Doctoral researchers at RWI participate in a structured doctoral program. The program is divided into two phases: a two-year project-focused phase, during which doctoral researchers are involved in both basic and third-party funded projects and deepen their academic knowledge by attending courses; and a three-year dissertation phase, which centers on their own research.

Supervision of dissertations is provided by board members or department heads, who also hold professorships within the University Alliance Ruhr (UA Ruhr) or at neighboring universities. In addition, project-related supervision is offered by academic staff, particularly postdoctoral researchers.

Doctoral researchers attend courses offered by the affiliated Ruhr Graduate School in Economics (RGS Econ) as well as by surrounding universities. The curriculum includes both foundational and advanced applied courses, as well as mini-lectures—intensive courses on current methods and topics taught by internationally recognized scholars.

Regular presentation of research findings is also an integral part of the training and is actively encouraged. Doctoral researchers present their work multiple times during their training, for example in the internal RWI Brownbag Seminar or at Seminarwandern—a recurring workshop format that provides early feedback on new research ideas in an informal setting. Participation in national and international academic conferences and summer schools is likewise supported and intended to help doctoral researchers build networks and improve their research papers.

A special feature of the program is the opportunity for a two-month research stay at a leading international university, particularly in the United States, supported by full scholarships through the RWI Exchange Program. This is designed to enable doctoral researchers to establish international networks and find potential research collaborators.