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General Information

Thinking about pursuing a doctoral degree in Germany? You'll soon notice that there are lots of things to consider in addition to designing your dissertation project. You can complete doctoral studies individually or in a structured program as well as choose between universities, departments/faculties, and doctoral programs. You'll also need an advisor for your project. There are also legal differences in the admissions requirements, in the procedures of conferral of a doctoral degree, and in publication requirements set forth in the doctoral degree regulations of the individual departments/faculties that you will need to bear in mind.

You can finance your doctoral studies through a work contract at your university, a scholarship, or on your own. There are also questions surrounding insurance law that you will want to consider.

You'll additionally need good time management skills and possibly support for reconciling your career and family life.

These are only a few of the questions that you'll be dealing with throughout the course of your doctoral studies.

• A good starting point for questions about doctoral studies in Germany is the communication and information platform called kisswin, which is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The kisswin platform briefly describes the dissertation phase along with the possible funding opportunities depending on the career path that you choose to pursue. You can also receive consultation by telephone or in writing. International doctoral candidates may refer to the information platform "Research in Germany".
• The brochure "Shaping a Doctorate Together" (PDF) – compiled by the Qualitätszirkel Promotion – provides good advice for doctoral candidates and advisors.
• If you are interested in pursuing a doctoral degree at Philipps-Universität Marburg, you will find additional information on the page Pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Marburg.
• We provide you with information on funding opportunities on the page funding opportunities.
• You will find information on networking opportunities on the page networking.
• Tips and information about insurance in Germany.