PhD in Germany Doing a doctorate in Germany

How to apply to a German Graduate School? Practical tips to help you with application documents, including research proposals, cover letters and CVs.

Doctorates following the traditional model still make up the majority of PhDs in Germany compared to structured programmes. For doctoral candidates from abroad, a traditional PhD requires a great deal of initiative, autonomy and tenacity.

Those who do a doctorate improve their chances on the work market. A doctorate can open doors and have a positive impact on the salary.

Structured doctoral programmes offer a fixed curriculum with individual support, defined duration and regular funding. The choices in Germany are numerous - an overview.

A doctoral degree will certainly only help you to become rich in an idealistic sense. The first contract for a PhD position should have a term of at least one year - after which, graduates are rewarded with their first salary increase.

When preparing for a PhD, it is recommended to use the time effectively, to create the perfect preconditions for a application to a German graduate school.

25 000 doctoral students graduate from one of approximately 120 higher education institutions every year. Those who would like to pursue a doctorate degree in Germany will experience the interplay between an authentic higher education tradition and modern academic institutions.

The profession of academic manager is growing in significance: they manage, control and organise the universities and research institutions. However, in many places, they must still fight for recognition.

Husbands or wives of research fellows are allowed to work when the research fellow is entitled to take up gainful employment or when they have been living together as a married couple in Germany for at least two years.

The #ResearchersAtRisk campaign addresses scientists and researchers in exile who are considered "at risk" due to their precarious living and working situation in their country of origin.

Leipzig has been a respected centre of learning throughout Europe. Various research institutions and Germany´s second oldest university are based here.