PhD in Germany

Being a PhD student in Germany – overview

Requirements for pursuing a doctorate in Germany

In addition to considerations pertaining to personal motivation and financial means, there are also a number of formal requirements that must be met by those seeking a doctorate. In principle, the door to pursuing a doctorate is open to anyone who has achieved a master’s or an equivalent degree. In practice, however, the better one’s performance at university, the better are the chances of being accepted into a doctoral programme. 

In some, exceptional cases, the path to a doctorate is open to high-achieving students immediately after they complete their bachelor’s degree, a process called “fast-track programme” or “fast-track promotion”.

Many universities of applied sciences in Germany are not authorised to award doctorates, but numerous universities of applied sciences partner with universities that are able to offer them. Furthermore, many states in Germany have changed their laws in recent years. Universities of applied sciences in the states of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony-Anhalt are now able to award doctorates.

Individual vs. structured doctorate

Around 80 percent of doctoral candidates in Germany take the individual route. In consultation with a doctoral adviser, candidates must take care of the entire organisation of their doctoral project – from funding all the way through to publication. It is a pathway that provides plenty of flexibility and freedom, but it requires a high degree of discipline and organisation.

Those who prefer spending more of their time with other students or are easily distracted may find themselves better suited for a structured doctoral programme. Graduate colleges (Graduiertenkollegs) provide close and individualised support, the timeframe and funding are predetermined and attendance at colloquia and seminars is mandatory. 

In part because of the structure they offer, graduate colleges in Germany have become quite popular among doctoral candidates from abroad. But obtaining a spot in one isn’t easy. The widely respected Max Planck Schools, for example, accept only the very best degree holders from around the world. Many universities also offer structured doctoral programmes.

At a university – internal or external doctoral programme?

Most doctoral candidates in Germany (around 80 percent) pursue their degree at a university, either internally through a paid position at the institution (Promotionsstelle) or externally. Both paths have advantages and disadvantages associated with them. As a rule, university-based doctoral programmes are individual doctorates, though some institutions of higher learning also offer more structured programmes.

Internal doctoral programmes

Those who receive a paid university position for doctoral candidates benefit from a steady source of income, close ties to their institution and, usually, more direct lines of communication with their doctoral adviser. Participants in an internal doctoral programme also benefit from being situated within an academic network, close to the research taking place. The salaries associated with paid university positions must be earned, frequently in the form of administrative work for professors and teaching obligations, which are time-consuming. In many cases, it is difficult to find the time for one’s own research.

External doctoral programmes

Those who prefer working on their dissertations in the quiet of their own homes have the luxury of being able to devote their entire concentration to their project. The disadvantage: They generally don’t receive any money for their work, and their living conditions can often be precarious. Furthermore, this approach requires a significant amount of discipline. Some external candidates may also find it more difficult to obtain the support and feedback they need from their advisers.

Private industry

Some candidates choose to pursue their doctorates at a company in cooperation with a university. In such instances, the focus of a candidate’s research tends to be predetermined. Candidates are paid for their work and are able to gather valuable labour market experience as they complete their dissertations.

Pursuing a doctorate at a research institute

Research institutes outside of the university setting generally offer doctoral candidates excellent conditions for a successful career in research. The equipment is top-notch, the research fields are frequently interdisciplinary and socially relevant, and staff members often hail from all over the world. 

In contrast to those pursuing their doctorates within an internal university setting, doctoral candidates at research institutes don’t generally have any teaching obligations. Those interested in ultimately obtaining a professorship would thus be better advised to pursue a doctorate at a university. But those whose primary focus lies in research and development are well suited to external research institutes – not least because of the international network of doctoral candidates that exists at places in Germany like the Max Planck Institutes, the Helmholtz Centres, the Fraunhofer Institutes and the Leibniz Association. 

Monographic or cumulative dissertation?

A monographic dissertation is the classic variety – essentially a “book” or long paper on a specific research topic that is written as a standalone work. A cumulative dissertation, by contrast, is largely made up of individual articles published in scientific journals and supplemented with an introduction, transitions and a conclusion. 

Whereas monographic theses continue to be the dominant format in social sciences and the humanities, cumulative dissertations are becoming more common in empirical research fields, such as the natural sciences. Doctoral candidates who have the opportunity to publish partial results from their research in prominent journals and thus begin making a name for themselves aren’t likely to withhold such findings so they can write them up later in a monographic dissertation – particularly if those results will be out of date by the time their dissertation is completed. The advantage of the cumulative dissertation is that they don’t have to wait. Candidates should look into whether cumulative dissertations are permitted at the institutions they are interested in.

How to find a dissertation topic

The demands of a doctoral dissertation are clear: It must present new findings that have been developed independently. Adherence to formal specifications and correct scientific citation are mandatory. 

The following questions are vital when searching for an appropriate dissertation topic:

• Is the research question new or socially relevant?
• Are there already relevant publications available that can be used?
• Can the doctoral project be completed in the time available and scope necessary (ideally it is neither too large nor too small!)? The scope of the doctoral dissertation is dependent on the subject and is defined in the rules outlined by the individual institution in question.
• Does the topic interest you?

The last question may sound banal, but it is far from insignificant. Doctoral candidates must spend several years on their projects. Should they lose interest in their topic, finishing the dissertation becomes less likely. 

Finding a doctoral adviser

The search for an adviser can – depending on an individual’s situation – take place before, during or even after the search for a dissertation topic. The most important factors are:

• The doctoral adviser should be an expert in the field in question so they can provide the necessary support and be in a position to evaluate the quality of the dissertation being written.
• The doctoral candidate and the adviser should be able to get along. It is not necessary to be best friends, but a contentious relationship can make working on a dissertation far more difficult.
• It is helpful to learn in advance about the experiences that other doctoral candidates have had with the supervisor in question. Are they regularly approachable? Are they supportive? Because of the nature and extent of the relationship, it is vital to find a good match.

Type and financing of the doctoral dissertation

The determination as to the form a dissertation will take should be undertaken together with the doctoral adviser. Should it be a monographic or cumulative dissertation? What intermediate benchmarks should be achieved, and when? 

The question of how a dissertation project should be financed is also essential. Is third-party funding a possibility? Or a job at the university or research institute? Should the doctoral candidate complete the dissertation while working part time? Are there scholarships or loans available? Does the candidate have funds of their own? Regardless of the route ultimately taken, candidates should develop a clear financial plan before beginning a doctoral dissertation.

Oral Examination: The Defence

Once a dissertation has been submitted and reviewed, it is time for the “defence”. In this step, the doctoral candidate must prove his or her expertise and the relevance of their dissertation. The specific form this oral examination will take is specified in the given institution’s rules pertaining to doctoral candidates. There are three forms:

• Disputation: This is the most common form of defence. The doctoral candidate first presents the contents, methods and results of the dissertation. Afterwards, what has been presented is discussed with the examination committee and possible points of criticism are addressed. This is usually followed by further questions from the examiners on the doctoral subject.
• Rigorosum: This form of oral examination is less a discussion and more akin to a classical oral examination, in which the doctoral candidate must prove their expertise in the field at hand.
• Dissertation colloquium: This is a hybrid of the two forms outlined above. The doctoral candidate presents their research results, which are discussed. This is followed by an oral examination on topics that are clearly distinct from the contents of the doctoral dissertation.

Publication

Once any changes requested by the reviewers have been incorporated, it is mandatory that the doctoral thesis be published before the degree can be awarded. Whether it must be published digitally or on paper is determined by institution regulations. The career plans of the candidate are also an important consideration here, however. Should the candidate hope to pursue an academic career, it makes sense for the dissertation to be published in the highest quality journal possible. This should be carefully considered, because publication with a renowned publishing house can cost several thousand euros under certain circumstances.