Study and research in Germany

Overview of Doctorates in Germany

A doctoral degree is absolutely essential for foreign graduates who see their future in academia and research. German research offers excellent conditions for doing a doctorate. Since there is more than just one path to a doctorate, the DAAD and the academics.de portal for jobs and careers in science, academia and research have compiled this overview. It will help you find out more about the German higher education landscape and help you choose the doctoral path that suits you best. Your search starts with the question:

Even more than a very good university degree, many professors above all expect one specific quality in their future doctoral students, namely great motivation and a real interest in the chosen research field. Besides these factors, however, there are also some formal criteria that applicants must fulfil in order to be accepted for a place on a doctoral programme in Germany. more

Traditional or structured?

In your search for the right university for your chosen core research area, you will very soon realise that Germany not only offers one path to a doctorate, but actually two separate paths:

The traditional doctorate model offers plenty of space for your personal development and scientific research. It is still the principal path to a doctorate in Germany. However, it not only calls for a great deal of personal initiative and lots of stamina on the part of the doctoral student, but also the ability to work independently and autonomously. more

Structured doctorate

Much as in the United States and Britain, ever more structured programmes are being offered in Germany as well. With a fixed curriculum and individual supervision, set terms and, in most cases, secured financing, these programmes offer doctoral students many advantages. The choice is enormous - here an overview. more

Research rankings

Only a few years ago, university rankings were neither commonplace nor known in Germany. With the creation of the European Research Area, however, and the wish to encourage excellent young researchers to come to Germany, rankings suddenly experienced a real boom. We've put together a selection of these for you in the following. more

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• Africa Sub-Sahara
• Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Oceania
• Central and Eastern Europe
• Latin America
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• Western Europe