Where and how to pursue a doctoral degree?
Once the decision has been made to pursue a doctoral degree, two more key questions arise: where and how? There are, after all, numerous paths to a doctorate. Candidates need to address the following questions:
- Individual or structured doctorate?
- Where to pursue a doctorate – university, research institute, graduate college (Graduiertenkolleg) or private industry?
- At a university – internal or external doctoral programme?
- Monographic or cumulative dissertation?
- Is there a difference between a PhD and a Dr title?
- What are the language and visa requirements for pursuing a doctorate in Germany?
The decision for one or the other path isn’t just a matter of individual preference or ability. External factors also play a role. After all, getting a doctorate position or being accepted into a graduate college (a thematically oriented research group for doctoral candidates in Germany) is not a foregone conclusion. Standardised procedures in the candidate’s chosen field are likewise pivotal, and the particularities of one’s personal life also play a role. There is no one right way – and each path has advantages and disadvantages. The following provides an overview.
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.
Is there a difference between a PhD and a Dr title?
The Dr title has long been the dominant designation for those earning a doctorate in Germany, while the PhD title is more prominent in the Anglo-Saxon world. In recent years, many institutions in Germany have begun offering the PhD title as well. In principle, however, they are equivalent.
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.
Achieving a doctorate – duration and process
On average, it takes 4.5 years to complete a doctorate in Germany. As a rule, participants in structured programmes complete their degrees more quickly, with such programmes frequently mandating that candidates finish their doctorates within three or four years.
The process is specified in the rules pertaining to each individual institution. In general, however, the process of achieving a doctorate looks as follows:
- Selection of dissertation topic
- Securing a doctoral adviser
- Clarification of dissertation type and funding
- Acceptance of doctoral candidate status
- Completion of dissertation
- Submission of dissertation
- Acceptance and evaluation of doctoral thesis
- Oral examination (“dissertation defence”)
- Publication of dissertation
- Awarding of doctoral certificate
Only after the doctoral certificate has been presented are doctoral candidates permitted to use the title of “doctor” or “PhD”.