A doctorate is the highest academic degree that a university can confer in Germany. Studying a PhD in Germany in general means working intensively on research in a particular topic for an extended period of time. A PhD’s duration in most cases, can vary between three to five years.
Two schemes to do PhD in Germany
If you decide to do your PhD in Germany, you can choose between different systems. Depending on your specialization, the field of research, personal circumstances as well as your personal qualifications, there are two different paths:
Traditional doctorate scheme
A traditional Ph.D. is based on independent research conducted under the supervision of a professor. This scheme is considered the most common path followed by more than three-quarters of doctoral students in Germany.
The Ph.D. is written under the supervision of a professor. This form of doctoral study is very flexible, but on the other hand requires a high degree of personal initiative and responsibility. The professor supervises and guides the PhD student, who’s working on his or her research project with big margin of independence.
The duration of such traditional doctorate programs depends on the student’s schedule, the type of research, as well as the length of the employment contract (typically three to five years). Although universities are usually responsible for the PhD process, students can also do their research at other institutions or organizations.
Depending on the subject, field of research, and interests, students can choose between working on a Ph.D. research project at a university, at a non-academic research institute, or in an industrial company. However, no matter where you conduct your research, PhD will always be supervised by a university professor.
PhD can be awarded by doing research
- in the University:
In Germany, PhD students work – usually part-time – as research associates at a university. Usually, Ph.D. research is part of the tasks in the job description; nevertheless, most of his doctoral research is conducted outside office hours. The extent to which teaching, research, and/or administrative duties are closely related to doctorate research depends mainly on the individual situation of each doctoral student.
- In a non-academic research organization:
Non-academic organizations such as Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association, and Max Planck Society Provide excellent research environments for conducting your own research but these institutions are not entitled to award PhDs themselves. Therefore, they cooperate with universities for this purpose and offer scholarships to PhD students and/or (fixed term employment contracts) – or a combination of the two. However, support is also possible in the form of regular research engagements, which are particularly typical for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the Max Planck Society.
- In a German company:
Regular PhD Programs
These programs offer a form of study similar to those in English speaking countries. Where you are supervised by a team and you will attend courses, lectures and seminars with other PhD students.
Structured doctoral programs often have a strong international orientation with English language as the official language of the program. Furthermore, doctoral students and their research proposals must fit in with the research objectives of such Ph.D. program, unlike the individual PhD model which can be freely organized to suit individual research project.
Ph.D. often requires an explicit doctoral study program with mandatory attendance at lectures or seminars, as well as provisional assessment (grades). Often the program also covers academic and scientific methods or soft skills, such as presentation techniques and other abilities.
As a rule, PhD students work intensively on the realization of their research project objectives within a team and with the support of a group of faculty members (often called dissertation Committee).
The duration of Ph.D. program is usually between three and five years, and there is usually a consistent procedure in which students work towards the achieving their Ph.D. objectives and write their dissertation.
How to Find a Regular PhD Program
There is no central database for all regular PhD programs in Germany. You can usually find these programs directly through the universities’ websites, graduate schools, or non-academic research institutions.
DAAD
DAAD is considered an excellent place to search for Ph.D., where you can find a large number of doctoral programs targeting international doctoral students.
International doctoral program database
www.daad.de/international-programmes
Doctoral programs at universities
www.higher-education-compass.de
DFG-funded research training groups
www.dfg.de > Current Research Training Groups
Helmholtz Research Schools, Colleges and Graduate Schools
www.helmholtz.de > PhD Candidates
Leibniz Graduate Schools
www.leibniz-association.eu > Leibniz Graduate Schools
International Max Planck Research Schools
www.mpg.de > International Max Planck Research Schools
Max Planck Schools
What are the admission requirements?
Application procedures vary for each program. Specific requirements and deadlines can be found on the website of each university, institute, or research group. So it is necessary first to choose a doctoral program and/or a university.
In general, you will need to have a good higher education degree equivalent to a German master’s degree. Alternatively, highly qualified international applicants with a bachelor’s degree can also be accepted as PhD students via the Fast Track Program, in which they have to make an admission test and possibly attend an interview.
Advices before submitting a PhD application
When you find a suitable program, it is recommended to submit an application to one of the professors in the PhD program or to the appropriate selection committee – depending on the program. Here are some valuable tips that may help you to succeed with your application
- Invest a lot of time and effort in your search for the right program.
- Choose a topic for your dissertation that matches the Ph.D. program as well as the research interests of the professors in that program.
- Make your motivation clear. It is essential to clarify this point during the first contact.
- It is also important to show the you know comprehensively the objectives of the Ph.D. program, and you know exactly what you are expecting from the program and that the program matches your research interests.
- Give details of your own experience in this field of research.
- Show that you are well informed and know the requirements for obtaining a PhD in Germany.
- You should be brief and precise in your cover letter.
In your application, you must provide information regarding your previous academic achievement, the topic of your Master’s thesis and the subject area in which you wish to specialize.
You should explain why you are applying, describe your research project, and possibly submit a paper indicating the direction of your planned doctoral dissertation. In some cases, it will actually be expected from you to know what you want to do in your dissertation and submit a research proposal on the topic.
How to write your research proposal
What you should keep in mind when submitting your research proposal:
- Be specific: state exactly why you are writing and what your research project is.
- Provide accurate details of what your research includes – and what it doesn’t.
- What do you want to achieve in your research? What problem do you want to solve?
- Focus on your research topic, and don’t be distracted by other side issues.
- Develop and formulate a solid argument for your research project.
- Don’t limit yourself to minor details.
- Do not forget to mention the most important published articles by different scientists in your field of research.
- Make sure your grammar and spelling are correct.
How do I apply for a PhD in Germany?
There is no central admission process or admission office for PhD students in Germany, and the application process varies depending on whether you have chosen a traditional (single) or regular PhD – for the latter, you will simply need to apply directly to your appointed university
When making your choice, you should focus on the following questions: Is the program, institution, and environment suitable to my PhD proposal? What are the requirements? What is expected of PhD students?
Once you have found a PhD program, you should invest sufficient time and give good care in preparing your application. In some cases, there are deadlines for admission to certain programs. It is, therefore, advisable to start looking for a suitable program before graduation.
For your application to be accepted, your planned doctoral dissertation must fit into the main objectives of the program, and you will need a recognized degree in Germany with a good or very good grade.
The application procedure itself often involves a number of different stages, but it varies from one program to another.
Generally, as a first step, you will need to submit a CV, a copy of your certificate, a brief description of your PhD research proposal, and a letter explaining the reasons for your application.
The second step (usually upon request) includes a detailed application with a comprehensive presentation of the research project. This includes details of your time schedule, references from past researchers, copies of all your certificates, and possibly proof of language proficiency.
If your application is selected by the admissions committee, the applicant will usually be invited to an interview, which, under certain circumstances, can also be held online.
If you are applying for a single or traditional Ph.D., you will first need to find a suitable professor who is willing to be your supervisor. You may be able to find a supervisor through contacts from your previous university, or by searching for institutes, research centers or teams related to your field of interest. The following online search platforms may help you find a suitable supervisor:
Once a supervisor is found, the responsible department or doctoral committee must confirm your eligibility as a doctoral candidate. This usually involves completing an application that includes a statement from your doctoral supervisor, authenticated copies of certificates and proof of recognition of your qualifications from the Dean’s office. Your application may also include the result of an English or German language test, if applicable. The student office of in the university will review these documents and give you an acceptance letter to start your doctoral studies.
The next step is to register at the university. To be eligible for enrollment, the university must first accept your application for admission to doctoral studies. However, not all departments require PhD applicants to register officially. You can find any requirements related to registration on the official website of the university.
Besides checking that your postgraduate degree is recognized, obtain a residence permit or student visa, and ensure that you have sufficient financial resources for your stay.
How much does a PhD study in Germany cost?
Although tuition fees for non-EU students were reintroduced in Baden-Württemberg in 2017, PhD students were excluded from this decision, which means that PhDs remain free for all students at all public universities in Germany, regardless of nationality, up to standard length for a doctorate degree. Otherwise, you may be required to pay a fee.
However, as with all levels of study in Germany, PhD students are also required to make a semester contribution ranging from €150 to €200 for administration and other costs.
This means that your main expenses will be the general costs of living in Germany. If you apply for a student visa, you will be required to prove that you have access to at least €10,236 per year (in a bank account). This money will be used for living expenses, which include rent, food, clothing, transportation, work materials, entertainment, and other costs. In some expensive cities like Munich, €10,236 per year may not be enough to cover all the costs.
Is there any financing available?
Most PhD students work on a paid research project or receive scholarships. If you would like to apply for a scholarship to help with your expenses, you may be able to find it through the official website of the university you wish to study at. You can also check the list of scholarships in Germany, including PhD funding opportunities. Useful sources to find scholarships include
www.funding-guide.deAndwww.stipendienlotse.de (Website in German)
You could also consider taking on a part-time job to support you in your expenses, either inside or outside the university – but be aware of any potential limitations and regulations. If you are a full-time student in the EU or EEA (excluding students from Bulgaria and Romania), there are no restrictions on where and when you work. If you are a full-time student from outside the EU, you will be limited to working up to 120 full days or 240 half days per year before you have to apply for a work permit. When getting paid job in Germany, you should contact the German Employment Office and explore the legal requirements for that.
Do I need a student visa?
This will depend on your country of origin. Many students will find that they do not need a student visa but do need a residence permit. You can read more about obtaining a German student visa on the website of the German Embassy in Amman or find an overview of countries where a student visa is or is not required on the website of the Federal Foreign Office.
Do I need to speak German?
No – however, we recommend learning at least basic German to help you find support in the host country, especially if you want to work during or after your studies. If you are studying for an individual doctorate, your doctoral dissertation can often be written in English, while structured doctoral programs often allow students to fully complete their doctorate in English.