Doctoral Studies in Germany

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  1. Traditional (individual) supervision by an academic supervisor: "Doktorvater" / "Doktormutter" (so-called "apprentice model")
  2. International postgraduate/doctoral programmes of the DAAD and DFG
  3. DFG Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs – GKs)
  4. DFG Collaborative Research Centres (Sonderforschungsbereiche - SFBs)
  5. International Max Planck Research Schools
  6. Graduate Schools of Germany's Federal States
  7. Netzwork of biological and medical PhD programs

1. Traditional (individual) supervision by an academic supervisor: "Doktorvater" / "Doktormutter" (so-called "apprentice model")

Admissions procedure in accordance with the doctoral regulations

Further information at:


2. International postgraduate/doctoral programmes of the DAAD and DFG
  • Since 2001: joint responsibility for the funding programme called "Doctorates at Universities in Germany (PHD)" / "International Postgraduate Programmes (IPP)", run and managed by the DAAD
  • Goals: To implement the relevant recommendations made by the German Science Council (WR) and the German Rectors' Conference (HRK) on reforming doctoral training
  • To increase the international appeal and competitiveness of doctorates taken in Germany by highly qualified postgraduate students from home and abroad (target share of foreigners: 30%) by
  • clearly structuring and intensifying the doctoral studies
  • positioning international doctoral programmes at centres of excellent research
  • limiting the time to doctorate and providing optimal supervision (by firmly defining the university's institutional responsibility for the doctoral student)
  • ensuring the compatibility of international degrees
  • offering programmes and courses instructed in English
  • promoting interdisciplinary dialogue
  • After four selection rounds a total of 50 International Postgraduate Programmes were receiving funding.
  • NB: Doctorates at Universities in Germany (PHD) is an institutional funding programme which is not intended for individuals, but rather is open for universities to apply
Further information at:


3. DFG Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs – GKs)

  • These are an alternative to the traditional form of individual doctoral supervision:
    Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs - GK) are temporary and thematically-focused institutions established at universities to promote young graduates by enabling them to participate in research (research-oriented integration of research and training);
  • a Research Training Group (GK) is generally made up of 10 to 15 university teachers and up to 30 doctoral students, of which 12 to 15 receive a DFG fellowship
  • at present: 297 GKs, including 28 International Research Training Groups throughout Germany (as per: 2004)

Further information at:

http://www.dfg.de/en/research_funding/coordinated_programmes/
research_training_groups/index.html


4.DFG Collaborative Research Centres (Sonderforschungsbereiche - SFBs)
  • Collaborative Research Centres (Sonderforschungsbereiche – SFB) are long-term research facilities at universities in which scientists and researchers collaborate within the scope of a cross-disciplinary research programme
  • At present ( 01/2006): 266 SFBs at a total of 57 higher education institutions are receiving funding
  • so-called "Independent Junior Research Groups" work within the scope of the Collaborative Research Centres as an alternative form of the programme: these enable young scientists and researchers to spend a time-limited period doing independent research (funding requires scientific excellence)

Further information at:
http://www.dfg.de/en/research_funding/coordinated_programmes/
collaborative_research_centres/lists/index.html


5.International Max Planck Research Schools

  • Centres of scientific excellence in selected innovative and interdisciplinary research fields (e.g.: neurosciences, molecular biology, computer science)
  • The doctoral programmes of the International Max Planck Research Schools offer outstanding training and research opportunities for junior scientists and researchers from home and abroad.
  • Clear scientific research focuses and work on joint topics promote close cooperation between the doctoral students working in the research team
  • Particular importance attached to international cooperation (target share of foreigners: 50%)
  • At present: 37 Max Planck Research Schools throughout Germany (as per: 03/2005)

Further information at:
http://www.mpg.de/english/institutesProjectsFacilities/
schoolChoice/index.html


6. Graduate Schools of Germany's Federal States

  • NRW: as from the winter semester 2001/2002: 7 Graduate Schools
  • Lower Saxony: 10 Graduate Schools (as per: 01/2006)
  • Bavaria: Establishment of 26 elite study programmes, including 10 International Doctoral Studies Centres (Doktorandenkollegs) (as per: 2006)
  • Other initiatives by federal states: e.g. Bremen, Graduate School of Social Sciences at the University of Bremen (since 2002)
  • Goal: To promote highly-qualified scientists and researchers from home and abroad under optimal conditions in accordance with the Anglo-American model
  • Structured doctoral training in the form of (research-focused) doctoral studies, intensive individual supervision of doctoral thesis/dissertation projects as well as preparing doctoral students for positions in interdisciplinary and international research contexts
  • As a rule: interdisciplinary collaboration between several faculties
  • International orientation (largely English-instructed courses)
  • Graduate Schools aim – in contrast to the Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs = temporary institutions) – to become a firm part of the respective university and so to make a sustainable contribution to structure-building in research and teaching

Further information at:


7. Netzwork of biological and medical PhD programs
  • German network of over ten international PhD programs in the biological or medical field
  • Founded in 2002
  • Speaker: at the moment at Hannover Medical School
  • Discussion of relevant topics in the field
  • Implementation of standards (accreditation)
  • Coordination of selection procedures
  • Organization of „soft skill“ seminars and workshops

Further information at:
http://www99.mh-hannover.de/kliniken/immun/phd-net/


Source: DAAD

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