Individual doctorate Germany

The traditional path to earning a doctorate

Individual doctorate – What does it mean?

One of the key questions that graduate students must answer when beginning the process of earning a doctorate degree is: What path do I wish to take?

The most common choice for graduate students in Germany is the individual doctorate, also commonly called the “traditional doctorate.” According to statistics compiled by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany, a total of 157,241 graduate students in Germany were pursuing their doctorates in 2022, of whom 28,897 were part of a structured doctoral programme. The vast majority of the remaining students were pursuing the individual path.

As the designation indicates, the individual doctorate provides candidates with a significant degree of flexibility. In close consultation with their doctoral adviser, they are responsible for the entire organisation of their doctorate, including financing, identifying a dissertation topic, methodology and process.

In addition to the two most commonly chosen paths to earning a doctorate – the individual doctorate, with its greater flexibility, and the structured doctorate, which comes with a clearly defined workflow – candidates also have other potential doctoral programmes available. According to a 2021 report on young academics in Germany (Bundesbericht Wissenschaftlicher Nachwuchs or BuWiN, 2021), recent decades have seen the emergence of a number of new forms of doctorate programmes at German universities. Cooperative forms of doctorates and hybrid models, which contain elements of both the individual and the structured doctorate processes are increasingly offered by universities. Special forms of pursuing a doctorate include:

• Fast-track doctorate programmes: Fast-track programmes are linked directly to the completion of a bachelor’s degree. Depending on the specific university and the higher educations laws in the German state in question, graduate students may have the opportunity to begin their doctoral programme in parallel with their master’s studies.
• Industrial doctorate: The industrial doctorate can be an attractive alternative to programmes linked directly to universities, particularly in the STEM subjects of mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences and engineering. Candidates in these programmes are directly employed by a company.
• Binational doctorate: Pursuing a doctorate at two universities in two different countries provides candidates with wide-ranging opportunities to work internationally once they have earned their degree.
• Part-time doctorate: Similar to studying on a part-time basis, the part-time doctorate requires significant amounts of planning and a high degree of flexibility. Both financing and time management for the doctorate must be closely coordinated with one’s profession, and supervisors must be acquired.

Individual doctorate – internal or external?

The term individual doctorate refers to programmes where candidates are employed by the university where they are pursuing their degree. There are generally two such employment arrangements, a so-called “Promotionsstelle” or a position as a research assistant. 

There are many reasons why landing a Promotionsstelle is advantageous for doctoral candidates. A key one is that candidates are paid for at least some of the work they do in the pursuit of their own doctorate. Those interested in this route are well-advised to establish close ties with professors early on and inform themselves about open positions several months in advance. In some cases, such a position must be newly established. When planning the pursuit of their doctorates, candidates should consider the significant amounts of time the process can take.

Candidates who hold a Promotionsstelle while pursuing a doctorate frequently have the advantage of close ties with their adviser, which makes communication far easier. In addition, candidates enjoy much stronger connections with their university network.

The situation is slightly different for those with positions as research assistants. In such instances, research on one’s own dissertation is not part of the position, which means that it must be done on the side. That can be a disadvantage if it takes away from the time available to work on one’s own research project.

Those who decide to pursue an individual doctorate may also elect to do so externally. In these cases, candidates write their dissertations without a paid position at a faculty. They can work alone from home or can affiliate themselves with a non-university institution or, in the case of an industrial doctorate, with a company. These forms of individual doctorates also come with their own advantages and disadvantages. Candidates must structure their daily work themselves, which – depending on personal preference and character – can be helpful or harmful.

Individual versus structured – advantages and disadvantages

Whether doctoral candidates opt for a structured programme, an individual path or a different form of pursuing an advanced degree: The choice is dependent on numerous factors. Some key questions could be helpful in making the decision:

• What are my current life circumstances?
• How do I want my work-life balance to look?
• Do I need fixed structures in my scientific work?
• Am I a candidate for burnout or writer’s block?
• How much professional support do I want as I work towards my doctorate?
• What kind of financial framework makes the most sense for me?
• Do I want to pursue my doctorate on a part-time basis?

 The two most common routes to a doctorate can bring advantages and disadvantages, depending on one’s personality and the way one works.

What are the language and visa requirements for pursuing a doctorate in Germany?

Depending on the focus of one’s dissertation, German language proficiency is not a must for those interested in earning a doctorate in Germany. Indeed, for many programmes, particularly structured programmes at graduate colleges (Graduiertenkollegs), proficiency in English is required, as it is both the language of instruction and the language in which a candidate’s dissertation must be written.

Residents of European Union member states and those from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland do not require a visa to work, study or live in Germany. Residents of other countries should, however, look into the requirements that apply to them. In general, those interested in pursuing a doctorate in Germany must first be accepted to a program before applying for a visa. Additional information can be found here.