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.

They run language courses, lecture in front of managing directors or teach computer skills: Lecturers specialise in a very wide range of fields. This is also reflected in their salaries.

Physicists working in the private sector can expect a salary significantly higher than average. If physicists remain in teaching and research, diverse opportunities are available, but are associated with a fairly average income.

The role of a managing director is associated with a lot of responsibility – for the company, the employees and the budget. These are just a few of the factors that determine the salary among executives.

Science has always had a high priority in Germany. How did the scientific system in Germany develop from its beginnings in the 14th century until today and what are the most important fields of research?