How to Do a PhD in Germany: Positions, Graduate Schools, and Pay

Two ways to do a PhD in Germany

German universities and research institutes offer two main paths to a doctorate.

• Individual doctorate. You find a professor who agrees to supervise your project. You then register as a doctoral student at that professor's faculty. This path gives you more freedom to define your own topic, but you must find a supervisor yourself before you can register.
• Structured doctoral programme. You apply to a graduate school or a doctoral programme with a set curriculum, a cohort of other candidates, and a team of supervisors. You need a formal letter of admission from the programme, or at least proof you are being considered for admission, before you can enrol.

Many structured programmes run in English, especially in the natural sciences and engineering. An individual doctorate more often requires German, since you work inside one department under one supervisor.

Who can apply

To register for a doctorate in Germany, in either path, you generally need:

• a university degree recognised as equivalent to a German Master's degree (a Diplom or Master's, in most cases),
• a supervisor who agrees to take you on (individual path), or an admission decision from a graduate school (structured path),
• proof of your German or English language level, depending on the programme's working language.

Specific subject and grade requirements are set by each faculty or graduate school, not by a single national rule. Always check the admission requirements on the page of the specific programme or institute you are applying to.

What it pays

Doctoral candidates in Germany are usually funded in one of two ways:

• A paid position (employment contract). You are hired as a university or institute staff member, often to do some teaching or research-assistant work alongside your own PhD project. Your pay follows the institution's own salary and contract terms.
• A scholarship (stipend). You receive a monthly stipend instead of a salary. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is the main funder of scholarships for international doctoral candidates. As an example, DAAD's own overview names a monthly payment of €1,300 for doctoral and PhD scholarship holders, plus a flat-rate travel allowance and, in many cases, health, accident, and personal liability insurance.

Monthly amounts for both routes change with each call and each institution. Check the specific vacancy notice or DAAD call for applications for the current figure before you plan your budget.

DAAD also funds doctoral study through more specific grant lines, besides the general doctoral scholarship. A full Doctoral Programmes in Germany grant, for a complete doctorate of several years, is offered primarily to applicants from developing and emerging countries. DAAD also lists shorter grant lines for candidates who are already enrolled in a doctorate elsewhere. Check DAAD's scholarship database for the current calls and their eligibility rules, since these differ by grant line and by year.

Tip: A paid position usually means German social security and pension contributions. A scholarship usually does not. Ask the host institution which applies to your offer.

Documents you need

How to apply, step by step

1. Decide which path fits you: an individual project with a named supervisor, or a structured programme with a cohort and a curriculum.
2. Have your previous degree checked for recognition as equivalent to a German qualification, if your institution or programme asks for this before you apply.
3. Find a PhD position. Search DAAD's PhDGermany database for open doctoral positions in universities, companies, and research institutions across Germany. Search DAAD's International Programmes database separately for structured doctoral programmes aimed at international applicants, most of which run in English.
4. Contact a potential supervisor directly, if you are applying for an individual doctorate, with your CV and a short research idea.
5. Apply to the specific vacancy or programme, following its own document list and deadline.
6. Apply for a residence permit, if you need one, once you have an admission letter or an employment contract.
7. Confirm your financing before you move: either your employment contract, or your scholarship award letter.

DAAD's own databases

DAAD runs two separate databases for international candidates, and they cover different routes:

• PhDGermany lists open PhD positions at universities, companies, and research institutions, across all subjects, updated continually. Use it mainly if you want an individual doctorate or a paid research position.
• International Programmes lists structured doctoral programmes designed for international applicants, most of which teach in English. Use it mainly if you want a cohort-based, structured path.

The DAAD-run "Research in Germany" site also publishes open PhD positions and funding opportunities, alongside general guidance on language requirements, financing, and the steps before you move.

Common mistakes

• Looking for one single "PhD application" process. Germany has no single national doctoral admission system; each faculty, institute, or graduate school runs its own.
• Assuming a scholarship means you also get German social security. Check this with the funder, since it differs between stipends and employment contracts.
• Applying for an individual doctorate without first securing a supervisor. Most faculties will not register you without one.
• Missing the language requirement of the specific programme. English-track structured programmes exist, but many individual doctorates still expect German.

Where to find open positions

Search current PhD positions in Germany on PhD Atlas, or browse funded PhD positions across Europe. If you are also open to other countries, compare with the Netherlands, Sweden, or Austria. For scholarship-funded doctorates specifically, see our guide on DAAD scholarships for doctoral study in Germany.

Tip: Sign up for a free PhD Atlas account. PhD Atlas matches open PhD positions, in Germany and elsewhere, to your CV.