The participation in the Doctoral Program is voluntary for both, faculty and doctoral students. However it is recommended. All doctoral students of the participating universities and all faculty members and post-docs have access to the activities of the Doctoral Program and are invited to participate actively. Enrolled doctoral students are entitled to apply for refund of costs for the successful participation in activities of the Doctoral Program.

Enrollment of a doctoral student in the Doctoral Program ends with the conferral of the doctorate and is limited to five years. Participating doctoral students are usually employed as assistants at one of the affiliated universities or hold a scholarship of the National Science Foundation or of other sources.