How do I find the right graduate school?
Getting to know your discipline well is the first step towards finding the graduate program that is right for you. From conversations and your own research you should know where experts in your field are located and which university can provide the best infrastructure for research. Now think about your personal preferences: Which graduate school offers exactly what you are looking for? Who has the most comprehensive skills training program? Which school provides the best financial support? Where are the researchers that you really want to collaborate with? And don't underestimate the question of life quality: Which location offers exactly what you need to be happy? Your personal wellbeing is an important factor contributing to the ultimate success of your dissertation, because only with the right balance of work and regeneration will you be able to stay focused and energized for three or four years. There is no one recipe for such a balance. Some find it in the city, others on the countryside, some at a large university that offers anonymity and diversity, others at a small private school that guarantees intimacy and trust. If at all possible, visit the school that you are interested in and talk to your future colleagues to find out whether or not you can find the right balance there. Requirements for admission: meet the deadlines
Once you have selected a fitting PhD program, look into the respective deadlines and modalities. An application should be planned long before the deadlines, not least because applicants from abroad must show that they have all the prerequisites necessary to attend. That includes an accredited degree, usually a Master's or the equivalent of the German "Diplom". Some German graduate schools also accept candidates with a Bachelor's degree - it is contingent upon the respective doctoral degree regulations. Whether or not your specific degree will be accepted also depends on the institution itself. Many German graduate schools have established standardized accreditation proceedings that are sometimes subject to fees. Make sure you find out as early as possible whether or not there could be issues with your particular degree.
Language requirements are just as important. Since many PhD programs have English as their working language, many graduate schools will ask you for a certificate of competence, for example the Test of English as a Foreign Langauge (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Always remember that these tests can come with significant registration deadlines and preparation times of their own - they simply cannot be done overnight. And even though language test results rarely determine the admission of a candidate, they can be a reason for his or her rejection. Make sure you take the time to prepare for the PhD wisely - both regarding your knowledge of the discipline and your language skills.
Apply to a German Graduate School - application guide
- Application
- Dissertation topic
- Dissertation exposé
- Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
- Letter of motivation
- Language & admissions test
- Personal interview