The Traditional Doctorate By Oliver Wasse

On average, 25,000 doctoral candidates a year earn their PhD in Germany, putting the country in the lead across Europe. According to the German Council of Science and Humanities, 93 percent of them complete a traditional doctorate; the other seven percent choose structured programmes, but this trend is growing strongly, especially in the natural sciences and mathematics. There are two routes to a PhD in Germany: the traditional model and the structured programmes. In a traditional doctorate, the doctoral thesis is written with the support of a professor, known as the thesis supervisor. The doctoral candidates complete their degree individually at a faculty, usually on a subject they have chosen themselves. The aim of the doctorate is to draw up and publish the written doctoral thesis, also referred to as the dissertation. In many cases doctoral candidates hold positions as academic collaborators at the faculty while they work on their PhD - usually in order to finance the doctorate.

Initiative, independence and motivation

Compared to structured programmes, the traditional doctorate is criticised for taking longer and not being systematic. Both these factors often lead to motivational problems, especially as candidates find themselves largely on their own. The effort required of doctoral candidates from abroad is significantly higher for a traditional doctorate than within a structured programme. It starts with selecting a subject and applying, and continues throughout the entire course of the doctorate; funding must also be organised by the candidates themselves. That requires independence, tenacity and a significant helping of motivation.

Before applying

Candidates who nonetheless wish to apply for a traditional doctorate in Germany should first thoroughly research the general conditions and familiarise themselves with the system in Germany. The formalities in one's home country should also be looked into. Questions to be answered include, for example: Is a foreign-language dissertation permitted? What are the visa regulations for non-EU citizens? Do I require a work permit? Does the university in Germany offer courses for doctoral candidates? Is a German doctorate recognised in my home country and appreciated by employers? Each faculty at the university in Germany will have its own doctoral degree regulations that govern admission, support, procedures and exams. It may for example be necessary to provide proof of the equivalence of a degree or the courses taken. The doctoral degree regulations are often available on the Internet; most German universities can be reached at the domain www.uni-"place".de (e.g. www.uni-hamburg.de).