualifications.

Bear in mind though that the final decision to admit you to a PhD is always made by your university, not ENIC-NARIC.

PhD fees and funding in Europe

Each country in Europe is free to set their own fees for doctorates and other degrees. However, EU member countries must charge the same fees to citizens of other EU countries as they do to their own students.

EU members:

The following countries are part of the European Union:

Austria , Belgium , Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic , Denmark , Estonia, Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Ireland , Italy , Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden .

Fee guarantees often also apply to students from European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway ) as well as Switzerland .

Other international students may pay more to study in Europe, but this isn’t always the case. Some countries actually charge no fees to any PhD students, regardless of nationality. You can find out more in the individual guides above.

Eligibility for PhD funding in Europe is usually the same as your fee status. If you pay the same fees as a local student, you will normally be able to access the same funding (such as student loans or other bursaries). It’s always worth checking this, however.

PhD students in Europe also have the potential to benefit from wider funding schemes such as Erasmus+ or MSCA scholarships . These are usually focussed on student mobility and research collaboration between universities in different countries.

Visas for PhD study in Europe

Whether you’ll need a visa for a doctorate in Europe will usually depend on two things: your nationality and whether the country you wish to study in is a member of the European Union.

EU students don’t need a visa to enter other EU countries. You can do so freely for up to 90 days. During this time you will need to register your presence and receive a residence permit which will entitle you to live in the country longer term and complete your PhD. The exact name and application process for your residence permit will be set by the country you study in. These conditions usually apply to EEA and Swiss students too.

Other international students will normally need to apply for a visa to enter a European country as a student. Once there you’ll also need to apply for a residence permit .

Additional exceptions may also apply in some countries. Check our guides, or contact your university’s international office if you aren’t sure about your visa requirements.

Schengen visas

The Schengen Area is a borderless region within the EU. It allows completely free movement between neighbouring countries, with no need for additional visas or passport checks.

EU students automatically have the right to travel across the Schengen Area and remain in another EU country for up to 90 days.

International students will need to apply for a separate Schengen Visa in order to do so. This could be useful if you wish to travel elsewhere in Europe for research or leisure whilst you are completing your PhD. Note that in most cases the visa that lets you enter the country you are studying in will not automatically provide you with a Schengen Visa.

You can find out more on the European Commission's Schengen Visa website .

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• Doctoral Degrees

Library and Information Science, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy in Library and Information Science program, in the Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship (ICDS), prepares students for careers in research, education, and professional practice. The primary purpose of the PhD program is to develop an understanding of library and information science beyond the master’s degree, with particular emphasis on the conduct of original research, the production of significant research findings, and the contribution of such findings to public knowledge.

This is a research-driven program where you will work closely with professors who are experts in their fields. Opportunities for our PhD students include:

• Archives and Information Science: For doctoral students interested in pursuing academic careers in the archives area, with a focus on digital preservation or curation and archival ethics, accountability, and appraisal issues.
• Information Behavior: For doctoral students who seek to understand how people plot a course through complex information ecologies including digital environments, and how such ecologies can respond to their ways of thinking, feeling, and valuing. A special emphasis is placed on behaviors of children and youth.
• Health Information Behavior and Health Education Interventions: For doctoral students who wish to investigate the information practices and behaviors of health professionals, patients, caregivers, and consumers.
• Social Information Systems: For doctoral students who will investigate issues related to the design and use of social information systems, focusing on the impact of social media on people’s information behavior.
• Web-based Information Systems: For doctoral students interested in studying, designing, and implementing web-based systems for representing, retrieving, extracting, and disseminating relevant information.
• School Librarianship: For doctoral students interested in teaching, research, and administrative experience in a top-ranked, competency-based School Library Certification Program designed for school librarians and school library supervisors.

Degree Requirements

This PhD degree requires a minimum of 54 credits beyond the master’s degree with a total credit minimum of 72. A minimum of 36 credits must be taken in advanced course work. The student must receive a letter grade in each course taken in this 36-credit requirement, except for the teaching practicum course.  

An additional 18 credits are required, which must be applied to dissertation research and writing; however, regardless of the number of credits taken, no more than 18 credits for dissertation research and writing may be applied toward graduation. The grade for these credits will appear as an “S” on the student’s transcript. In order to register for, and successfully complete, dissertation credits, students must show evidence of work toward the dissertation by completing the Dissertation Credit Tracking Checklist and updating it at the end of the term.  

The minimum of 36 credits of course work, all of which must be on the graduate level, must be distributed as follows: 

• 3 credits: LIS 3000 Introduction to Doctoral Studies
• 9 credits: 3000-level doctoral seminars offered by SCI
• 3 credits: LIS 3950 Teaching Practicum or FACDEV 2200 Practicum on University Teaching
• 6 credits: Courses in research methodology and statistics
• 6 credits: Courses in cognate field
• 3000-level independent studies or doctoral seminars offered by SCI (maximum of 6 credits)
• Additional 3000-level doctoral seminars offered by SCI
• Additional cognate courses (up to 6 credits)
• Additional research methodology courses
• 2000-level courses in SCI (subject to approval by the students’ advisor)

For full degree requirement details, visit the Library and Information Science course catalog .

Admissions Requirements

• Request Info
• Academic Programs

Library and Information Science PhD

Our PhD in Library and Information Science  empowers students to learn and analyze the information needs of users — applying a variety of tools and technologies to locate and evaluate information and to organize, manage, and preserve information and materials so they become accessible sources of knowledge.

Our flexible program allows you to take classes fully online, at our Boston campus, or a combination of both. Core courses are offered in synchronous and asynchronous online formats with electives that may be taken either online or face-to-face. You'll work closely with experienced faculty and other master's and doctoral students through analytical papers, experience reports, teaching and service activities and self-reflective essays. Our students emerge from this degree with a record of publications, professional experience and an extensive portfolio.

The School of Library and Information Science has an established reputation for producing leaders in professional service at local, national and international levels. You'll benefit from an extensive alumni community (and the New England LIS community) that enriches the doctoral experience. Our program emphasizes scholarship, teaching, and service and prepares students for research and faculty positions.

Students are required to complete 36 credit hours to achieve the Ph.D. degree. Of these 36 credit hours, 15 are devoted to required coursework and three are devoted to the dissertation. The remaining 18 credits are elective courses. Students often take independent study courses for their research projects or research-related courses at the masters' level or at the doctoral level of other disciplines.

One of the following:

Below is a listing of the required courses:

The PhD program in Library and Information Science (PhD/LIS) is composed of a cohesive and collaborative cohort of students who are mentored from enrollment through completion of the dissertation. This flexible PhD/LIS program is unique in its guided preparation in the three areas of research, teaching, and service.

During the program, students are able to research a variety of dissertation topics within library and information science as well as information professions. Students emerge from the program with a strong research record, solid teaching experience, a high professional activity standing, and a portfolio documenting their academic achievements and scholarly expertise in their areas of study. Students work with a faculty advisor to tailor the program to their interests and career goals.

Recent Doctoral Topics of Research Include:

• Envisioning the library’s role in scholarly communication in the year 2025 
• Tips, tools and tendencies: Toward a grant management theory 
• Evaluation of strategic plans in academic medical libraries 
• Leading from the middle of the organization: An examination of shared leadership in academic libraries 
• Strategic Priorities and Change in Academic Libraries 
• Diversity in graduate archival education programs
• Repurposing digital objects: Seven case studies across the publishing and information industries

Through a combination of required and elective courses, independent study, workshops, and guided experiences, the PhD focused on library and information science prepares students for lifelong activity in research, scholarship, teaching, and service. Students work closely with faculty as they progress through the degree, and are guided by faculty advisors and annual reviews of progress as evidenced by analytical papers and other course work, experience reports related to teaching and service activities, and self-reflective essays. The doctoral program is a small, strong program composed of students who form a cohesive and collaborative cohort, and who will be nurtured from enrollment through to completion of the dissertation.

Program Attributes

• The program provides guided preparation in the three areas of scholarship, teaching, and service.
• Students emerge from the degree with a record of publications, teaching experience, a professional activity record, and a portfolio.
• Simmons is small and personal, but at the same time has excellent bibliographical and technological resources and can draw on a robust local library and information community.
• There are rich opportunities for synergy between the doctoral and master's students. Collaborative research and group work enriches the learning experience and fosters a stimulating classroom environment. Doctoral students offer colloquia open to master's students, and mentoring opportunities are available.
• SLIS has an established reputation for producing leaders in professional service at local, national, and international levels. Interaction with the SLIS alumni community (and the New England LIS community) enriches the doctoral student experience.

Areas of Study

Doctoral studies can be conducted at various intersections of setting, audience, and activity. Some examples of study areas which build on strengths among our faculty include archives and preservation, reference, metadata, scholarly communication, information retrieval and visual information systems.

Student Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Simmons SLIS PhD program:

• Demonstrates in-depth familiarity with scholarship in the field of library, archival, and information science;
• Articulates prominent theories in the field of library, archival, and information science;
• Identifies researchable problems and applies relevant research studies, research designs, and methodologies to tasks requiring problem solving and critical thinking;
• Analyzes and presents information, including research proposals and findings, clearly and accurately in a variety of formats;
• Conducts qualitative, quantitative or mixed method research studies by engaging in reflective inquiry, performing data collection and analysis, composing research reports, and producing publications and a dissertation;
• Engages in teaching activities, develops appropriate unit- or course-level student learning outcomes, and plans and implements learning experiences that assist students to achieve those outcomes; and
• Leads service activities for local, national, or international professional associations and communities.

Approved by SLIS Faculty on October 18, 2017.

Our Faculty

Adam Kriesberg

Assistant Professor and Co-Director of Dual Degree MS LIS-Archives and MA History Program

Daniel Joudrey

Professor and Director of Libraries and Librarianship Concentration

Assistant Professor

Katherine Wisser

Associate Professor and Masters Program Director, Director Archives Concentration, and Director of Archives Certificate Program

Laura Saunders

Professor and Associate Dean of SLIS

Lisa Hussey

Kyong Eun Oh

Associate Professor and Director PhD Program

Melanie Kimball

Associate Professor and Director, School Library Teacher Concentration

Naresh Agarwal

Professor and Director of Information Science & Tech Concentration

Peter Botticelli

Associate Professor and Director, Cultural Heritage Informatics Concentration

Rebecca Stallworth

Rhiannon Bettivia

Sanda Erdelez

Dean, School of Library and Information Science

Professor Emerita

Heather Hole

Professor, disciplines of Museum Studies and Art History

Spotlight on Library and Information Science PhD Students and Alums

Library and Information Science PhD Student Named Acting Director of IMLS

Cyndee Landrum, a student in the Simmons University Library and Information Science PhD, has been named Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

• Awards and Honors
• Internships & Careers

Simmons School of Library and Information Science Student Empowers LGBTQIA+ Community

Jason Homer ’11MS, ’26PhD, Executive Director of the Worcester Library, works with his community to promote inclusivity, challenge pre-existing assumptions, and empower library patrons. Homer spoke with MassLive about his journey.

Boston Public Library President David Leonard Ph.D. ’25 Discusses How Libraries Create Meaning and Belonging

SLIS doctoral student David Leonard presides over one of the greatest libraries in the country. He spoke with us about his longstanding fascination with libraries and the significant role that libraries play for their communities. How did you become interested...

Dr. Brenda Mitchell-Powell '75 '08MS '15PhD Publishes Breakthrough Book on Civil Rights History

In her new book, Public in Name Only: The 1939 Alexandria Sit-In Demonstration (University of Massachusetts Press), SLIS alumna Dr. Brenda Mitchell-Powell uncovers a little-known library demonstration which, she argues, was an important moment in civil rights history. What is...

When Protests Erupt: Alameda County Librarian Cindy Chadwick ’17PhD Shares Tips for Safe Library Events

On June 11, 2022, a Drag Queen Story Hour held at the Alameda County (CA) Library was disrupted by Proud Boys protestors. This event was part of the month-long Pride Celebration held by Alameda County Library, and many public libraries...

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
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Related Programs

• Certificate

Ph.D. in Information and Library Science

This doctoral program provides an environment that enables creative and energetic students to become innovative thinkers and leaders. Through coordination of student and faculty interests and activities, the program offers opportunities for research, teaching, and leadership in a variety of settings.

Information and library science research leaders must be able to identify problems that are significant for our future as an information society, carry out rigorous studies and draw valid conclusions from them, and communicate those findings to stakeholders who can act on them. The SILS doctoral program provides intensive, but highly flexible and customizable, preparation for careers in academia and research.

The Ph.D. in Information and Library Science is designated as a STEM program, which allows eligible international graduates to apply for a 24-month OPT extension.

After successfully defending their dissertations, SILS’ graduates have accepted positions as tenure-track faculty in information schools, research scientists in corporate and government labs, and chief information officers in a myriad of organizations and businesses. With a degree from our doctoral program, our graduates are making a difference.

• Kimberly Hirsh, 2021, Consulting Scholar-Librarian
• Sandeep Avula, 2020, Research Scientist, Amazon
• Eliot Hauser, 2020, Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Austin
• Colin Post, 2020, Assistant Professor, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Jonathan Crabtree, 2020, Assistant Director of Research Data Information Systems, Odum Institute, UNC-CH
• Emily Roscoe, 2020, Adjunct Instructor, School of Government, UNC-CH
• Megan Threats, 2020, Assistant Professor, Rutgers University
• Heather Barnes, 2020, Digital Curation Librarian, Wake Forest University
• Yinglong Zhang, 2020, Research Scientist, Google
• Shenmeng Xu, 2020, Scholarly Communications Librarian, Vanderbilt University
• Sarah Beth Nelson, 2019, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
• Anita Crescenzi, 2019, Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy, UNC-CH
• Kathleen Brennan, 2018, Senior Researcher, Google
• Samantha Kaplan, 2018, Research and Education Librarian, Duke University
• Ericka Patillo, 2018, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Information Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Grace Shin, 2018, Sookmyung Women’s University, Korea, Adjunct Professor at SILS.
• Leslie Thomson, 2018, Postdoctoral Fellow, UNC-CH

Other notable graduates in recent years:

• Jay Dominick, 2005 , Vice President and CIO at Princeton University
• Meredith Evans, Ph.D.  2006 , Director, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum & 74th President of the Society of American Archivists
• Meredith Weiss, 2010 , Vice President for Administration at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Fred Stutzman, 2011 , CEO, Freedom

Financial Support

SILS typically provides support for full-time doctoral students during their first five years of study. Prospective doctoral students must apply by December 10 to receive full consideration for financial aid.

Learn more from our Financial Information page.

SILS seeks PhD students who:

• Aim to be information leaders in the 21 st century.
• Are attracted to information and library science as a field that incorporates diverse theoretical perspectives and a wide range of research methods.
• Possess the discipline and will to be independent investigators, and the vision and communication skills to be influential leaders in the field.
• Are committed to a life of research and scholarly inquiry addressing critical questions.
• Enjoy intellectual challenges and demonstrate analytical and critical thinking.

Admission to the doctoral program is competitive and based upon the strength of the applicant’s educational background and standardized test scores, work experience, statement of research, and personal interview. In reviewing applicants for admission, the school will consider past academic record and scholarly potential of an applicant, as well as the match of the candidate’s research interests with those of the school’s faculty. One or more faculty must be willing to assume the advisory role for the student.

Doctoral and Special Programs Coordinator

[email protected] or 919-962-0182